BUTTONBUSH 55 



REFERENCES 



1956. Chemical Basal Treatment to Control Red Alder. Robert H. Ruth and Carl 

 M. Bernsten. USDA Pac. NW For. and Range Exp. Sta. ReP. Note 128. 



1952. Controlling Alder With Basal Stem Sprays. Maurice W. Day. Mich. State 

 Agr. Exp. Sta. Quart. Bui. 34 (4). 



BUTTONBUSH 



BOTANICAL 



Our one native species of buttonbush, Cephalanthiis occidentalis, 

 is widely distributed in swamps and other wet places. It is com- 

 mon throughout the East and is particularly plentiful in the Lower 

 Mississippi region ; in the Southwest and California it occurs only 

 locally. The shrub tolerates fluctuating water levels, shade, and 

 acidity, and frequently develops dense, extensive thickets. Other 

 names are buttonwillow, buttonwood, and elbowbush. 



IMPORTANCE 



In many places, buttonbush does not deserve classification as a 

 weed. Frequently it is not abundant enough to be a serious com- 

 petitor with useful plants, and in some places the duck food 

 (seeds) and cover provided justify its presence. In many other 

 places, however, habitat can be improved for waterfowl by reduc- 

 ing or eliminating buttonbush thickets. 



CONTROL 



Mechanical eradication of buttonbush has been successful in 

 colder parts of its range. The water level is drawn down as low 

 as possible before freeze-up, and when the ice becomes safe the 

 plants are cut with a rotary brush mower. Later, the water level 

 is restored to keep the cut stems inundated during the growing sea- 

 son. The effectiveness of this technique depends on sufficient 

 depth and duration of submergence. 



