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 | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
Genus: | Buddleja |
Species: | B. vexans
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Binomial name | |
Buddleja vexans |
Description
editBuddleja 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
editThe shrub is not known to be in cultivation beyond Peru.