Honeysuckle

Encyclopedia : H : HO : HON : Honeysuckle

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For an article on the New Zealand honeysuckle tree see Rewarewa.

Honeysuckles (genus Lonicera) are arching shrubs or twining vines in the family Caprifoliaceae, native to the Northern Hemisphere. There are about 180 species of honeysuckle, with by far the greatest diversity in China, where over 100 species occur; by comparison, Europe and North America have only about 20 native species each. Widely known species include Lonicera periclymenum (European Honeysuckle), Lonicera japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle, White Honeysuckle, or Chinese Honeysuckle) and Lonicera sempervirens (Coral Honeysuckle, Trumpet Honeysuckle, or Woodbine Honeysuckle).

The leaves are opposite, simple oval, and from 1–10 cm long; most are deciduous but some are evergreen. Many of the species have sweetly-scented, bell-shaped flowers that produce a sweet, edible nectar. The fruit is a red, blue or black berry containing several seeds; in most species the berries are mildly poisonous, but a few (notably Lonicera caerulea) have edible berries. The plant is eaten by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species - see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Honeysuckles.

Cultivation and uses

Lonicera xylosteum (Fly Honeysuckle) is a common homeopathic remedy, used for asthma, breathing difficulties and syphilis. Lonicera periclymenum (European honeysuckle) is an uncommon homeopathic remedy, used for irritability with violent outbursts.

Wood cuttings from the species Lonicera tartarica, native to Eurasia, are sold as cat toys. The wood contains nepetalactone, which is the active ingredient found in catnip. Many breeds of cats react to the scent of the wood and will paw, lick or rub against it.

Lonicera japonica and Lonicera maackii (Amur Honeysuckle) are considered invasive weeds in the United States and in New Zealand. Honeysuckle can be controlled by cutting, flaming, or burning the plant to root level and repeating on two-week increments until nutrient reserves in the roots are depleted. Honeysuckle can also be controlled through annual applications of glyphosate, or through grubbing if high labor and soil destruction are not of concern.

Another name for honeysuckle is woodbine; and eglantine is used in Milton's L'Allegro.

Selected species

Lonicera acuminata Lonicera alberti Lonicera albiflora – White Honeysuckle Lonicera alpigena – Alpine Honeysuckle Lonicera altmannii Lonicera angustifolia Lonicera anisocalyx Lonicera arborea Lonicera arizonica – Arizona Honeysuckle Lonicera biflora Lonicera bournei Lonicera brevisepala Lonicera buchananii Lonicera buddleioides Lonicera caerulea - Blue-berried Honeysuckle Lonicera calcarata Lonicera calvescens Lonicera canadensis – American Fly Honeysuckle Lonicera caprifolium – Perfoliate Honeysuckle Lonicera carnosifolis Lonicera chrysantha – Chrysantha Honeysuckle Lonicera ciliosa – Orange Honeysuckle Lonicera ciliosissima Lonicera cinerea Lonicera codonantha Lonicera confusa Lonicera conjugialis – Purpleflower Honeysuckle Lonicera crassifolia Lonicera cyanocarpa Lonicera dasystyla Lonicera dioica – Limber Honeysuckle Lonicera elisae Lonicera etrusca – Etruscan honeysuckle Lonicera fargesii Lonicera ferdinandii Lonicera ferruginea Lonicera flava – Yellow Honeysuckle Lonicera fragilis Lonicera fragrantissima – Winter Honeysuckle Lonicera fulvotomentosa Lonicera glutinosa Lonicera graebneri Lonicera gynochlamydea Lonicera hellenica – Greek Honeysuckle Lonicera hemsleyana Lonicera heterophylla Lonicera hildebrandiana Lonicera hirsuta – Hairy Honeysuckle Lonicera hispida Lonicera hispidula – Pink Honeysuckle Lonicera humilis Lonicera hypoglauca Lonicera hypoleuca Lonicera implexa – Lonicera inconspicua Lonicera inodora Lonicera interrupta – Chaparral Honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata – Bearberry honeysuckle Lonicera japonica – Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera jilongensis Lonicera kansuensis Lonicera kawakamii Lonicera korolkowii – Blueleaf Honeysuckle Lonicera lanceolata Lonicera ligustrina Lonicera litangensis Lonicera longiflora

Lonicera longituba Lonicera maackii – Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera macrantha Lonicera macranthoides Lonicera maximowiczii Lonicera microphylla Lonicera minuta Lonicera minutifolia Lonicera modesta Lonicera morrowii – Morrows honeysuckle Lonicera mucronata Lonicera myrtillus Lonicera nervosa Lonicera nigra – Black-berried Honeysuckle Lonicera nitida – Box honeysuckle Lonicera nubium Lonicera nummulariifolia Lonicera oblata Lonicera oblongifolia – Swamp Fly Honeysuckle Lonicera oiwakensis Lonicera oreodoxa Lonicera orientalis Lonicera pampaninii Lonicera periclymenum – European honeysuckle Lonicera pileata – Privet honeysuckle Lonicera praeflorens Lonicera prostrata Lonicera pyrenaica Lonicera reticulata – Grape Honeysuckle Lonicera retusa Lonicera rhytidophylla Lonicera rupicola Lonicera ruprechtiana – Manchurian Honeysuckle Lonicera saccata Lonicera schneideriana Lonicera semenovii Lonicera sempervirens – Trumpet Honeysuckle Lonicera serreana Lonicera setifera Lonicera similis Lonicera spinosa Lonicera splendida Lonicera standishii – Standishs Honeysuckle Lonicera stephanocarpa Lonicera subaequalis Lonicera subhispida Lonicera sublabiata Lonicera subspicata – Southern Honeysuckle Lonicera szechuanica Lonicera taipeiensis Lonicera tangutica Lonicera tatarica – Tartarian Honeysuckle Lonicera tatarinowii Lonicera tomentella Lonicera tragophylla Lonicera tricalysioides Lonicera trichogyne Lonicera trichosantha Lonicera trichosepala Lonicera tubuliflora Lonicera utahensis – Utah Honeysuckle Lonicera villosa – Mountain Fly Honeysuckle Lonicera virgultorum Lonicera webbiana Lonicera xylosteum – Fly Honeysuckle Lonicera yunnanensis

References

• [Flora Europaea: Lonicera]
• [Flora of China: Lonicera species list]

 

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