HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY 



of fruit appear in the axils of the opposite leaves and 

 are so full and crowded that they surround the stem. 

 As an example of this remarkable prolificness, a single 

 fruiting stem seven inches long was found to bear fif- 

 teen double clusters, and each cluster had from seven 

 to nine berries, making the total production about two 

 hundred and fifty currants upon an average stem ; many 

 stems produced more. 



In autumn these drooping wands of crimson berries 

 adorned with leaves are most beautiful, — a bed of them 

 enchanting. Moreover, these berries have great stay- 

 ing powers ; the first heavy winter storms destroy the 

 leaves which remain brown and curled until the winds 

 carry them away, — but the clusters of berries are ap- 

 parently undisturbed ; they neither darken nor shrivel. 

 Each tiny berrv has a crimson skin, thin white mealy 

 flesh, and two white bony seeds. The birds find noth- 

 ing desirable about them and leave them entirely un- 

 touched. 



LONICERA. HONEYSUCKLE 



Lonicera. 



Named in honor of Adam Lonitzer, a German herbalist of 

 the sixteenth century. 



The Lonicera group commonly called honeysuckles 

 are best known by the climbing vines which adorn our 

 piazzas. Of erect shrubs Lonicera tartarica, the Tar- 

 tarian Honeysuckle in its many varieties, is a favorite 

 and deservedly so. It was brought to this country 

 from Asia, as its name indicates; and has only here and 

 there escaped from cultivation. Lonicera xylostenm, the 

 Fly-honeysuckle of our gardens, is also an Asiatic spe- 



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