Buddleja speciosissima
Encyclopedia
Buddleja speciosissima is a rare species restricted to Mount Itatiaia
in Brazil
, where it grows in rocky grassland at altitudes of 2,000 - 2,500 m; it was first described and named by Taubert in 1893.
, bearing subcoriaceous elliptic to lanceolate
leaves with 1 - 3.5 cm petioles, and measuring 10 - 18 cm long by 2 - 4 cm wide, glabrescent above but tomentose
below. The reddish-orange leafy
inflorescences are 10 - 20 cm long, comprising 1 - 2 orders of branches bearing paired 3 - flowered cymes, the corollas 25 - 30 mm long by 4 mm wide, pollination being by hummingbird
s.
Itatiaia
Itatiaia is a Brazilian municipality of the state of Rio de Janeiro. It is located at an altitude of 390 meters. Its population was 30,168 and its area is 224.96 km²....
in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, where it grows in rocky grassland at altitudes of 2,000 - 2,500 m; it was first described and named by Taubert in 1893.
Description
B. speciosissima is a shrub 1 - 3 m high with light-brown fissured bark. The young branches are thick, subquadrangular, and covered with a dense pale yellow indumentumIndumentum
The indumentum is a covering of fine hairs or bristles on a plant or insect.In plants, the indumentum types are:*pubescent*hirsute*pilose*villous*tomentose*stellate*scabrous*scurfy...
, bearing subcoriaceous elliptic to lanceolate
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
leaves with 1 - 3.5 cm petioles, and measuring 10 - 18 cm long by 2 - 4 cm wide, glabrescent above but tomentose
Tomentum
Tomentum may refer to the following:*In botany, a covering of closely matted or fine hairs on plant leaves. *A network of minute blood vessels in the brain.* Tomentum in zoology are a short, soft pubescence...
below. The reddish-orange leafy
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
inflorescences are 10 - 20 cm long, comprising 1 - 2 orders of branches bearing paired 3 - flowered cymes, the corollas 25 - 30 mm long by 4 mm wide, pollination being by hummingbird
Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...
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