Japanese honeysuckle

 

Scientific Name: Lonicera japonica Thunb. 

Family: Caprifoliaceae

 

MORPHOLOGY

 

Growth Habit and Size: Evergreen climbing shrub, reaching heights between 2 and 5 m.

 

Stems: Liane-like stems.

 

Leaves: Opposite leaves, the lower ones entire, oval, and acute (2-5 x 3-9 cm), with a truncate base; the floral ones reduced.

 

Flowers: Paired on a single peduncle in the axil of reduced leaves, zygomorphic, gamopetalous, pentamerous; calyx reduced to only the tube; white or yellow corolla with the lower lip folded back, (3-5 cm), fragrant. It blooms from April to September.

 

Fruits and Seeds: The fruit is a black berry.

 

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

 

An invasive alien species present throughout Italy except in Molise, cultivated but naturalized in wooded environments, growing between 0 and 800 m.

 

USE

 

Cultivated for ornamental purposes for hedges and pergolas.

 

Photo: Licensed for free use by Saxifraga and Ed Stikvoort, Rutger Barendse.