Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle (Lonicera) is a genus of shrubs and vines with simple opposite leaves, sweet-smelling flowers and berry-like fruits. Each flower has both male and female parts, but there is a mechanism to prevent pollen from the stamens from fertilising the stigma of the same flower. Stamens ripen first and when the anthers have shed their pollen the stigma ripens and curves upwards ready to accept pollen from a younger flower. The mixing of genes from different plants is an evolutionary advantage. [CH] {SH}