Lonicera dioica
 
Twining Honeysuckle

Inflorescence Oblique View

Crooked Lake Provincial Park
02-June-2006

This is an oblique view of the cross section illustrated in the previous slide.

Note that the key to the genera in Budd's Flora requires:

bullet

flowers usually in pairs; NOT [flowers in clusters]

bullet

inflorescence axillary as well as terminal; NOT [inflorescence all terminal in compound cymes]

In addition, the key to the genera in Flora of Alberta requires:

bullet

flowers mostly in pairs; NOT [flowers in clusters]

In fact, the terminal inflorescence is composed of pairs of three-flowered, opposite cymules.  The species description in Flora of the Great Plains describes all these cymules as sessile.  In fact, there are both sessile and non-sessile cymules present in the inflorescence.

bullet

Dioica: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
bullet

somewhat twining or reclining shrub; NOT erect shrub

bullet

upper leaves connate; NOT [leaves all separate]

bullet

uppermost connate leaves obtuse or acute; NOT pointed at tip

bullet

uppermost connate leaves glaucous; NOT green

bullet

inflorescence a terminal cluster; NOT [flowers in pairs on axillary peduncles]

bullet

flowers conspicuous, yellow to reddish

bullet

fruit red

 

bullet

Lonicera: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora (BF) and Flora of Alberta (FOA) leading to this genus. 
bullet

plants erect or twining shrubs; NOT [low, slender, trailing evergreen shrub]

bullet

leaves simple; NOT [leaves pinnately compound]

bullet

leaves entire or undulate; NOT [leaves toothed or lobed], NOT [leaves with finely toothed margins]

bullet

inflorescence axillary as well as terminal; NOT [inflorescence all terminal in compound cymes] (BF)

bullet

flowers mostly in pairs; NOT [flowers in clusters] (BF, FOA)

bullet

calyx with short lobes; NOT [calyx with 5 linear lobes]

bullet

flowers often slightly irregular; NOT [flowers regular]

bullet

corolla funnelform or tubular; NOT [flowers campanulate], NOT [corolla rotate]

bullet

flowers with 5 stamens; NOT [flowers with 4 stamens]

bullet

fruit a red or black berry; NOT [fruit a white berry],  NOT [fruit a capsule], NOT [fruit a drupe], NOT [fruit white or purplish]

bullet

fruit with 2 or more seeds; NOT [fruit containing a flattened stone]

 
bullet

Caprifoliaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family.  Not all of these answers apply to all members of Caprifoliaceae found in the Canadian prairies.  However, they all do apply to all members of Lonicera found here.
bullet

shrubs; NOT [trees], NOT [herbs]

bullet

large shrubs; NOT dwarf shrubs

bullet

leaves opposite or whorled; NOT [leaves alternate]

bullet

stems bearing few to several flowers; NOT [stems bearing a solitary flower]

bullet

stamens 5; NOT [stamens more than 5], NOT [stamens 2]

bullet

ovary inferior; NOT [ovary superior]

bullet

fruit fleshy; NOT [fruit a capsule]