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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Washington, D.C. » National Arboretum » Floral and Nursery Plants Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #168209
Title: CAPRIFOLIACEAE

Author
item Whittemore, Alan

Submitted to: Flora of Missouri
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/12/2004
Publication Date: 7/3/2006
Citation: Whittemore, A.T. 2006. Caprifoliaceae. In: Flora of Missouri. 2:765-794.

Interpretive Summary: This contribution will form a section of the Flora of Missouri, a manual published by the State of Missouri (Department of Conservation) to provide up-to date information on the taxonomy, distribution, and ecological status of all plants that are wild or invasive in Missouri, together with a guide for identification, aimed at professional and sophisticated amateur users. The taxonomy, distribution, and ecological status of all species of Caprifoliaceae that are wild or invasive in Missouri is reevaluated, based primarily on a thorough reexamination of available herbarium specimens, and a guide for identification is supplied. Twenty-six species in five genera are included. Four of the five genera are used in horticulture, and two (Lonicera, the honeysuckles, and Viburnum) contain both species that are important horticulturally and species that are weedy and invasive in North America. Current and past economic importance of the species is briefly summarized, based on data from herbarium specimens and the scientific and trade literature; two of these species are used horticulturally, and three are invasive exotics. This contribution provides up-to-date information on the biology of this group of species, along with identification aids, including most of the species found in the central United States. It will support accurate identification of important invasive exotic species, and it will promote the recognition and exploitation of native germplasm with promise for horticulture. It will be used by professional land managers, educators, conservationists, and sophisticated amateur botanists and horticulturalists, insuring that work on land management and conservation will be based on full, accurate and up-to-date information about the basic biology and relationships of these organisms, and providing a baseline for monitoring the status of several invasive species.

Technical Abstract: The family Caprifoliaceae is treated for the Flora of Missouri, a detailed floristic manual for the state published by the Missouri (State) Department of Conservation. Five genera and 26 species are recognized; full morphological descriptions, dichotomous keys, and brief summaries of geographical and ecological distribution, economic use, and taxonomic notes are given for each of them. Four of the five genera are used in horticulture, and two (Lonicera, the honeysuckles, and Viburnum) contain both species that are important horticulturally and species that are weedy and invasive in North America. This contribution will support accurate identification of important invasive exotic species, and it will promote the recognition and exploitation of native germplasm with considerable horticultural potential.