38 LONICERA 



tubular or bell-shaped and five-lobed, the lobes sometimes equal, but 

 more frequently forming two "lips," the upper lip composed of four short 

 lobes, the lower lip of a single strap-shaped lobe. Fruit a fleshy berry. 

 The flowers often change from white to yellow with age. 



In the British Isles the genus is represented by three species, two of 

 which are typical examples of, and give the name to, two great sections 

 into which it is divided, viz., L. Periclymenum and L. Xylosteum. The 

 leading characteristics of these two sections (many authors have regarded 

 them as distinct genera) are as follows : 



^ PERICLYMENUM. Woodbine, Honeysuckle. Climbers or semi-climbers, 

 with hollow branchlets, one or more of the uppermost pairs of leaves, 

 usually (but not in L. Periclymenum itself) joined together by their 

 bases ; flowers stalkless, usually in threes, forming whorls at the end of 

 the branches, often crowded on somewhat elongated spikes. Fruits 

 never united. (This group is also known as CAPRIFOLIUM.) 



XYLOSTEUM. Bush Honeysuckle. Shrubs of bushy habit; leaves 

 never united ; flowers always in pairs, produced in the leaf-axils, each 

 pair on one stalk ; each pair of fruits often partially, sometimes wholly, 

 cohering. (This group has also been given the generic name of 

 CHAM^CERASUS.) 



There is a third group, distinguished as NINTOOA, which to some 

 extent combines the characters of the other two. They are climbing 

 or creeping shrubs with usually hollow stems; leaves never joined at 

 their bases ; flowers in axillary pairs ; fruits not cohering in any cultivated 

 species. This group of honeysuckles is commonly represented in 

 gardens by L. japonica and its varieties. 



Although the value of the genus in gardens is not commensurate with 

 its size, it does contain a number of extremely beautiful species, and of 

 the Periclymenum or climbing group, every species that is hardy is worth 

 growing. The free-growing woodbines are best accommodated on pergolas 

 or similar supports, or planted to ramble over small trees or bushes ; but 

 some of the less rambling ones may be at first trained up stout posts 

 4 or 6 ft. high, and then allowed to form loose, spreading shrubs, needing 

 no further support. The Periclymenum group are very subject to attacks 

 of aphides in summer, especially during hot dry spells; if these are not 

 repelled by applications of some insecticide (tobacco water and soft soap 

 diluted is as good as anything), they sometimes destroy the crop of 

 blossom. All the species like a good loamy soil, and especially cool 

 moist conditions at the root given these, the attacks of aphides are often 

 naturally overcome. 



The bush honeysuckles are in this country somewhat disappointing 

 shrubs. Many of them, especially those of North Asiatic origin, are 

 almost invariably cut by spring frosts and much of their blossom 

 destroyed. Consequently we never see their full beauty of flower or of 

 fruit and many species are extremely handsome when bearing full crops 

 of red, yellow, black, blue, or white, often translucent, berries. The 

 propagation of those species that do bear fruit is easily effected by seed, 

 but I do not know of any species that cannot be increased by cuttings 

 of firm young shoots, placed in gentle bottom heat about July or August. 



