Lonicera involucrata | |
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Lonicera involucrata var. ledebourii | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Dipsacales |
Family: | Caprifoliaceae |
Genus: | Lonicera |
Species: | L. involucrata |
Binomial name | |
Lonicera involucrata | |
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Distribution | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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Lonicera involucrata, the bearberry honeysuckle, bracted honeysuckle, twinberry honeysuckle, Californian Honeysuckle, [3] twin-berry, or black twinberry, is a species of honeysuckle native to northern and western North America.
It is a large shrub that can grow 0.5–5 metres (1+1⁄2–16+1⁄2 feet) high, [4] with shoots with a quadrangular cross-section.
The leaves are elliptic to oval-shaped, 3–14 centimetres (1–5+1⁄2 inches) long [4] and 2–8 cm (1–3 in) broad; they are hairy along the margins and on the underside, and have a distinctive abruptly acuminate tip. They are of opposite arrangement. [4]
The flowers are yellow, tubular, hairy, 1–2 cm long, and are monoecious; they are produced in pairs from leaf axils, [4] subtended by a pair of reddish basal bracts 2–4 cm across.
The fruit is a black berry, 6–12 millimetres (1⁄4–1⁄2 in) wide, containing several small seeds, [5] [6] [7] ripening in mid-to-late summer. [8] It is unpalatable. [4]
There are two varieties: [6] [9] [10]
It is found from southern Alaska east across boreal Canada to Quebec, and south through the western United States to California, and to Chihuahua in northwestern Mexico. It grows at elevations from sea level to 2,900 m (9,500 ft). [11] [5] [6]
It grows in moist, wooded areas, especially in clearings and on the edges of wetlands. Its Wetland Indicator Status is FAC+, so it is equally likely to be found in wetlands and non-wetlands.
The berries are eaten by bears, birds, and small mammals, and the flowers are an important source of nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, and moths. [12] The twigs and leaves are browsed by deer. [13] However, in some parts of its range the plants are not abundant enough to be a staple food for wildlife. [14]
While its conservation status is considered to be secure through most of its range, black twinberry is considered vulnerable in Alaska, Manitoba, and Colorado and critically imperiled in Wisconsin. [1]
The berries is probably inedible and possibly poisonous, despite sometimes being reported otherwise. [4] [15] Pacific Northwest Coast indigenous groups referred to them as 'monster food' and 'crow berry' for this reason. [16] [13]
It is often used as an ornamental plant. It is resistant to air pollution, and can be kept in a large garden. [17] It is commonly used in restoration applications throughout its native range, especially in riparian zones for stream bank stabilization. [12]
Native American groups such as the Quileute, Kwakwaka’wakw, and Haida made use of the plant in various ways. The berries were used to make black pigment and hair dye, and the bark, berries and leaves were made into poultices and teas. [12] The bark was used along with willow bark to weave clothing. [13]
Honeysuckles are arching shrubs or twining vines in the genus Lonicera of the family Caprifoliaceae. The genus 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.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi is a plant species of the genus Arctostaphylos widely distributed across circumboreal regions of the subarctic Northern Hemisphere. Kinnikinnick is a common name in Canada and the United States. Growing up to 30 centimetres in height, the leaves are evergreen. The flowers are white to pink and the fruit is a red berry.
Holodiscus discolor, commonly known as ocean spray or oceanspray, creambush, or ironwood, is a shrub of western North America.
Lonicera caerulea, also known by its common names blue honeysuckle, sweetberry honeysuckle, fly honeysuckle, blue-berried honeysuckle, or the honeyberry, is a non-climbing honeysuckle native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere regions of North America, Europe, and Asia.
Prunus subcordata, known by the common names Klamath plum, Oregon plum, Pacific plum and Sierra plum, is a member of the genus Prunus, native to the western United States, especially California and Oregon.
Salix lasiolepis is a species of willow native to western North America.
The perennial vine Lonicera hispidula is a species of honeysuckle known as pink honeysuckle and, less often, California honeysuckle. It is a low-elevation woodlands shrub or vine domestically grown, specifically found on the West Coast of North America.
Lonicera interrupta, commonly known as chaparral honeysuckle, is a species of plant found in the western United States.
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.
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.
Ribes lobbii is a shrubby, perennial dicot found on the western coast of North America.
Ribes divaricatum is a species in the genus Ribes found in the forests, woodlands, and coastal scrub of western North America from British Columbia to California. The three accepted varieties have various common names which include the word "gooseberry". Other common names include coast black gooseberry, wild gooseberry, Worcesterberry, or spreading-branched gooseberry.
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 californicum, with the common name hillside gooseberry, is a North American species of currant. It is endemic to California.
Ribes hudsonianum is a North American species of currant, known by the common name northern black currant.
Rubus lasiococcus is a North American species of wild blackberry known by the common names roughfruit berry and dwarf bramble.
Lonicera utahensis is a species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle family known by the common names Utah honeysuckle, red twinberry, and fly honeysuckle. It is native to western North America.