Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Rubiales>Rubiaceae>Cephalanthus occidentalis L.
| Buttonbush is a common medium-sized shrub found along lake margins and in other sunny, wet areas. During the summer it produces compact ball-shaped heads of white tubular flowers with excerted stamens. Jordan Lake, Chatham Co., NC 9/19/2009. |
| After flowering the heads turn into ball-shaped "buttons". Chatham Co., NC 9/18/2010. |
| Chatham Co., NC 9/18/2010. |
| Chatham Co., NC 9/18/2010. |
| Chatham Co., NC 9/18/2010. |
| Chatham Co., NC 9/19/2009. |
| Chatham Co., NC 9/19/2009. |
| Chatham Co., NC 9/19/2009. |
| A female Sachem is lurking on this flower cluster. Lake Michie, Durham Co., NC 7/15/03. |
| The deciduous leaves are broad, entire, and either opposite or whorled. As you can see, buttonbush is a favorite of butterflies, such as this Silver-spotted Skipper. Lake Michie, Durham Co., NC 7/15/03. |
| It can be difficult to photograph a buttonbush flower without a butterfly attached! (These are E. Tiger Swallowtails.) Lake Michie, Durham Co., NC 7/15/03. |
| Bark detail. Chatham Co., NC 9/19/2009. |
| Chatham Co., NC 9/19/2009. |
| Chatham Co., NC 9/18/2010. |
| Chatham Co., NC 9/18/2010. |
More information:
University of Connecticut
Virginia Tech Dendrology
Wetland Plant Identification
All photographs and text ©2011 by Will Cook unless otherwise indicated.