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

SYMPHORICARPOS

WAXBERRY, SNOWBERRY

Shrub
Stem decumbent to erect, slender
Leaf simple, deciduous, small, short-petioled; blade generally elliptic to round, some often ± lobed
Inflorescence: generally raceme, generally ± terminal, generally few-flowered; flower subtended by 2 fused bractlets
Flower ± radial; hypanthium ± spheric; calyx with 5-toothed, persistent limb; corolla bell-shaped to ± salverform, generally 5-lobed, white or pink, often ± hairy inside; nectaries 1–5, ± basal; stamens generally included; ovary chambers 4, styles generally included, stigma head-shaped
Fruit generally berry-like, generally white
Seeds 2 (1 per lateral ovary chamber), ± oblong, planoconvex
Species in genus: ± 10 species: North America, 1 in China
Etymology: (Greek: to bear fruit together, the berries borne in clusters)
Reference: [Jones 1940 J Arnold Arbor 21:201–252]

Native

S. albus (L.) S.F. Blake var. laevigatus (Fernald) S.F. Blake

SNOWBERRY

Plant erect, 6–18 dm, glabrous or puberulent
Stem: branches stiff, spreading; new shoots erect, unbranched, often with inflorescence, their leaves larger, more variable
Leaf: blade generally 1–3 cm (those of new shoots –6 cm)
Inflorescence: flowers 8–16
Flower: calyx limb spreading, divided halfway; corolla 4–6 mm, bell-shaped, pink, swollen on lower side, glandular within swelling, lobes ± 1/2 corolla length, lobes and upper throat ± densely hairy inside, lobes ± erect
Fruit 8–12 mm, round
Seed 4–5 mm
Ecology: Shady woods, streambanks, n slopes
Elevation: < 1200 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, w edge Cascade Range, n Sierra Nevada Foothills, Central Western California, Southwestern California
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, Montana
Synonyms: S. rivularis Suksd
Naturalized in e US. Fr may be TOXIC to humans
Horticultural information: 4, 6, 15, 16, 17, SHD: 7, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 &IRR: 8, 9, 10, 11; STBL.