The straight stems and spherical inflorescences of Cephalanthus occidentalis are reminiscent of childhood craftwork, each cluster like a model molecule or solar system made from sticks and foam. The individual spheres are actually composed of dozens of tiny flowers, their pin-like stamens fixing their anthers in orbit like satellites. Rich in nectar and pollen, the native buttonbush — pictured here along the Buttonbush Trail in Eastham — makes a trouble-free addition to the pollinator garden, though harmless galls formed by eriophyid mites can sometimes give the normally glossy leaves an alien appearance.
