NEN Gallery

A climbing plant that entwines itself around young trees and bushes. It coils anticlockwise around the support plant so tightly that often the stem of the plant is deformed. The leaves of honeysuckle appear early - often in December, the flowers (with a four lobed upper lip and tongue-like lower lip) appear in June and deepen in colour after pollination by insects. The nectar lies deep within the flower tube. It was once used to cure headaches and lung complaints and was also associated with love; if the flower was brought into the house, a wedding was supposed to follow. The bright fruits appear in summer and are held in clusters. Picture taken 28th August 2006 at Stagsden, Bedfordshire.