Species: Lonicera oblongifolia var. oblongifolia (Goldie) Hook.

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Lonicera oblongifolia var. oblongifolia (Goldie) Hook.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Caprifoliaceae

Genus:

Lonicera

Species Synonyms:

none

Common Names:

swamp fly honeysuckle

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

eastern Saskatchewan - Manitoba - New Brunswick - Nova Scotia

Saskatchewan:

east-central Saskatchewan; Nipawin - Porcupine Hills

Ecoregion:

Boreal Transition, Mid-Boreal Lowland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

wet, shaded woods and muskegs

Associated Species:

Larix laricina, Lonicera caerulea, Picea mariana, Rhamnus alnifolia, Rubus idaeus, Salix sp., Tofieldia glutinosa

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Threatened

Nature Conservancy Status:

G4 S2

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Lonicera oblongifolia var. oblongifolia is threatened in Saskatchewan because it is uncommon. This species is regionally restricted to two general regions of the province and most local populations are small. No immediate threats are known for this species.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

80 – 100 cm

Stems:

shrubby; bark greyish, smooth; branchlets pith-filled

Leaves:

opposite, sessile to short-petioled, blades distinct, 2 – 5 cm long, 1 – 2.5 cm wide, broadly elliptic to obovate, apex acute to obtuse, puberulent below, may be nearly glabrous above, margin entire

Inflorescence:

flowers in axillary pairs; pedicels longer than flowers; outer bracts lacking, inner bracts very short

Flowers:

calyx teeth very short; corolla zygomorphic, at most 1.5 cm long, deeply two-lipped, lower lip divergent, tubular, yellowish to pinkish with age; stamens 5; ovary inferior, stigma capitate

Fruits:

berry many-seeded, red to yellow-orange

*KEY TO LONICERA* IN SASKATCHEWAN**

1 Stems twining; some upper leaves connate; flowers conspicuous, in terminal clusters	L. dioica
1 Stems erect; all leaves distinct; flowers less conspicuous, in axillary clusters	2

2 Involucral bracts 4, green to dark purple, large (at least in fruit); corolla almost regular; berries purple-black	L. involucrata
2 Involucral bracts 2, green, small; corolla 2-lipped; berries blue or red or yellow	3

3 Peduncles shorter than to equalling flowers	4
3 Peduncles longer than flowers	5

4 Berries blue, solitary; leaves nearly sessile, oblong to oblanceolate, pilose beneath	L. villosa var. solonis
4Berries red or yellow, in pairs; leaves short-petioled, narrowly elliptic to oblong, gray tomentose beneath	L. morrowii

5 Branchlets hollow in the centre; leaves glabrous, cordate-ovate; bractlets distinct	L. tartarica
5 Branchlets pithy; leaves pubescent, at least below, broadly elliptic; bractlets minute or absent	L. oblongifolia var. oblongifolia