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Invasive Plant Datasheet

Lonicera morrowii Gray,   Morrow’s Honeysuckle

Taxonomy

Family: Caprifoliaceae

Synonyms: Caprifolium morrowii Kuntz

Native Range or Region

Eurasia, Japan (Gleason & Cronquist 1991) (Dirr 1998)

Biology

Life form – woody shrub

Naturalized – yes

Dispersal – birds, vegetative sprouting, ornamental

Habitats – open fields to shaded forests, most successful in the sun

Biological potential – abundant fruit production, bird dispersed, dense shrub layer decreasing resources for other plants

Reported Invasiveness

Exotic bush honeysuckles can rapidly invade and overtake a site, forming a dense shrub layer that crowds and shades out native plant species. They alter habitats by decreasing light availability, by depleting soil moisture and nutrients, and possibly by releasing toxic chemicals that prevent other plant species from growing in the vicinity. Exotic bush honeysuckles may compete with native bush honeysuckles for pollinators, resulting in reduced seed set for native species. In addition, the fruits of exotic bush honeysuckles, while abundant and rich in carbohydrates, do not offer migrating birds the high-fat, nutrient-rich food sources needed for long flights, that are supplied by native plant species.

Have the greatest habitat breadth and are capable of invading bogs, fens, lakeshores, sandplains and other uncommon habitat types.

National Park Service (NPS)

Distribution

Maine Counties (IPANE)

AND
ARO
CUM
FRA
HAN
KEN
KNO
LIN
OXF
PEN
PIS
SAG
SOM
WAL
WAS
YOR
   
X
    
X
X
  
X
X
  
X
    
X
X

Spread and Impact

G&C 1991:  …..occasionally escaped in our range.

BBG invasive plants: colonize wide variety of habitats

Herbarium Records

11 specimens in 8 counties and 10 towns

References

Dirr, M.A.. 1998. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. Stipes Publishing, IL

Gleason, H. A. and  A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern US and Adjacent Canada. NY Botanical Garden

Haines A. and T.F. Vining. 1998. Flora of Maine. V.F. Thomas Co, ME

Invasive Plant Atlas of New England website

National Park Service website

Randall J.M. and J. Marinelli eds. 1996. Invasive Plants – Weeds of The Global Garden. Brooklin Botanical Garden, Inc. NY.

 

Completed by Ann Gibbs 1/08)

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