Buddleja grandiflora Cham. & Schltdl.

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Buddlejaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Buddleja grandiflora Cham. & Schltdl.

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. S.loc., Sellow s.n. (lecto-type, here designated, K ex B; fragment F; photos F neg 31945, A, W; isolectotype, E).

  • Synonyms

    Buddleja sancti-leopoldi Kraenzl., Buddleja paludicola Kraenzl.

  • Description

    Species Description - Shrub 1-2 m tall, with brownish bark, young branches subquadrangular covered with white tomentum. Leaves subsessile or with petiole to 1 cm, stipular line inconspicous, blades narrowly lanceolate, 5—10(—15) x l-2.5(-4.5) cm, membranaceous, above tomentose, tomentulose, or glabrescent, below lanose; apex acute to acuminate, base attenuate, rarely connate auriculate, margin crenulate or serrulate. Inflorescence 5-15 cm long with 1-2 orders of branches, lower nodes on main axis and side branches subtended by leaves, upper ones by bracts; flowers sessile borne in paired cymes, each cyme with 1-6 flowers, the lower ones with peduncle 0.5-1.5 cm long, the upper ones sessile. Calyx tubular, lanose, tube 3.5-5 mm long, lobes 2-3.6 mm long, narrowly triangular. Corolla yellow, tubular, tomentose on outside surface with pitted hairs in upper 2/3 of tube, hairs sparser near sinus, tube 10-12 mm long, lobes oblong, erect, 2-3 x 1.5 mm. Stamens sessile, inserted near sinus, anthers 1-1.5 mm long. Ovary 3-4 mm long, tomentose, style 8-10 mm long, stigma globose, 0.5 mm long. Capsule ovoid, tomentulose, 5-6 x 2.5-3 mm dehiscing primarily septicidally, the valves acute. Seeds type 6, oblong, often slightly beaked, 0.9-1 x 0.25-0.3 mm, funicular end spongy, seed body 0.6-0.7 mm long, restricted to upper portion of seed.

  • Discussion

    It is likely that the Glaziou collection has been mislabeled as the same data are given for a collection of Buddleja elegans subsp. elegans. The location is much more likely to be correct for the latter taxon. Several other botanists have found errors in his distribution data (Wurdack, 1970). Buddleja grandiflora was erroneously indicated as dioecious (Norman & Smith, 1976). A reexamination of the available material does not support this conclusion.

    To determine if the spongy cells at the base of the seeds might be effective in keeping the seeds afloat, I removed with the aid of a microscope and a razor blade that portion from 12 seeds. These were placed with 12 normal seeds in a petri dish filled with water and agitated several times a day. After one week, nine of the “desponged” seeds and three of the control seeds had sunk to the bottom of the dish.

    This species is closely related to B. cestriflora, B. stachyoides, B. tubiflora, and B. hatschbachii.

  • Distribution

    Found in marshy fields and margins of rivers and brooks at elevations of 400-1400 m in S Brazil, adjacent Argentina and Uruguay. Flowering from October to April; fruiting from December to April.

    Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| Paraná Brazil South America| Rio Grande do Sul Brazil South America| Santa Catarina Brazil South America| São Paulo Brazil South America| Argentina South America| Corrientes Argentina South America| Uruguay South America| Cerro Largo Uruguay South America| Rivera Uruguay South America| Tacuarembó Uruguay South America|