| Pavetta australiensis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| At Diamond Beach | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Genus: | Pavetta |
| Species: | P. australiensis |
| Binomial name | |
| 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.
Pavetta australiensis is a small shrub up to about 5 m (16 ft) tall with leaves up to about 20 cm (7.9 in) long and 9 cm (3.5 in) 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. [4] [5]
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 1,000 m (3,300 ft). 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. [4] [6] [7]
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 .[ citation needed ][ original research? ]
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'. [5]