Lonicera biflora Desf.
Family: CAPRIFOLIACEAE
Genus: Lonicera
Catalan common name: Lligabosc valencià.
Spanish common name: Madreselva africana, Madreselva litoral.
Province distribution: Alacant. Castelló. Tarragona. València.
General distribution (Phytogeography): Western Mediterranean
Plants protected by law: País Valencià Catalogue.
IUCN Category: Not evaluated
Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Life-forms: Phanerophyte. Perennial.
Habitats: River forests. Reed beds and riparian habitats in low coastal areas, on clay-loam soils
Characteristics: Climbing shrub up to 4 metres tall, with flexible, lianoid stems, brown when young. Leaves opposite, petiolate, ovate to elliptical, upper surface green and glabrous or slightly hairy, lower surface glaucous and hairy. Flowers arranged in pairs (sometimes 3) in the axils of the upper leaves; corolla bilabiate, whitish-yellow, with a long tube exceeding 2 cm. Fruit fleshy, darkish and round, containing 3 or 4 yellowish-brown seeds
Observations: Very similar to the invasive Lonicera japonica, which is typically found near urban centers and country houses. L. japonica has leaves with a glabrous underside and conspicuous floral bracts (4-11 mm); whereas L. biflora features a densely tomentose–whitish leaf underside and inconspicuous floral bracts (1-3 mm).