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Cephalanthus occidentalis
  • Button Bush

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Cephalanthus genus in the family Rubiaceae.

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Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementshigh
    High
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid, neutral
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 6
    Zone 6
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Cephalanthus occidentalis has 0 material uses listed
Cephalanthus occidentalis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The leaves contain glucosides and can be toxic in large doses. Symptoms include vomiting, convulsions, chronic spasms and muscular paralysis[1].

Edible uses

There are no edible uses listed for Cephalanthus occidentalis.

Material uses

Wood - light, tough. Of no commercial value[2].

Unknown part

Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Button bush was often employed medicinally by native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a range of ailments[3]. It is little used in modern herbalism.

A tea made from the bark is astringent, emetic, febrifuge and tonic[4][5]. A strong decoction has been used to treat diarrhoea and dysentery, stomach complaints, haemorrhages etc[3]. It has been used as a wash for eye inflammations[5]. A decoction of either the roots or the fruits have been used as a laxative to treat constipation[3] The leaves are astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic and tonic[4][5]. A tea has been used to check menstrual flow and to treat fevers, kidney stones, pleurisy etc[5]. The plant has a folk reputation for relieving malaria[5].

The inner bark has been chewed in the treatment of toothaches[5].

Unknown part

Astringent
Diaphoretic
Diuretic
Emetic
Febrifuge
Laxative
Odontalgic
Ophthalmic
Tonic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - we have no details on this plant but would suggest sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe in an acid compost in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in late winter in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Cuttings of soft or semi-ripe wood, July in a frame[6].

Layering.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Cephalanthus occidentalis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

An easily grown plant[7], it prefers an open position in a moisture retentive or wet neutral to acid humus-rich soil[6]. Dislikes dryness at the roots[8]. A calcifuge plant, it dislikes alkaline soils[6]. Requires a sunny position[9].

Plants are hardy to about -25°c[9]. A fast-growing but short-lived species in the wild[2]. The flowers, and the dried leaves, have a soft sweet fragrance like newly mown hay[10]. A good bee plant[11].

Plants are sometimes evergreen[6].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Cephalanthus occidentalis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Cephalanthus occidentalis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Genus
Cephalanthus
Family
Rubiaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
[3][4][5]
Material uses & Functions
[2]
Botanic
[8][12][6]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
6
Heat Zone
?
Water
high
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    deciduous
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    3 x 2
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    "image:Buttonbush in the Everglades.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Buttonbush in the Everglades.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Buttonbush in the Everglades.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Buttonbush in the Everglades.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    "image:Buttonbush in the Everglades.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.




    References

    1. ? Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J [Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas] Botanical Research Institute, Texas. (32202/01/01)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (32202/01/01)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.3 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (32202/01/01)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (32202/01/01)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.55.6 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (32202/01/01)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (32202/01/01)
    7. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (32202/01/01)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (32202/01/01)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30258-2 (32202/01/01)
    10. ? Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (32202/01/01)
    11. ? Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press ISBN 0-292-78958-3 (32202/01/01)
    12. ? Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PFAFimport-43



    "image:Buttonbush in the Everglades.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Cephalanthus_occidentalis&oldid=82032"
    Facts about "Cephalanthus occidentalis"RDF feed
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    Article requires citationsFalse +
    Article requires cleanupFalse +
    Belongs to familyRubiaceae +
    Belongs to genusCephalanthus +
    Has binomial nameCephalanthus occidentalis +
    Has common nameButton Bush +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone6 +
    Has imageButtonbush in the Everglades.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useWood +
    Has mature height3 +
    Has mature width2 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAstringent +, Diaphoretic +, Diuretic +, Emetic +, Febrifuge +, Laxative +, Odontalgic +, Ophthalmic + and Tonic +
    Has primary imageButtonbush in the Everglades.jpg +
    Has search namecephalanthus occidentalis + and button bush +
    Has seed requiring scarificationFalse +
    Has seed requiring stratificationFalse +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid + and Neutral +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameCephalanthus occidentalis +
    Has water requirementshigh +
    Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedNo +
    Tolerates air pollutionFalse +
    Tolerates maritime exposureFalse +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilFalse +
    Tolerates windFalse +
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