Bush Honeysuckle

: "Bush Honeysuckle" is also the common name of "Lonicera maackii", a common invasive shrub in the United States and New Zealand."Taxobox
name = Bush Honeysuckle

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = Northern bush honeysuckle
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Dipsacales
familia = Caprifoliaceae
genus = "Diervilla"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text

Bush Honeysuckle ("Diervilla") is genus of three species of deciduous shrubs in the family Caprifoliaceae, all indigenous to eastern North America. The genus is named after a French surgeon Dr. Dierville, who introduced the plant to Europe around 1700.

The bush honeysuckles are low in height (1-2 m), of small to medium diameter (1-2 m), and develop into colonies by means of spreading underground rhizomes. Their leaves are simple, opposite and either oval or lanceolate in shape with a toothed edge. The fall color varies between yellow, orange and red. Small tubular flowers, typically pale yellow, are produced in June and July.

;Species
*"Diervilla sessilifolia" – Southern bush honeysuckle
*"Diervilla lonicera" – Northern bush honeysuckle (other names Low bush honeysuckle, Dwarf bush honeysuckle, Yellow-flowered upright honeysuckle)
*"Diervilla rivularis" – Mountain bush honeysuckle (other names Georgia bush honeysuckle, Hairy bush honeysuckle)

Other species formerly included in "Diervilla" are now treated in the genus "Weigela". The bush honeysuckles are commonly confused with the common wild honeysuckle ("Lonicera tartarica"), or the Japanese honeysuckle ("Lonicera japonica"), both members of the closely related genus "Lonicera".

The British "Diervilla" national collection is held at Sheffield Botanical Gardens; along with the national collection of the closely related "Weigela" genus. [http://www.sbg.org.uk/diervilla.asp]

"Diervilla" species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Common Emerald and The Engrailed.

References

* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=DILO USDA Plants Profile: "Diervilla lonicera"]

External links

* [http://www.sbg.org.uk/diervilla.asp British national collection at Sheffield Botanical Gardens]