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Caprifoliaceae

(Family)

Overview

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The Caprifoliaceae or honeysuckle family is a consisting of about 800 dicotyledonous flowering plants, with a nearly cosmopolitan distribution; centres of diversity are found in eastern North America and eastern Asia, while they are absent in tropical and southern Africa.

They are mostly shrubs and vines, rarely herbs, including some ornamental garden plants in temperate regions. The leaves are mostly opposite with no stipules (appendages at the base of a leafstalk or petiole), and may be either evergreen or deciduous. The flowers are tubular funnel-shaped or bell-like, usually with five outward spreading lobes or points, and are often fragrant. They usually form a small calyx with small bracts. The fruit is in most cases a berry or a drupe. The genera Diervilla and Weigela have capsular fruit.

Taxonomy

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(with approximate numbers of species).

Much of the debate over the taxonomy of plants in Dipsacales has been settled. Two of the most familiar members of Dipsacales, the elderberry (Sambucus) and the viburnum, formerly in Caprifoliaceae, have been moved into Adoxaceae, along with some other genera.

The evolutionary taxonomy of Dipsacales:

Diervilleae

Heptacodium

Caprifoliaceae

Linnaeaceae

Morinaceae

Dipsacaceae

Triplostegia

Valerianaceae

No longer included in Caprifoliaceae:

(regarded by some as belonging to a separate family Alseuosmiaceae (order Asterales)

(regarded by some as belonging to a separate family Carlemanniaceae (order Lamiales)

Uses

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The plants belonging to this family are mainly hardy ornamental shrubs or vines, many popular garden shrubs, especially Abelia, Lonicera, and Weigela. A few have become invasive weeds outside of their native ranges (such as Lonicera japonica).

Photos

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Taxonomy

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The Family Caprifoliaceae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

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Abelia

A Genus in the Kingdom Plantae. [more]

Androcymbium

[more]

Anisanthus

[more]

Calyptrostigma

Beyeria is a of shrubs and small trees in the family Euphorbiaceae. The genus is endemic to Australia. [more]

Calysphyrum

[more]

Caprifolium

Honeysuckles (Lonicera; Caprifolium Mill.) are arching shrubs or twining vines in the family Caprifoliaceae, native to the Northern Hemisphere. There are about 180 species of honeysuckle, with by far the greatest diversity in China, where over 100 species occur; by comparison, Europe and North America have only about 20 native species each. Widely known species include Lonicera periclymenum (European Honeysuckle or Woodbine), Lonicera japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle, White Honeysuckle, or Chinese Honeysuckle) and Lonicera sempervirens (Coral Honeysuckle, Trumpet Honeysuckle, or Woodbine Honeysuckle). Hummingbirds are attracted to these plants. [more]

Cavaleriella

[more]

Chamaecerasus

[more]

Coddingtonia

[more]

Colletia

Colletia is a of flowering plants in the family Rhamnaceae, with 15 to 17 species of spiny shrubs. All species of this genus are native to southern South America. [more]

Descliaea

[more]

Diervilla

Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla) is genus of three species of shrubs in the family Caprifoliaceae, all indigenous to eastern North America. The genus is named after a French surgeon Dr. Dierville, who introduced the plant to Europe around 1700. [more]

Dipelta

[more]

Diplodipelta

[more]

Distegia

[more]

Dyase

[more]

Ebulum

[more]

Enthomanthus

[more]

Euchylia

[more]

Fagoides

[more]

Fascicularia

Fascicularia is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae with very few species. The genus Fascicularia is indigenous to Chile. In the wild, all Fascicularias are either terrestrial or saxicolous. [more]

Heptacodium

Heptacodium is a genus of in family Caprifoliaceae. It contains the following species (but this list may be incomplete): [more]

Isika

[more]

Kantemon

[more]

Kolkwitzia

[more]

Leycestera

[more]

Leycesteria

Leycesteria is a of flowering plants in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae, native to temperate Asia in the Himalaya and southwestern China. [more]

Linnaea

Linnaea borealis, commonly known as Twinflower (sometimes written twin flower) is a woodland , treated either in the family Caprifoliaceae, or sometimes in its own family Linnaeaceae. The stems are slender, pubescent and prostrate, growing to 20-40 cm long, with opposite evergreen rounded oval leaves 3-10 mm long and 2-7 mm broad. The flowering stems curve erect, to 4-8 cm tall, leafless except at the base; the flowers are paired, pendulous, 7-12 mm long, pale pink with a five-lobed corolla. [more]

Linnea

[more]

Lonicera

A genus of Diptera. [more]

Lophomyrtus

Lophomyrtus is a of the myrtle family native to New Zealand. It has two species, both evergreen shrubs or trees, noted for their colorful leaves, which are purple, chocolate, red or bronze-green. There are also a number of cultivars. Planting in full sun aids the leaf color to develop. In cool climates, the plant may need to be placed in a sheltered area. This genus is closely related to the Australian Lenwebbia which also has four petals and similar though less colorful leaves. [more]

Macrodiervilla

[more]

Margaris

[more]

Metalonicera

[more]

Microtinus

[more]

Moschatella

[more]

Moschatellina

[more]

Nintooa

[more]

Obolaria

[more]

Opulus

[more]

Oreinotinus

[more]

Pentapyxis

[more]

Periclymenum

[more]

Periomphale

[more]

Phenianthus

[more]

Phyteuma

Phyteuma is a genus of about 40-45 species of in the family Campanulaceae, native to Europe and western Asia. The common name is Rampion. Rampion features prominently in some versions of the story of Rapunzel. In the Grimm's brothers' fairy tale "Rapunzel" it is noted that "rapunzel" is the name given to a local form of rampion. [more]

Sandersonia

Sandersonia is a plant genus native to of the family Colchicaceae. It has only one species, Sandersonia aurantiaca. It is also called Christmas bells, Golden lily of the valley or Chinese lantern lily. S. aurantiaca is a perennial plant and a climber that can reach about 75 cm (30 in) height. The flowers are yellow or orange. [more]

Solenotinus

[more]

Symphoria

[more]

Symphoricarpos

[more]

Symphoricarpus

[more]

Thyrsosma

[more]

Tinus

[more]

Triosteum

Triosteum, commonly known as horse gentian or, less commonly, feverwort, is a of flowering plant which includes six species. It is in the Caprifoliaceae family. [more]

Tripetelus

[more]

Tynus

[more]

Valentiana

[more]

Vesalea

[more]

Viburnum

Viburnum (Viburnum) is a of about 150-175 species of shrubs or (in a few species) small trees that were previously included in the family Caprifoliaceae. Genetic tests by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group showed however that they are correctly classified in the family Adoxaceae. [more]

Wagneria

[more]

Weigela

Weigela is a small genus of about 12 species of shrubs in the family Caprifoliaceae, growing to 1-5 m tall. All are natives of eastern Asia. [more]

Weigelastrum

[more]

Weigelia

Weigela is a small genus of about 12 species of shrubs in the family Caprifoliaceae, growing to 1-5 m tall. All are natives of eastern Asia. [more]

Xylosteon

[more]

Xylosteum

[more]

Zabelia

[more]

At least 21 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Zabelia.

More info about the Genus Zabelia may be found here.

References

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Sources

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Last Revised: November 19, 2008