Rubiaceae FAMILY

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

The leaves contain glucosides and can be toxic in large doses. Symptoms include vomiting, convulsions, chronic spasms and muscular paralysis[ 274 Title Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Publication Author Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Website http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm Publisher Botanical Research Institute, Texas. Year 1999 ISBN 1-889878-01-4 Description An excellent flora, which is also available on-line. ].

Botanical Description

Cephalanthus occidentalis is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 7.00 metres tall. It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials..

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Florida, west to Minnesota and California

HabitatA lowland species, growing along the edges of streams, rivers, lakes, swamps and wet floodplains[ 229 Title The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Publication Author Elias. T. Publisher Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. Year 1980 ISBN 0442238622 Description A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions. ].