Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Asterids
Order: Dipsacales
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Genus: Lonicera
Species: L. japonica
Binomial name: Lonicera japonica
Common name: Japanese Honeysuckle
The Japanese Honeysuckle is a species of honeysuckle native to eastern Asia including Japan, Korea, northern and eastern China, and Taiwan. It is a twining vine able to climb up to 10 metres high or more in trees, with opposite, simple oval leaves 3-8 centimetres long and 2-3 centimetres broad. The flowers are double-tongued, opening white or pink and fading to yellow, and sweetly scented. The fruit is a globose [clarification needed] dark blue berry 5-8 millimetres in diameter containing numerous seeds.
Lonicera japonica is an extremely vigorous vine which grows up through the canopy, smothering and ultimately killing the host tree. It competes with native plants for light and nutrients and prevents the understory and small trees from developing, causing a reduction in forest diversity. It is shade and drought tolerant, though it needs full to partial sunlight to grow successfully. It spreads rapidly via above-ground runners that root at nodes and its seeds may be eaten by birds and then dispersed. It can also be spread by the dumping of garden waste.
An interesting article on Lonicera japonica. http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/5066/
A tree smothered by Lonicera japonica vine
The sweet-scented flowers of the Japanese Honeysuckle.
As the flowers get older they change to a yellow colour.
Flowers that are pink.
The underside of a leaf.
