Honeysuckle
Botanical Name: Lonicera caprifolium
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Other Names: Dutch honeysuckle, goat-leaf, mother of
the wood, suckling, woodbind, woodbine
Description: Woody climbing perennial up to 6m/20ft.
Oval leaves. Flowers yellow/white, pink tinged. Tubular shaped followed by orange
or red berries
Native to: Worldwide
Cultivation: Fertile, well drained soil Full or partial
sun
Part Used: Flowers, leaves
Harvesting: As required
Actions: Expectorant, laxative
Constituents: Saponins and loganic acid
Other Notes: The names comes from the
old practise of sucking the nectar from the flowers
It is said to charm boils away
Caution: Do not take in large amounts. Berries are poisonous
Honeysuckle – Wild
|
Botanical Name |
Lonicera periclymenum (Wild honeysuckle) |
|
Family |
Honeysuckle |
|
Other names |
Woodbind, woodbine, wood honeysuckle |
|
Habitat |
Hedges, woods, cliffs, rocky places |
|
Description |
Deciduous twining, climbing shrub 6m/20ft tall. Leaves: opposite, oval to oblong dark green Flowers creamy/yellow often flushed with purple. June- October Fruit red berry |
|
Traditional Uses |
Jaundice |
|
Other Notes |
Pollinated by nocturnal moths and bumble bees during the day Honeysuckle sticks were said to bring good luck. These are sticks of hazel which have had honeysuckle entwined around it. One the honeysuckle is removed it leaves a twisted stick |