Buddleia davidii

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• orange-eye butterfly-bush
• summer-lilac
• Buddleia
• Butterfly-Bush
• orange-eye
• Butterfly bush
• Chinese Sagewood
• David's buddleja
• orange-eye butterfly bush
• summer lilac

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Buddleja davidii var. nanhoensis
• Buddleja variabilis var. veitchiana
• Buddleja variabilis var. veitchiana
• Buddleja variabilis var. wilsonii
• Buddleja shaanxiensis
• Buddleja variabilis
• Buddleja variabilis var. magnifica
• Buddleja variabilis var. nanhoensis
• Buddleja delavayi var. tomentosa
• Buddleja heliophila var. adenophora
• Buddleja davidii var. alba
• Buddleja variabilis var. superba
• Buddleja davidii var. magnifera
• Buddleja davidii var. superba
• Buddleja davidii var. wilsonii
• Buddleja striata
• Buddleja shimidzuana
• Buddleja veitchiana
• Buddleja davidii var. veitchiana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales, it is classified under the family Scrophulariaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Buddleja.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across various regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving into Middle Europe, the species can be found growing within the borders of Belgium. It also maintains a notable presence throughout the territories of Germany. Finally, the geographical range extends further into the central region of Czechia-Slovakia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Buddleja davidii is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse altitudinal gradient, typically inhabiting lowland regions but extending into much higher mountainous terrains. It is found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 800 m AMSL to a maximum of 3000 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 1900 m AMSL. This broad vertical distribution allows the species to adapt to various environmental pressures and climatic conditions found across different topographical zones.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

800 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Buddleja davidii is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on aerial shoots, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. The species follows a deciduous lifecycle, meaning it sheds its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes, typically entering a period of dormancy during colder months. This combination of a perennial lifespan, phanerophyte life form, and deciduous nature enables the plant to establish robust woody structures that support its seasonal growth cycles.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Buddleja davidii is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a self-supporting shrub. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, not acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in height, ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 4 meters, with an average plant height of approximately 1.9165 meters. Unlike climbing vines or lianas, this species remains self-supporting in its structural development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

1.9165 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Buddleja davidii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy for temperate woody shrubs. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on traditional nutrient uptake through its root system and does not possess the capability to function as a nitrogen fixer. The plant's foliage displays significant morphological variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 20 cm. The leaf width is similarly diverse, spanning from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, contributing to a mean leaf width of 5.5 cm. These dimensions result in a mean leaf size of 29.7125 cm², reflecting a structured canopy architecture. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 153.03 cm²/g, an indicator of the leaf's resource investment and its efficiency in light interception and gas exchange.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf size mean:

29.7125 cm²

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width mean:

5.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

153.03 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Buddleja davidii is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period typically begins in June and extends through October, facilitating a long reproductive season. The plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects, with a notable affinity for butterflies to facilitate pollen transfer; notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule. These capsules are dehiscent, meaning they split open to release the seeds. The fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 0.75 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 0.9 cm. The seeds themselves are extremely lightweight, with a mean mass of 7.85e-05 g and a range between 1e-04 g and 1e-04 g. For dispersal, the plant employs an anemochorous syndrome, utilizing the wind to transport its tiny seeds to new locations.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit length max:

0.9 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.75 cm

Fruit length min:

0.5 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

butterfly

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

1e-04 g

Seed mass mean:

7.85e-05 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Buddleja davidii has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Apigenin 7-O-beta-D-glucoside, Crocetin, Picrocrocin, acacetin, acacetin-7-o-beta-d-glucoside.

Apigenin 7-O-beta-D-glucoside

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Crocetin

1. Journal of experimental botany

Picrocrocin

1. Journal of experimental botany

acacetin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

acacetin-7-o-beta-d-glucoside

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

apigenin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

luteolin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials