Buddleja pichinchensis Kunth

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Buddlejaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Buddleja pichinchensis Kunth

  • Type

    Type. Ecuador. Pichincha: Pichincha Volcano, Humboldt & Bonpland s.n. (holotype, B-W; photos F neg. 3902 F, GH, NY; isotypes, F, P, US).

  • Synonyms

    Buddleja calycina Benth., Buddleja ledifolia Kraenzl.

  • Description

    Species Description - Dioecious shrub or tree 3-6 m tall, with blackish fissured bark, older trees with gnarled appearance, young branches terete with thick tomentum. Leaves sessile or subsessile, petiole to 0.5 cm long, with stip-ular lines or auriculate stipules, 1-1.5 x 1.8-2 cm in young shoots, blades lanceolate, 3—10(—15) x 0.7-3 (-5.5) cm, coriaceous or subcoriaceous, above glabres-cent, below with thick tomentum, usually only midvein visible; apex acuminate, base acute to acuminate, margin entire to crenulate. Inflorescence 3-12 cm long, with 1-2 orders of branches, usually with 3-6 pairs of pedunculate heads, sometimes basal branches divided, basal branches subtended by leaves, upper ones by bracts; heads recurved, subtended by bracteoles with one central pedicellate flower surrounded by 12-18 flowers, 1.2-2 cm diam. Calyx campanulate, densely wooly outside, tube 3.5-^4 mm long, lobes 1.5—2(—3) mm, sometimes unequal. Corolla golden yellow, turning orange, subsalverform, outside thickly tomentose on upper part of tube, glabrous inside, tube 3-5 mm long, lobes orbicular, 2-3 x 2.5-3 mm. Stamens subsessile, inserted 1-1.5 mm below sinus, anthers 1.2-2 mm long. Ovary 1.5-2.5 mm long, tomentose, style 1-2 mm long, stigma clavate, 0.7-1 mm long. Capsule cylindrical, 7-9 x 2-2.5 mm, tomentose, dehiscing septicidally and loculicidally at apex, valves acute. Seeds type 3, oblong, 2-2.5 x 0.4-0.5 mm, with wings, seed body 0.9-1.3 mm long.

  • Discussion

    This species is used in making charcoal and for construction (pers. observ.).

    Buddleja arborea Meyen from the vicinity of Juli, near Lake Titicaca, Peru, was placed in synonymy with B. pichinchensis by Walpers (1843) and Bentham (1846). The species’ distribution precludes such a conclusion. Unfortunately no original material is available for B. arborea and I cannot decide with any certainty what taxon it represents.

    The flowers of Buddleja pichinchensis lack a strong odor and are arranged in pendent heads. These characteristics may be associated with hummingbird pollination.

    Buddleja pichinchensis is related to B. incana, B. coriácea, B. montana, and B. nítida. It differs from all these taxa in possessing pendent flower heads, calyces as long as the corolla tubes, and the lack of warty hairs in the corollas. This species may hybridize with B. bullata (Norman, 1982).

  • Common Names

    palo de rayo, quishvar

  • Distribution

    Southern Cordillera Central of Colombia and the northern and central highlands of Ecuador at 3300-4200 m, in subpáramo scrub forest and páramo regions associated with Escallonia and Gynoxys. Flowering throughout the year.

    Colombia South America| Nariño Colombia South America| Ecuador South America| Azuay Ecuador South America| Carchi Ecuador South America| Chimborazo Ecuador South America| Cotopaxi Ecuador South America| Imbabura Ecuador South America| Napo Ecuador South America| Pichincha Ecuador South America| Tungurahua Ecuador South America|