RUBIACEyE— MADDER FAMILY 



BUTTON-BUSH. HONEY BALLS 



Cephalanth us occidcntalis. 



Cepha/antkus, of Greek derivation, from cephale, head, and 

 anthos, a flower ; the flowers growing in heads. 



Strong, vigorous, erect shrub, varying from four to fifteen feet 

 high ; stem often contorted ; found on the banks of slow-flowing 

 streams and growing in swamps. Ranges from New Brunswick 

 to western Ontario and south to Florida, Texas and Arizona ; 

 also on the Pacific coast. Root large, stout, often contorted. 



Bark. — Dark gray, cracked, flaky, surface plates thin and 

 loose, even on small branches. Branchlets at first brownish 

 green or reddish brown, later pale dull brown, finally dark 

 ashen gray. 



Leaves. — Opposite or in threes, simple, three to six inches 

 long, oblong-oval or ovate, rounded or wedge-shaped at base, 

 entire, acute or acuminate at apex ; midvein, primary and 

 secondary veins depressed above, very prominent beneath ; when 

 full grown are thick, dark shining green above, paler, sometimes 

 dowaiy, beneath. In autumn they turn a dull yellow or fall w^ith 

 little change of color. Petioles one-half to one inch long, stout, 

 grooved, sometimes twisted. Stipules short, connecting the 

 bases of opposite leaf stems. 



Flowers. — July, August. Perfect, white, fragrant, tubular, 

 sessile, borne in dense spherical heads at the extremities of the 

 branches ; often in groups of threes ; heads exclusive of styles 

 about an inch in diameter ; filled with nectar. Peduncles one to 

 two inches long. Remain in bloom a long time. 



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