Common Names: (Everett, 1981)
Higher Taxa: (Esposito, 1994)
Identification: A Swedish botanist and physician, Carl Linnaeus (1708-1778), first identified and recorded the species Lonicera sempervirens in the book Species Plantarum in May of 1753. The Linnaean herbarium contains the main type specimens which is under the care of the Linnaean Society of London (Stafleu et al., 1981). The locations where the specimens were collected could not be found (Branch, 1997).
Radford, Ahles, and Bell
describe the species as follows,
"Vine, climbing to about 5 m, or trailing, stems
glabrous. Leaves partially evergreen, very variable, the
lower elliptic to obovate, those subtending the inflorescence
usually ovate, the last 1 or 2 pairs usually connate, 3-7 cm long,
1-4.5 cm wide, acute to rounded, entire, eglandular or less
frequently stipitate-glandular ciliate, base cuneate to rounded,
glaucous beneath; petioles 0-10 mm long. Peduncles 1-5 cm
long, terminal on new growth, usually with 3-flowered sessile
cymules, each cymule subtended by a small bract and each
flower with a pair of similar bracteoles; ovaries separate.
Calyx lobes obsolete to 0.3 mm long; corolla nearly
actinomorphic, red, often yellow within, tube 3-5 cm long,
not gibbous at base, lobes whitish to yellowish, finely beaded,
raised in center, 4-8 mm long" (Radford et.al 1968).
A
series of photographs
is available from the
herbarium
at Texas A & M University.
Two useful examples are the photographs of L.sempervirens
flowers and
fruit
courtesy of
Dr. J. R Manhart,
Click on the images above for an enlarged view.
Geography: This species of honeysuckle is native to areas stretching from Connecticut to Nebraska (Everett, 1981). It is abundant throughout the cumberland plateau and piedmont regions of Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky (Radford et.al 1968). It spreads from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana eastward to Florida and north to Maine and Missouri (Vines, 1960).
Lonicera sempervirens | ||
AREA | STATUS | REFERENCES |
North America: Continental United States; Canada |
Yes | Huxley, Griffith, & Levy,1992 |
Eastern North America: United States east of Mississippi; Ontario and eastern Canada |
Yes | Huxley, Griffith, & Levy, 1992 |
Southeastern United States: AL AR DE DC FL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV |
Yes | Huxley, Griffith, & Levy, 1992 |
Southern Appalachian
States: AL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV |
Yes | Huxley, Griffith, & Levy, 1992 |
Coastal Plain | Widespread |
Radford, Ahles & Bell, 1968; Jones & Coile, 1988 |
Piedmont | Widespread | Radford, Ahles & Bell, 1968; Jones & Coile, 1988 |
Blue Ridge Mountains | Widespread | Radford, Ahles & Bell, 1968 |
Great Smoky Mountains National Park | Yes | Radford, Ahles, & Bell 1968 |
Ridge and Valley | Yes | Jones & Coile, 1988 |
Cumberland Plateau | Yes | Jones & Coile, 1988 |
Central Arch | ? | - |
Georgia | Widespread | Jones & Coile, 1988 |
Clarke County, Georgia | Yes | Jones & Coile, 1988 |
Sams Farm | Probably | Catie Branch, Pers. Guess |
Old Field | Probably not | Catie Branch, Pers. Guess |
Wetland | ? | - |
Wood | Probably | Catie Branch, Pers. Guess |
1-Hectare Plot | Probably | Catie Branch, Pers. Guess. |
How to Encounter: This species grows primarily
in well-drained places, open woodlands, woodland boarders and
sometimes in floodplain woodlands
(Godfrey, 1981).
It can commonly be found in thickets and along fence rows
(Radford et al., 1968).
Look for its distinct unscented coral colored blooms in the months
of spring. L.sempervirens is also available from commercial
nurseries, including Stacy
Adams Nursery in West Point, Georgia.
Return to Taxonomy Page.
Return to Table of Contents.
Go To References.