Pavetta australiensis
Pavetta australiensis, commonly known as butterfly bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae, found in drier rainforest areas in northeastern Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Description
Pavetta australiensis is a small shrub up to about tall with leaves up to about long and wide. Fragrant white flowers are born in panicles at the ends of the twigs. The fruit is a small black drupe containing one or two seeds.
Distribution and habitat
It grows as an understorey shrub in a variety of forest types including beach forest, rainforest and monsoon forest, at altitudes from sea level to about. The southern limit of its range is the far northeastern corner of New South Wales, extending north along the coast and sub-coastal ranges of Queensland to the top of Cape York Peninsula and into New Guinea.
Ecology
It is highly attractive to pollinators, especially butterflies, which is where is gets the name 'butterfly bush'. In Australia, it is viewed as a better alternative to introduced species, such as Buddleja davidii.
Etymology
The genus name pavetta is derived from the Sinhalese plant name Pawetta. The species epithet australiensis combines 'Australia' with the Latin suffix -ensis meaning 'from' or 'belonging to'.