Menu list goes here

Herbal Database Search Results


     Back to: Pathways  Main Search Page  For Metaphysical uses visit The Witchs Haven

Lonicera involucrata

Common name: Twinberry Family: Caprifoliaceae
Author: (Richardson.)Spreng. Botanical references: 11, 43, 200
Synonyms: Xylosteum involucratum (Richardson.)
Known Hazards: None known
Range: Western N. America - Alaska to Mexico.
Habitat: Calcareous woods, banks of streams and swamps[43] and in open coniferous forests[155], usually on limestone[184].
Edibility Rating (1-5): 2Medicinal Rating (1-5):2

Other Possible Synonyms:From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
Distegia involucrata[B,P] L. involucrata var. flavescens[B,P] L. involucrata var. involucrata[B,C,P] Xylosteon involucratum[G]
Other Common Names:From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
Four-line Honeysuckle [B], Twinberry [DEN1], Twinberry Honeysuckle [P,L],
Epithets:From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
involucrata = with involucre;
Systematics:From a USDA Plants Database
Order: Dipsacales. Honeysuckle family
Other Range Info: From the Ethnobotany Database
Canada(Kwakiutl); Us(Flathead)

Physical Characteristics

A decidious shrub growing to 1.2m at a medium rate. It is hardy to zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in May, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Sunny Edge.

Edible Uses

Fruit.

Fruit - raw or dried[2, 46, 65, 155]. A pleasant taste[161]. Not tasty enough to be widely sought[212]. The only form we have tried has an incredibly bitter taste[K]. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[200].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Antidandruff; Antipruritic; Disinfectant; Emetic; Galactogogue; Laxative; Ophthalmic; Pectoral; Poultice.

Twinberry was employed medicinally by a number of native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a range of complaints[257]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism.
The bark is disinfectant, galactogogue, ophthalmic and pectoral[257]. A decoction is used in the treatment of coughs and as an eyewash[257]. A decoction of the bark has been applied to a woman's breasts to encourage milk flow[257]. The bark has also been used as a dressing on burns[257].
The leaves are antipruritic and ophthalmic[257]. A poultice of the chewed leaves is applied to venereal sores, itchy skin and boils[218, 257]. A decoction of the leaves is used as an eye wash[257].
The fruits are antidandruff, emetic, laxative and pectoral[218, 257]. An infusion is used to treat chest and stomach complaints and to cleanse the body[257]. The mashed fruit has been rubbed into the scalp as a treatment for dandruff.

Other Uses

Dye; Hair.

A purple dye is obtained from the fruit[99, 257]. It is grey when tin is used as a mordant[168].
The berries are rubbed onto the scalp as a hair tonic. It is said to prevent greyness[99]. (don't mix the berries with tin though!![K])

Cultivation details

An easily grown and very tolerant plant, succeeding in any fertile soil, and preferring a good moist soil in a sunny position[11, 200]. It produces less fruit when grown in the shade[200]. Plants have proved to be quite wind resistant when growing on an exposed site in &ndndndnd[K].
Plants are hardy to about -25°c[184].
Closely allied to L. ledebourii[11].
There are some named forms, developed for the ornamental garden[182]. 'Humilis' is a smaller form and 'Serotina' is later flowering[182].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 2 months cold stratification[113] and should be sown as soon as possible in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with or without a heel, July/August in a frame. Good percentage[78].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm with or without a heel, November in a cold frame. Good percentage[78].
Layering in autumn[200].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

PFAF Web Pages

This plant is mentioned in the following web pages

Web References

References for Lonicera involucrata var. involucrata (a possible synonym). References for lonicera involucrata (a possible synonym).

References for the family Caprifoliaceae.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[43] Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950
A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[65] Frohne. D. and Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984 ISBN 0723408394
Brilliant. Goes into technical details but in a very readable way. The best work on the subject that I've come across so far.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[99] Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7
Excellent and readable guide.

[113] Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987 ISBN 0942375009
A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.

[155] Arnberger. L. P. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments Ass. 1968
A lovely little pocket guide to wild plants in the southern Rockies of America.

[161] Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.
A comprehensive but very terse guide. Not for the casual reader.

[168] Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
A very good and readable book on dyeing.

[182] Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.

[184] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1900 species and cultivars.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[212] Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963 ISBN 63-7093
Excellent little pocket guide to the area, covering 590 species and often giving details of their uses.

[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

Readers Comments

  Main Search Page 

Bibliography

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
  Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Lonicera+involucrata
This page (US) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Lonicera+involucrata

Creative Commons License Atribution Non commercial Share alike This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
(You can copy, distribute, display this works but: Attribution is required, its for Non-Commercial purposes, and it's Share Alike (GNUish/copyleft) i.e. has an identical license.)
We also ask that you let us know (michael@thewitchshaven.com) if you link to, redistribute, make a derived work or do anything groovy with this information.

Home  ::  View Cart  ::  Shipping & Returns  ::  Contact Us  ::  Log In  ::  Privacy Policy  ::  Home  ::  Philosophy

We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest.

(c) 2007 Pathways & The Witchs Haven     Website hosting by: