Day 219: A member of the honeysuckle family, Twinberry (Lonicera involucrata) is a woody shrub which can attain a height up to 10 feet. It is one of the species selected by the Nisqually Land Trust for use in the restoration of Ohop Valley. The yellow flowers occur in pairs at the leaf axils, attract hummingbirds and insect pollinators, and are followed by development of two bitter-tasting black berries, non-poisonous but unpalatable to humans. However, the fruits are a valuable food source for grouse and quail, as well as songbirds including grosbeaks and thrushes. The dense growth habit of this shrub also provides habitat and protection from predators for birds and small mammals.
No comments:
Post a Comment