''Buddleja axillaris'' is a
shrub
A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...
endemic to
Madagascar, the
Comoro Islands, and
Tanzania, growing in forests at elevations of 300–1400 m. The species was first named and described by
Willdenow
Carl Ludwig Willdenow (22 August 1765 – 10 July 1812) was a German botanist, pharmacist, and plant taxonomist. He is considered one of the founders of phytogeography, the study of the geographic distribution of plants. Willdenow was al ...
in 1827.
[Willdenow, (1827). ''Mant.'' 3: 97. 1827.]
Description
''Buddleja axillaris'' is a
sarmentose shrub 2–3 m in height, with quadrangular branchlets, often obscurely winged, and white-pubescent. The opposite leaves have thinly
coriaceous ovate to narrowly elliptic blades, 6–30 cm long by 2–10 cm wide,
acuminate or apiculate, abruptly narrowed at the base, minutely
pilose
Trichomes (); ) are fine outgrowths or appendages on plants, algae, lichens, and certain protists. They are of diverse structure and function. Examples are hairs, glandular hairs, scales, and papillae. A covering of any kind of hair on a pl ...
above, but white-tomentose to subglabrous beneath, with mostly shallow
crenate - dentate margins. The slender white or occasionally yellow
inflorescences are axillary, solitary and
thyrsoid 3–14 cm long by 1–4 cm wide, the
corollas 5–17 mm long.
[Leeuwenberg, A. J. M. (1979). ''The Loganiceae of Africa XVIII - Buddleja LII, Revision of the African & Asiatic species. ''Mededelingen Landbouwhogeschool Wageningen, Nederland. 79–6 (1979).]
The species is considered closely related to
''B. cuspidata'' and
''B. sphaerocalyx''.
Cultivation
''Buddleja axillaris'' is not common in cultivation.
Hardiness:
USDA zone 10.
[Stuart, D. (2006). ''Buddlejas''. Plant Collector Guide. Timber Press, Oregon, USA. ]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4984422
acuminata
Flora of Madagascar
Flora of the Comoros
Flora of Tanzania