Lonicera sempervirens L.
Family - Caprifoliaceae
Stems - To several meters long, trailing to climbing or twining, typically glabrous.
Leaves - Opposite, decussate, sessile, glabrous and deep green above, dull green to glaucous below, entire, broadly ovate to elliptic, to +5cm long, +4cm broad. Leaves just below inflorescence typically perfoliate and joined at base.
Inflorescence - Terminal paired cymules at each node. Cymules of typically 3 flowers each (so six flowers per node). Flowers sessile.
Flowers - Corolla deep red, glabrous, to 5cm long, 5-lobed(slightly bilabiate). Lobes acute, to 6mm long. Stamens 5, exserted, adnate at base of corolla tube. Filaments white, glabrous. Anthers yellow, to 3-4mm long. Style exserted past stamens, whitish, glabrous. Stigma capitate. Ovary inferior. Calyx minute, 5-toothed, glabrous, green. Teeth to -1mm long, whitish.
Flowering - April - July.
Habitat - Cultivated and rarely escaped to thickets and roadsides.
Origin - Native to the Eastern U.S., cultivated in Missouri.
Other info. - This is a very striking plant while in flower. The brilliant red flowers cannot be missed and are great for attracting flying insects. The species name of the plant means "evergreen" and the leaves do hold on the plant throughout the winter.
Photographs taken at the Kansas City Zoo, 6-4-00.