Fly honeysuckle seeds

Fly Honeysuckle / Lonicera xylosteum

Shrub, species of the genus Honeysuckle of the family Honeysuckle. It grows in the undergrowth of coniferous and mixed forests, in thickets of shrubs in ravines and near rivers. Decorative plant. The fruits are poisonous, and therefore real honeysuckle (like some other plants with poisonous fruits) is also known as wolfberries.

Deciduous shrub up to 2.5 meters high. Young shoots are green or reddish, on old shoots the bark is gray or brownish-gray.

Leaves 3-7 cm long, 2-5 cm wide, opposite, elliptical, shortly pointed, entire. The upper side of the leaf blade is dark green, matte, the lower side is grayish, densely pubescent with soft hairs. The central vein of the leaf is purple.

The flowers grow in pairs in the leaf axils. Corollas 10-15 mm long, yellowish-white, turning yellow towards the end of flowering. Flowering time is May-June. The fruits are juicy, dark red, spherical. Often fused at the base. Ripens at the end of July. Inedible.

Honeysuckle is sometimes used as an ornamental plant. Handles haircut well. A very hard yellowish wood used for making small crafts. Gives honey bees plenty of nectar and pollen.