Caprifoliaceae

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{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen | name = Caprifoliaceae | image = honeysuckle_w_y.jpg | image_width = 240px | image_caption = Lonicera japonica | regnum = Plantae | divisio = Magnoliophyta | classis = Magnoliopsida | ordo = Dipsacales | familia = Caprifoliaceae | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision = See text. }}

The Caprifoliaceae or honeysuckle family is a clade 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 (= appendage 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.

1 Taxonomy
2 Uses
3 References
4 External links

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Taxonomy

(with approximate numbers of species).

Much of the debate over the taxonomy of this group has been settled.

The evolutionary taxonomy of this group includes

Diervilleae

Diervilla (Bush Honeysuckle): 3 species
Weigela: 10 species.

Heptacodium

Heptacodium (Seven-son Flower): 1 species

Caprifolieae

Leycesteria: 6 species
Lonicera (Honeysuckle): 180 species
Symphoricarpos (Snowberry): 17 species
Triosteum (Horsegentian): 6 species

Linnaeeae

Abelia : 30 species
Dipelta: 4 species
Kolkwitzia (Beautybush): 1 species
Linnaea : (Twinflower) : 1 species

Morinaceae

Cryptothladia
Morina

Dipsacaceae

Triplostegia

Triplostegia

Valerianaceae

No longer included in Caprifoliaceae:

(regarded by some as belonging to a separate family Adoxaceae /Alseuosmiaceae)

Alseuosmia : 8 species
Memecylanthus : 1 species
Periomphale : 2 species

(regarded by some as belonging to a separate family Adoxaceae /Carlemanniaceae)

Carlemannia : 3 species
Silvianthus : 2 species.

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Uses

The plants belonging to this family are mainly hardy ornamental shrubs or vines, many popular garden shrubs, especially Lonicera. A few have become invasive weeds outside of their native ranges (such as Lonicera japonica). Elderberries (Sambucus) are used in traditional folk medicine to make elderberry wine.

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References

Flowering Plants of the World, 1987, Vernon H. Heywood, Andromeda Oxford Ltd., ISBN 90 5210 165 5
Botanica, Gordon Cheers, Random House Australia, ISBN 3 8290 1953 X

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