Lonicera ledebourii Eschs.

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Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Lonicera ledebourii' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/lonicera/lonicera-ledebourii/). Accessed 2024-04-18.

Genus

Lonicera

Synonyms

L. involucrata var. ledebourii (Eschs.) Zab.

Infraspecifics

Other taxa in genus

Glossary

corolla: The inner whorl of the perianth. Composed of free or united petals often showy.
corolla: The inner whorl of the perianth. Composed of free or united petals often showy.
glabrous: Lacking hairs smooth. glabrescent Becoming hairless.
glandular: Bearing glands.
included: (botanical) Contained within another part or organ.
linear: Strap-shaped.
ovate: Egg-shaped; broadest towards the stem.
style: Generally an elongated structure arising from the ovary bearing the stigma at its tip.

References

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Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Lonicera ledebourii' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/lonicera/lonicera-ledebourii/). Accessed 2024-04-18.

Lonicera ledebourii (here labelled L. involucrata) in Meise Botanical Garden (number 19502584), Belgium, is an attractive shrub resistant to air pollution. 31 May 2012. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

A deciduous shrub of sturdy, erect habit, up to 8 or 9 ft high, and as much through; young shoots stout, four-angled, soon glabrous. Leaves ovate-oblong, rounded or narrowed at the base, pointed, 2 to 4 in. long, 1 to 13⁄4 in. wide, dull dark green above, bright green and downy beneath, margins downy; stalk 1⁄4 in. long. Flowers deep orange-yellow tinged with red, produced in pairs from the leaf axils in June, each pair on a downy stalk 1 to 13⁄4 in. long, and subtended by two large, reddish, heart-shaped bracts 5⁄8 in. wide, and two smaller ones; all glandular. These bracts grow after the flower is fertilised. Corolla downy outside, tubular, 3⁄8 to 3⁄4 in. long, 3⁄16 in. wide, with a curious sac at the base; the lobes rounded, erect; stamens not longer than the tube, glabrous or nearly so; style longer, also glabrous. Berries black. Bot. Mag., t. 8555.

Native of California in coastal localities; introduced in 1838. A robust species very distinct from all others except involucrata (see below). In habit, foliage, and the long flower-stalk it has some resemblance to L. alpigena, but the short-tubed, two-lipped corolla with spreading lobes, and the tiny, linear bracts of that species are very different. L. ledebourii grows well close to the sea.

L. involucrata (Richardson) Spreng. Xylosteum involucratum Richardson – L. ledebourii is included in this species by many botanists. According to Rehder it differs in the following particulars: smaller habit; leaves thinner, not so downy (sometimes glabrous); corollas yellow, with shorter stamens. Native of Mexico, western North America, S. Canada, and the region of the Great Lakes; introduced in 1824 (according to Loudon, the plants from this introduction grew 2 to 3 ft high). Flowers in May.

Young shoot with leaves, flowers and fruits of Lonicera ledebourii. The reddish heart-shaped bracts are also very ornemental. Meise Botanical Garden (number 19502584). 31 May 2012. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

The leaves, which are a brighter green beneath, highlight the orange-yellow flowers of Lonicera ledebourii. Meise Botanical Garden (number 19502584). 31 May 2012. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

The flowers of Lonicera ledebourii, produced in pairs, are deep orange-yellow tinged with red. Marly Farm, Blandain, Belgium. 7 June 2020. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

The two large, reddish, heart-shaped bracts of Lonicera ledebourii grow after the flower is fertilised. They add extra appeal to this shrub. Marly Farm, Blandain, Belgium. 7 June 2020. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

The Leaves of Lonicera ledebourii are somewhat dark-green above, and bright-green and very downy beneath. Garden of the photographer, Oisquercq, Belgium. 21 March 2021. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

The flowers of Lonicera ledebourii, produced in pairs, are deep orange-yellow tinged with red and subtended by two large bracts. Garden of the photographer, Oisquercq, Belgium. 26 April 2021. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

The black fruits of Lonicera ledebourii, mostly produced in pairs, are beautifully highlighted by the subtended bracts. Marly Farm, Blandain, Belgium. 21 July 2018. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

The black berries of Lonicera ledebourii are considered very unpalatable or even poisonous. There are referred as "monster food" or "craw berry" for these reasons by some indigenous groups. Marly Farm, Blandain, Belgium. 21 July 2018. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

f. humilis Koehne

A dwarf form, 1{1/2} to 2 ft high. Leaves ovate or oblong-ovate.

f. serotina Koehne

Differs mainly in its later flowering (July-August). Both these forms were probably introduced from Colorado by Purpus and distributed by Späth’s nursery.