Buddleja bullata Kunth

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Buddlejaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Buddleja bullata Kunth

  • Type

    Type. Ecuador. Andes of Quito, Humboldt & Bonpland s.n. (lectotype, here designated, P; photos F neg. 38914 F, GH, US).

  • Synonyms

    Buddleja mollis Kunth, Buddleja lindenii Benth., Buddleja mollis Kunth, Buddleja verleyseniana Gilg, Buddleja vernixia Kraenzl., Buddleja myriantha Diels, Buddleja obovata Kraenzl.

  • Description

    Species Description - Dioecious shrub or tree 1-6(-10) m tall, with grayish tan bark, branches subquadrangular, tomentose. Leaves with petiole 0.5-3 cm long, with stipular lines, blades elliptic, lanceolate or ovate, 8-16(-22) x 3-6(-8) cm, membranaceous to subcoriaceous, above glabrescent, often búllate, below tomentose, white or yellowish; apex acute to acuminate, base acute or attenuate, margin subentire or serrulate. Inflorescence 7-25 x 7-20 cm, paniculate with 3-4 orders of branches, basal branches subtended by leaves, branches closer to the apex by linear bracts, flowers grouped into small heads, 0.8-1.2 cm diam., each with 6-12 flowers. Calyx campanulate, tomentose outside, tubes 1.5-2.5 mm long, lobes 1-1.5 mm long, acute. Corolla cream or yellow, turning orange, tubular to campanulate, tomentose outside, inside with warty hairs in upper half of tube and at base of lobes, tube 2.5-3.5 mm, lobes suborbicular, 1-2 x 1-2 mm. Stamens subsessile, inserted 1-1.5 mm below sinus, anthers 0.5-1 mm long. Ovary 1.5-2 mm long, tomentose, style 1.5-2 mm long, stigma globose, bilobed, 0.5-0.7 mm long. Capsule cylindrical, 4.5-5 x 2-2.5 mm, tomentose, dehiscing primarily septicidally, valves acute. Seeds type 3, oblong, 1.2-1.5 x 0.3-0.35 mm, with wings, seed body mass 0.7-0.9 mm long.

  • Discussion

    Bees and flies are attracted to the flowers.

    Buddleja bullata is a variable species, especially in leaf and inflorescence size. The collections from Colombia show the greatest degree of variability and altitudinal range. In Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru, B. bullata is found primarily at 2000 to 3000 m and bears cream to light yellow flowers, fading to a brownish orange, disposed in small cymules on medium-size, paniculate inflorescences. Some of the collections from Colombia show this typical pattern, but others have strong yellow-colored flowers which turn orange as they mature, often in very large highly branched inflorescences. These flowers may be grouped into small cymules, but sometimes they form ball-like heads, similar to those in B. incana. There is no obvious correlation between the size and branching of the inflorescence, coloration of the flowers, altitude, or geographical distribution.

    These variations are likely to indicate past introgressions with B. incana. I cite one specimen which is intermediate between the two taxa: COLOMBIA. Cundinamarca: Facatativa, Uribe 3157 (US).

    Buddleja bullata is also thought to hybridize with B. pichinchensis (Norman, 1982).

    Male flowers of Buddleja bullata are more campanulate, i.e. with a wider orifice and wider corolla lobes, than female flowers.

    Distribution and Ecology: This species is distributed in the Cordillera of Mérida, Venezuela, the central and eastern Cordilleras of Colombia, the central Cordillera of Ecuador and the northern portion of Cordillera Central of Peru and along the western Cordillera to Monte Zarate, near Lima, from 1800-3600 m, with the higher elevations in Colombia and Venezuela. It grows along stream beds, in canyon bottoms, remnants of montane forest, and subparamo. Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

  • Common Names

    Gavillán, palo blanco, Alma negra, salvia de parámos, quishuar, chita

  • Distribution

    Colombia South America| Antioquia Colombia South America| Boyacá Colombia South America| Caldas Colombia South America| Cauca Colombia South America| Cundinamarca Colombia South America| Norte de Santander Colombia South America| Santander Colombia South America| Valle Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Mérida Venezuela South America| Táchira Venezuela South America| Trujillo Venezuela South America| Ecuador South America| Carchi Ecuador South America| Chimborazo Ecuador South America| Cotopaxi Ecuador South America| Napo Ecuador South America| Pichincha Ecuador South America| Tungurahua Ecuador South America| Peru South America| Amazonas Peru South America| Ancash Peru South America| Cajamarca Peru South America| La Libertad Peru South America| Lima Peru South America|