Buddleja lanata
Encyclopedia
Buddleja lanata is a species endemic to Ecuador
where it grows on dry, windy plateaux amid grasses and bracken at elevations of 1,150 - 2,700 m. The species, first named and described by Bentham
in 1845 is now threatened by habitat loss.
shrub
or subshrub
, 0.5 - 1 m high with greyish bark at the base. The stems are terete and lanate, bearing leaves on petiole
s 0.5 - 2 cm long. The leaves are ovate
, 7 - 10 cm long by 4 - 7.5 cm wide, lanate on both sides. The yellow inflorescence
s have a strong fragrance, and are typically 10 - 25 cm long, comprising 5 - 10 pairs of pedunculate
heads in the axils of the reduced terminal leaves. The heads are 1.2 - 1.5 cm in diameter, each with 20 - 25 flowers; the corollas 3.5 - 4.5 mm long, males more open at the throat.
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
where it grows on dry, windy plateaux amid grasses and bracken at elevations of 1,150 - 2,700 m. The species, first named and described by Bentham
George Bentham
George Bentham CMG FRS was an English botanist, characterized by Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century".- Formative years :...
in 1845 is now threatened by habitat loss.
Description
B. lanata is a dioeciousDioecious
Dioecy is the property of a group of biological organisms that have males and females, but not members that have organs of both sexes at the same time. I.e., those whose individual members can usually produce only one type of gamete; each individual organism is thus distinctly female or male...
shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
or subshrub
Subshrub
A subshrub or dwarf shrub is a short woody plant. Prostrate shrub is a similar term.It is distinguished from a shrub by its ground-hugging stems and lower height, with overwintering perennial woody growth typically less than 10–20 cm tall, or by being only weakly woody and/or persisting...
, 0.5 - 1 m high with greyish bark at the base. The stems are terete and lanate, bearing leaves on petiole
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
s 0.5 - 2 cm long. The leaves are ovate
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
, 7 - 10 cm long by 4 - 7.5 cm wide, lanate on both sides. The yellow inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s have a strong fragrance, and are typically 10 - 25 cm long, comprising 5 - 10 pairs of pedunculate
Peduncle (botany)
In botany, a peduncle is a stem supporting an inflorescence, or after fecundation, an infructescence.The peduncle is a stem, usually green and without leaves, though sometimes colored or supporting small leaves...
heads in the axils of the reduced terminal leaves. The heads are 1.2 - 1.5 cm in diameter, each with 20 - 25 flowers; the corollas 3.5 - 4.5 mm long, males more open at the throat.