Plants of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Scientific Name Buddleia asiatica L.
Family Buddleiaceae
Other Names Butterfly bush, dog tail, huelo 'ilio (transl. "dog tail")
Status Alien
Distribution & Habitat Native from western Pakistan through southern Asia to Taiwan, Malesia and the Mariana Islands.  In Hawai'i, naturalized primarily in disturbed mesic to wet forest, 100-1,200 m, on O'ahu, Moloka'i, Maui and Hawai'i (Wagner, et al. 1990:416).
Locations in this Guide Mid-Elevation Woodland
General Appearance
These are generally shrubs-size plants although they may be found as small trees, up to 7 m tall (Wagner, et al. 1990: 415).

They are found primarily on disturbed sites such as lava and cinders as well as in mesic and wet forests (Wagner, et al. 1990: 416).

The only site described in this Guide that has this species is the 1974 lava flow part of the Mid-Elevation Woodland.

 Mid-elevation woodland (on 1974 flow)
Individual plants are quite common on the 1974 lava flow.  All of these plants are quite small, with a height of less than a meter being most common.

They are generally scattered across the lava flow as individual plants.

 1974 Flow (at the Mid-Elevation Woodland Site)

Leaves
Mid-Elevation Woodland (on 1974 flow)
Flowers & Fruits
The flowers are usually white, although they may be pale purple or greenish (Wagner, et al. 1990: 415). mid-elevation woodland (1974 flow)
1974 Flow (at the Mid-Elevation Woodland Site) 1974 Flow at the Mid-Elevation Woodland Site

Phenology
Natural History This species was first collected on O`ahu in 1908 (Wagner, et al. 1990: 416).
Conservation
Miscellaneous Photos
Other Notes
References
Links to Other Sites
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Last Updated: 08/05/03