CAPRIFOLIACEAE

HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY

Lauramay T. Dempster

Subshrub, shrub, vine, or small tree
Leaves opposite, simple or compound; stipules generally 0
Flower: calyx tube fused to ovary, limb generally 5-lobed; corolla radial or bilateral, rotate to cylindric, generally 5-lobed; stamens generally 5, epipetalous, alternate corolla lobes; ovary inferior, 1–5-chambered, style l
Fruit: berry, drupe, or capsule
Genera in family: ± 12 genera, 450 species: especially n temp
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated to include Valerianaceae (and Dispaceae); Sambucus, Viburnum recently treated in Adoxaceae

LONICERA

HONEYSUCKLE

Shrub, erect or twining
Leaves simple, entire, short-petioled; 1–2 pairs beneath inflorescence often fused around stem
Inflorescence: spikes, interrupted, at ends of branches, or flowers paired on axillary peduncles and subtended by 0–2 sets of bracts
Flower: calyx-limb 0 or generally 5-toothed, generally persistent; corolla 5-lobed, ± radial or strongly 2-lipped (4 upper lobes, 1 lower), tube pouched at base; ovary chambers 2–3
Fruit: berry, generally round
Species in genus: ± 200 species: temp, subtropical North America, Eur, Asia, n Africa
Etymology: (Adam Lonitzer, German herbalist, 16th century)
Reference: [Rehder 1903 Rep Missouri Bot Gard 14:27–231]
2 collections (Del Norte Co., Eldorado Co.) have purplish, apparently sterile, variously distorted flowers with long, slender ovary/hypanthium; probably alien (key 7.).

Native

L. ciliosa (Pursh) Poir.

ORANGE HONEYSUCKLE

Plant trailing to high-climbing; herbage glabrous or soft-puberulent (leaves ciliate)
Stem 3–30 dm
Leaf deciduous, 6–10 cm; blade oval or ovate, ciliate, base tapered to petiole, tip round to sharp; upper 1–2 pairs fused around stem
Inflorescence: spike, short, dense; flowers ± 20 in 2–4 whorls
Flower: corolla 16–40 mm, ± cylindric, weakly 2-lipped, divided 1/6–1/4, orange; stamens, style, stigma slightly exserted
Fruit ± 8 mm, red, slightly glaucous
Ecology: Forests, thickets
Elevation: 700–1700 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, Cascade Range
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, Montana
Hummingbird-pollinated
Horticultural information: IRR or WET: 4, 5 &SHD: 1, 6, 7, 15, 16, 17.