Lonicera arizonica

Kearney and Peebles 1969, McDougal 1973

Duration: Perennial Nativity: Native Lifeform: Vine General: Herbaceous, trailing or twining vine, if bark is present is grayish-brown and shredding. Leaves: Outside of the inflorescence oval to elliptic, to 5 cm long entire, the margins with small, glandular-ciliate hairs, leaves subtending the inflorescence sessile, clasping, and forming a cup around the inflorescence. Flowers: Borne in groups of 2 or more a terminal cluster, subtended by a leafy, cup-like bract, the flowers trumpet-shaped, bright red with an orange throat, having a long, thin corolla to 35 mm long, slightly bilabiate. Corolla tube scan become swollen on one side above the base. Fruits: Red, fleshy berries with few seeds. Ecology: Found in open coniferous forests from 6,000-9,000 ft (1829-2743 m); flowers June-July. Notes: This species of Lonicera is the only one in Arizona (naturally occurring) with red-orange flowers, making it relatively easy to identify. If flowers are not present, look to the long hairs on the leaf margins and stems as a helpful clue. Ethnobotany: The leaves of the plant were used as a ceremonial emetic. Etymology: Lonicera is named for Adam Lonitzer (1528-1586), a German herbalist, physician and botanist who wrote a standard herbal text that was reprinted many times between 1557 and 1783, while arizonica means of or from Arizona. Synonyms: None Editor: LCrumbacher, 2011