Buddleja vexans is a recently (2000) recognized species endemic to central Peru, growing along streams, roads and cliffs at altitudes of 3,300 – 3,900 m. Norman adjudged the plant to be a probable hybrid between B. coriacea and B. incana.[1]

Buddleja vexans
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Buddleja
Species:
B. vexans
Binomial name
Buddleja vexans
Kraenzl. & Loes. ex E. M Norman

Description

edit

Buddleja vexans is a sterile shrub 3 – 5 m high with a trunk < 30 cm in diameter, the bark brown and fissured. The younger branches are terete and tomentose, bearing coriaceous elliptic leaves 4.5 – 8 cm long by 1 – 3 cm wide, glabrous and rugose above, densely tomentose below. The fragrant golden-orange paniculate leafy-bracted inflorescences are 5 – 12 cm long by 5 – 9 cm wide, comprising 1 – 2 orders of branches bearing heads 1.5 – 2 cm in diameter, each with 16 – 20 flowers, the corollas 4 – 5 mm long.[1]

A popular garden plant in Peru, Norman considers B. vexans to have the greatest horticultural merit of all the American buddlejas.[1]

Cultivation

edit

The shrub is not known to be in cultivation beyond Peru.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Norman, E. M. (2000). Buddlejaceae. Flora Neotropica 81. New York Botanical Garden, USA