Buddleja thyrsoides Lam.

  • Authority

    Norman, E. M. 2000. Buddlejaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 81: 1-225. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Buddlejaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Buddleja thyrsoides Lam.

  • Type

    Type. Uruguay. Montevideo: Montevideo, Commerson s.n. (holotype, P, photo GH, US; isotype fragments, F).

  • Description

    Species Description - Dioecious shrub 1-3 m tall, with tan bark, young branches covered with white tomentum. Leaves sessile or subsessile, stipules reduced to a line, blades linear or linear lanceolate, 7-15 x 0.4-2(-3.5) cm, subcoriaceous, above glabrescent, below white tomentose; apex acuminate, base attenuate, margin subentire to serrate, slightly revolute at base. Inflorescence 5-15 x 2-3 cm with 1-2 orders of branches, these 0.5-2 cm long and subtended by small leaves, with 5-15 flowers per cymose cluster; pedicel 3-36 mm long. Calyx campanulate, tomentose to tomentulose; tube 1-1.2 mm long, lobes 0.5-1.5 mm long, acute to acuminate. Corolla white, drying dark brown, cylindric to fun-nelform, tomentose to tomentulose on outside surface, with a few scattered warty hairs on inner surface of the 3-4 mm long tube, lobes suborbicular 1-2 mm long. Stamens sessile, inserted approximately 1.5 mm below sinus, anthers 0.7-1.2 mm long. Ovary 2-4 mm long, tomentose, style 2-3 mm long, the stigma clavate, 0.5-0.7 mm long. Capsule ovoid or fusiform, tomentose to tomentulose, 6-10 x 2-5 mm. Seeds fusiform to oblong, 2-3 mm long with wings.

  • Discussion

    It is surprising that a character which is usually assumed to be conservative such as seed micromorphology should be so different in the two subspecies. Future studies might indicate that each taxon should be considered a full-fledged species.

  • Distribution

    From S Paraguay to the deltas of the Río de la Plata and Río Parana, in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, near sea level. Flowering from August to December, fruiting from October to January. In central Florida blooming in March and April.

    Paraguay South America| Brazil South America| Argentina South America| Uruguay South America| United States of America North America|