Buddleja racemosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buddleja racemosa |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Buddleja
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| Species: |
racemosa
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The Buddleja racemosa, often called the Wand Butterfly Bush or Texas Butterfly Bush, is a special plant found only in a small part of Texas, United States. This means it is endemic to that area. You can find it growing along streams, creeks, and springs on the southern edge of the limestone Edwards Plateau, from Austin to Rocksprings. This plant was first officially named and described by a scientist named John Torrey in 1859.
Contents
What Does the Wand Butterfly Bush Look Like?
The Buddleja racemosa is a small, somewhat loose shrub that usually grows between 0.3 and 1.5 meters (about 1 to 5 feet) tall. It has grayish-brown bark that can look cracked. Its older branches stay on the plant for a long time.
Branches and Leaves
The younger branches of this plant are round and covered with fine hairs, making them feel soft or fuzzy. They also have tiny glands, which might make them a bit sticky. The leaves are small, tough, and shaped like an oval or a spear. They are usually 3 to 10 centimeters (about 1 to 4 inches) long and 1.5 to 4 centimeters (about 0.6 to 1.6 inches) wide. Each leaf has a short stem, less than 2 centimeters long, that connects it to the branch.
Flowers and How They Grow
The flowers of the Wand Butterfly Bush are pale yellow. They grow in long clusters called inflorescences, which can be 8 to 30 centimeters (about 3 to 12 inches) long. Each cluster usually has 8 to 12 pairs of small, round groups of flowers. Each of these round groups is about 0.5 to 0.7 centimeters (less than an inch) across and holds 6 to 12 individual flowers.
Male and Female Plants
An interesting fact about Buddleja racemosa is that it is a dioecious plant. This means that individual plants are either male or female. A male plant will have only male flowers, and a female plant will have only female flowers. Both are needed for the plant to make seeds.
Where Does It Grow?
This plant prefers to grow at elevations between 250 and 750 meters (about 820 to 2,460 feet) above sea level. Its natural home is very specific, found only in the southern part of the Edwards Plateau in Texas.
Is It Grown in Gardens?
Currently, the Buddleja racemosa is not commonly grown in gardens or by plant enthusiasts. It is mainly found in its natural habitat in Texas.
