Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
PLANT NAME
Buttonbush
COMMON NAMES
Common Buttonbush, Honey-bells, Pinball
BOTANICAL NAME
Cephalanthus occidentalis
IDENTIFICATION
A deciduous shrub or small tree found in wetlands. It features distinctive, perfectly spherical white flower heads that resemble pincushions or small "buttons."
IDENTIFICATION IMAGE
AI ART TO BE GENERATED
PARTS TRADITIONALLY USED
Bark and roots.
CULINARY USES
INFORMATION NOT RELIABLY ESTABLISHED. The plant is considered toxic and is not edible.
TRADITIONAL USES
The bark was traditionally used by Native Americans as an astringent, emetic, and fever-reducer (febrifuge), sometimes used as a quinine substitute for malaria. A decoction of the roots was used for muscle inflammation.
GROWING / HARVESTING
Native to North America. Obligate wetland plant, growing in swamps, floodplains, and along the edges of ponds.
SAFETY / CAUTION
Always consult your doctor. Contains cephalanthin, a toxic compound that can cause vomiting, paralysis, and convulsions if ingested in significant amounts. Internal use is generally avoided in modern herbalism.