Common Name:
Buttonbush
About 10 species of deciduous or evergreen shrubs or small trees. Leaves opposite or whorled, margin entire, with triangular stipules. Flowers small, 4-parted, in axillary globose heads. Fruit separating into two 1-seeded nutlets. Native to Asia, Africa and North and Central America.
Cephalanthus: Greek from kephale, head, and anthos, flower. The flowers of these plants are closely packed into small, globose clusters, i.e., heads.
Pronunciation:
sef-a-LAN-thus
Family:
Rubiaceae