Lonicera hispidula | |
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Lonicera hispidula in Anacortes, Washington | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Dipsacales |
Family: | Caprifoliaceae |
Genus: | Lonicera |
Species: | L. hispidula |
Binomial name | |
Lonicera hispidula | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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The perennial vine Lonicera hispidula is a species of honeysuckle known as pink honeysuckle [2] and, less often, California honeysuckle. [3] It is a low-elevation woodlands shrub or vine domestically grown, specifically found on the West Coast of North America. [4]
Like other honeysuckles, Lonicera hispidula has pairs of leaves that grow opposite each other on the stem, with the uppermost pair fused at the bases to surround the stem. When the branches cling to another plant or surface, the branches elongate outwards while the center of the plants shifts into a bushier, more structured shrub. [5] At the end of the stem grow pink blossoms. [4] It is a perennial shrub or vine. [6] According to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower database, "Berries may be mildly poisonous if eaten. Sensitivity to a toxin varies with a person’s age, weight, physical condition, and individual susceptibility. Children are most vulnerable because of their curiosity and small size." [6]
Lonicera hispidula has an opposite leaf arrangement with a simple leaf complexity. The flower has an entire leaf margin, meaning it has a smooth edge with no serrations. The honeysuckle flowers are tubular and slightly curved, but is described to have an ovate shape when discussing the whole flower including the petals. [5]
The flower species has a unisexual breeding system, where the male and female reproductive organs are split between two flowers. The plant has dioecious flowers, illustrating that there are male or female individual plants present which is less common. The inflorescence is expressed as a spike, meaning that the flowers are arranged on a long and thin axis with the flowers vertically lined up without the presence of branches. The flowers continue to bloom from the base to the tip when the spike is stretched out. [5]
Lonicera hispidula grows in riparian and woodland areas. [4] It commonly grows in coastal riparian sections and mountains in California, but have been seen in the west near the Cascades in Washington and Oregon. [7] The plant is commonly discovered near canyons, streams, and woodlands with an elevation ranging from 1,500 to 3,500 feet. The honeysuckle produces berries, connoting that the fruit has a flesh outer appearance with seeds contained inside. Generally, the berry has a red color when it's at peak maturity and is small with a size of 8 mm. [5] The flowers attract hummingbirds, while other birds eat the fruits. [8]
Lonicera hispidula normally blooms during spring specifically in the months of May and June, depending on the environmental surroundings. Although the flowers are usually pink, they also exhibit other adaptations consisting of white, dark red rose or purple & a light yellow. [5] The plant commonly attracts various organisms including butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
The plant can be grown in protective sun and shade, but thrives the most in acidic, dry to moist soils. [9]
The stems are hollow and sturdy and were used by the Pomo people as smoking pipes. [10] The burned woods ashes were also used for tattooing. [11] It is cultivated by specialty native plant plant nurseries as an ornamental plant for drought-tolerant wildlife gardens and natural landscaping in California. [12] The plant is seemingly pest and disease free and is labeled as a low maintenance plant that can thrive with minimal care which is optimal for a wildlife garden. [9] As mentioned earlier, the flower's fruits contain saponins, which can be mildly toxic to humans if ingested; however, other parts of the plant do not display levels of toxicity. [13] The pink honeysuckle has shown scenarios proving that the plant is a host for the "sudden oak death" pathogen, causing a deadly canker disease for various oak trees originated in California and Oregon. [14]
Currently no subspecies are recognized. Previously recognized subspecies include Lonicera hispidula var. californica (Torr. & A. Gray) Rehder, Lonicera hispidula var. hispidula, and Lonicera hispidula var. vacillans A. Gray. [4]
Honeysuckles are arching shrubs or twining vines in the genus Lonicera of the family Caprifoliaceae. It includes 158 species native to northern latitudes in North America, Eurasia, and North Africa. Widely known species include Lonicera periclymenum, Lonicera japonica and Lonicera sempervirens. L. japonica is a highly invasive species considered a significant pest in parts of North America, Europe, South America, New Zealand, Australia, and Africa.
Eriophyllum lanatum, with the common names common woolly sunflower, Oregon sunshine and golden yarrow, is a common, widespread, North American plant in the family Asteraceae.
Rubus parviflorus, the fruit of which is commonly called the thimbleberry or redcap, is a species of Rubus native to northern temperate regions of North America. The plant has large hairy leaves and no thorns. It bears edible red fruit similar in appearance to a raspberry, but shorter and almost hemispherical. It has not been commercially developed for the retail berry market, but is cultivated for landscapes.
Rubus leucodermis, also called whitebark raspberry, blackcap raspberry, or blue raspberry, is a species of Rubus native to western North America.
Frangula californica is a species of flowering plant in the buckthorn family native to western North America. It produces edible fruits and seeds. It is commonly known as California coffeeberry and California buckthorn.
Ribes malvaceum, the chaparral currant, is a member of the Grossulariaceae. It is native to California and northern Baja California, where it occurs from sea level to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), in chaparral, foothill oak woodland, and closed-cone pine forest habitats.
Eriogonum fasciculatum is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common names California buckwheat and flat-topped buckwheat. Characterized by small, white and pink flower clusters that give off a cottony effect, this species grows variably from a patchy mat to a wide shrub, with the flowers turning a rusty color after blooming. This plant is of great benefit across its various habitats, providing an important food resource for a diversity of insect and mammal species. It also provides numerous ecosystem services for humans, including erosion control, post-fire mitigation, increases in crop yields when planted in hedgerows, and high habitat restoration value.
Salix lasiolepis is a species of willow native to western North America.
Lonicera involucrata, the bearberry honeysuckle, bracted honeysuckle, twinberry honeysuckle, Californian Honeysuckle, twin-berry, or black twinberry, is a species of honeysuckle native to northern and western North America.
Erysimum capitatum is a species of wallflower known commonly as the sanddune wallflower, western wallflower, or prairie rocket.
Rubus ursinus is a North American species of blackberry or dewberry, known by the common names California blackberry, California dewberry, Douglas berry, Pacific blackberry, Pacific dewberry and trailing blackberry.
Lonicera sempervirens is a flowering plant species of honeysuckle vine native to the eastern United States which is known for its reddish flowers.
Eriogonum arborescens is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common name Santa Cruz Island buckwheat.
Sambucus racemosa is a species of elderberry known by the common names red elderberry and red-berried elder.
Ribes aureum, known by the common names golden currant, clove currant, pruterberry and buffalo currant, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Ribes native to North America.
Leptosiphon androsaceus is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family known by the common name of false babystars.
Lonicera subspicata is a species of honeysuckle known by the common name southern honeysuckle. It is native to Baja California, California, and northern Baja California Sur, where it is known from several areas in mountain and coastal habitat, particularly chaparral. It is a vining shrub which usually climbs on other plants for support.
Lonicera tatarica is a species of honeysuckle known by the common name Tatarian honeysuckle. Native to Eurasia, the plant is one of several exotic bush honeysuckles present in North America, being considered an invasive species there.
Ribes indecorum is a species of currant known by the common names white-flowered currant and white chaparral currant. It is native to the southern California Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges, from around Santa Barbara County in California south into northern Baja California.
Xylorhiza tortifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, known by the common names Mojave-aster and Mojave woodyaster.