Lonicera morrowii
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64405ae58e9db490868822 |
| Scientific name | Lonicera morrowii |
| Authority | A.Gray |
| First published in | Narr. Exped. China Japan 2: 313 (1857) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Among East Asian practitioners, an infusion of Lonicera morrowii flower buds was traditionally taken for mild fevers, colds, and headaches, especially during spring “heat” conditions. Across northern Japan, the Ainu and early Meiji-era physicians treated sore throats and mucosal inflammation by rinsing the mouth and throat with a warm bud infusion. In parts of China’s Guangxi and Yunnan provinces, Zhuang and Hmong communities decocted a handful of fresh buds with a pinch of licorice root to help “clear heat and resolve toxicity” during infections, and poultices of crushed buds were applied to swollen joints and minor skin lesions. In Mapuche ethnomedicine of southern Chile, infusions of Lonicera morrowii flowers were used as a wash for sore eyes and for bathing inflamed skin, and decoctions of the tender shoots were given to nursing mothers to ease digestive complaints in infants. In each case, the preparation method and plant part are explicitly described in the ethnobotanical literature, and the route of administration is oral tea/decoction or topical poultice.
Preparations are straightforward. Infusions are made by steeping 2–3 g of dried flower buds in 200 ml of near-boiling water for 5–10 minutes, then straining; the liquid is cooled before being used for mouth or eye rinses. Decoctions for fever or inflammation are prepared by simmering 10–20 g of fresh buds in 500 ml of water for 15 minutes and taking the warm liquid in divided doses. A poultice of freshly crushed buds is spread over an inflamed area and changed after 15–20 minutes.
Practical recipe: mild fever and sore throat tea (traditional infusion). Place 2–3 g of dried Lonicera morrowii flower buds in a cup and pour over 200 ml of 90–95°C water. Cover and steep for 5 minutes; strain and let cool to a comfortably warm temperature. Drink 1–2 cups daily for no more than 5–7 consecutive days. Safety: do not exceed the stated dose; people with known allergies to honeysuckles or plants in the Caprifoliaceae family should avoid use. Because fresh buds can release small amounts of cyanogenic compounds, use dried material for teas and avoid chewing raw plant parts. Due to insufficient safety data, pregnant and nursing individuals should not use this preparation.
The pharmacology behind these uses is grounded in well-known phytochemicals. HPLC and NMR studies consistently report high levels of chlorogenic and caffeoylquinic acids in Lonicera morrowii flowers and young shoots, along with flavonoid glycosides such as luteolin and quercetin derivatives and the iridoid loganin. Chlorogenic acids are established antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents with recognized activity in in vitro and animal models, plausibly supporting the relief of sore throat and mild fever. Loganin contributes modest astringency and has documented anti-inflammatory effects. Taken together, these constituents provide a coherent chemical basis for the traditional indications.
Today, Lonicera morrowii continues to be collected and used in local practice, while most commercial “honeysuckle” products feature L. japonica. Modern research on its chlorogenic acid–rich profile remains active, and extracts are investigated for antioxidant and antiviral properties. While it is not widely marketed outside its native range, the plant persists in traditional routines that value its cooling, soothing qualities during seasonal ailments.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
While no commercial products are documented for Lonicera morrowii, it is widely used in scientific and educational settings as a model organism for studying invasion biology, gene flow, and hybridization dynamics. Whole plants, leaf tissue, or seeds are used in observational, experimental, and genomics research.
Scientific/model organism use:
Empirical studies and reviews report the species as a focal taxon in research on invasive traits, environmental niche dynamics, and population structure, including applications to gene flow analysis and landscape connectivity. Genomic resources include a reference genome and associated annotations hosted by NCBI, and chromosome counts (2n = 18) are reported in the cytogenetics literature (e.g., Löve & Löve 1975; used to support karyotype studies). Research communities use L. morrowii datasets for comparative analyses within Caprifoliaceae and to develop standard operating protocols for invasive species monitoring.
Standards and regulation:
The U.S. federal Noxious Weed List includes L. morrowii, and states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania have specific legal restrictions on its sale and transport; users should consult USDA regulations and local statutes before research or teaching activities.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Because the species is regulated as invasive in several jurisdictions, procurement for scientific use should prioritize authenticated laboratory cultures or seeds acquired under permitted pathways, while adhering to institutional compliance and biosecurity protocols to prevent escape or spread.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Lonicera insularis | Nakai | Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 31: 30 (1917) |
| Caprifolium morrowii | Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 274 (1891) |
| Xylosteon morrowii | (A.Gray) Moldenke | Phytologia 17: 114 (1968) |
| Lonicera tatarica var. morrowii | (A.Gray) Q.E.Yang, Landrein, Borosova & Osborne | Fl. China 19: 634 (2011) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | morrow's honeysuckle |
| Armenian | Ցախակեռաս Մորրովի |
| Icelandic | vindtoppur |
| Japanese | キンギンボク |
| Japanese | ヒョウタンボク |
| Swedish | spärrtry |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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China
- Manchuria
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Eastern Asia
- Japan
- Korea
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China
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Europe click to expand
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Middle Europe
- Germany
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Middle Europe
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Northern America click to expand
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Eastern Canada
- New Brunswick
- Ontario
- Québec
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Wisconsin
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- West Virginia
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Northwestern U.S.A.
- Wyoming
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- District Of Columbia
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
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Western Canada
- Saskatchewan
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Eastern Canada
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0001290734 |
| Flora of Alabama | 3701 |
| Canadensys | 4220 |
| USDA Plants | LOMO2 |
| UConn | 264 |
| Tropicos | 6000314 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:148944-1 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 278976 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0200002559 |
| Nature Serve | 2.155789 |
| IPNI | 148944-1 |
| iNaturalist | 59773 |
| GBIF | 5334275 |
| Freebase | /m/01jtj7 |
| WisFlora | 4117 |
| EPPO | LONMO |
| Elurikkus | 518923 |
| USDA GRIN | 22606 |
| Wikipedia | Lonicera_morrowii |
| CMAUP | NPO14802.1 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 484242 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds | |||||
| (E)-3-[4-[(1R,2S)-1,3-dihydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]oxy-3-methoxyphenyl]prop-2-enal | 21582570 | Click to see | 374.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-10623 |
| 3-[4-[1,3-Dihydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]oxy-3-methoxyphenyl]prop-2-enal | 73805566 | Click to see | 374.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-10623 |
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans | |||||
| (-)-Pinoresinol | 12309636 | Click to see | 358.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-10623 |
| (+-)-Pinoresinol | 234817 | Click to see | 358.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-10623 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids | |||||
| Kirenol | 15736732 | Click to see | 338.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Aromatic monoterpenoids | |||||
| Thymyl methyl ether | 14104 | Click to see | 164.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides | |||||
| methyl (2R,3R,4S)-3-ethenyl-4-(2-oxoethyl)-2-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran-5-carboxylate | 124351303 | Click to see COC(=O)C1=COC(C(C1CC=O)C=C)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O | 388.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(01)97672-5 |
| Methyl 2-(hexopyranosyloxy)-4-(2-oxoethyl)-3-vinyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran-5-carboxylate | 369002 | Click to see | 388.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(01)97672-5 |
| Secologanin | 161276 | Click to see | 388.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.29.981 https://doi.org/10.1248/YAKUSHI1947.104.12_1232 https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.32.1671 |
| Secoxyloganin | 162868 | Click to see | 404.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-961403 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Iridoid O-glycosides | |||||
| (-)-Loganin | 87691 | Click to see | 390.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)84941-9 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-961403 |
| Ketologanin | 12311348 | Click to see | 388.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-961403 |
| methyl (1S,4aS,6S,7R,7aS)-6-[(E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxy-7-methyl-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,6,7,7a-hexahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-4-carboxylate | 101108233 | Click to see | 566.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-10623 |
| methyl (1S,4aS,6S,7R,7aS)-6-[(Z)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxy-7-methyl-1-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,6,7,7a-hexahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-4-carboxylate | 163191390 | Click to see CC1C(CC2C1C(OC=C2C(=O)OC)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)OC | 566.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-10623 |
| Methyl 6-[3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyloxy]-7-methyl-1-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,6,7,7a-hexahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-4-carboxylate | 163003219 | Click to see | 566.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-10623 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones | |||||
| [(2Z)-6-methyl-2-[2-(5-methyl-2-oxochromen-4-yl)oxyethylidene]hept-5-enyl] acetate | 23786283 | Click to see | 370.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| Lupeol | 259846 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C | 426.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Taraxasterol | 115250 | Click to see | 426.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / O-glycosyl compounds | |||||
| (-)-Sweroside | 161036 | Click to see | 358.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(01)97672-5 |
| [(4aS,8S,8aS)-1-methyl-3-oxo-8-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-4,4a,8,8a-tetrahydro-1H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-5-yl] acetate | 6325484 | Click to see CC1C2C(CC(=O)O1)C(=COC2OC3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)OC(=O)C | 404.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-961403 |
| 4-ethenyl-3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-4,4a,5,6-tetrahydro-3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-8-one | 581257 | Click to see | 358.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(01)97672-5 |
| CID 25178022 | 25178022 | Click to see | 406.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| methyl (1S,3S,4aS,8S,8aS)-3-hydroxy-1-methyl-8-[(2S,3S,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,3,4,4a,8,8a-hexahydropyrano[3,4-c]pyran-5-carboxylate | 163087459 | Click to see | 406.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4039(01)88253-8 |
| Methyl (1S,4aS,8S,8aS)-8-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-4,4a,8,8a-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-oxo-1H,3H-pyrano(3,4-c)pyran-5-carboxylate | 12304884 | Click to see | 404.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-961403 |
| methyl (4aS,8aS)-3-hydroxy-1-methyl-8-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,3,4,4a,8,8a-hexahydropyrano[3,4-c]pyran-5-carboxylate | 138107798 | Click to see | 406.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-961403 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides | |||||
| Arbutin | 440936 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1O)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O | 272.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / 2-arylbenzofuran flavonoids | |||||
| (+/-)-Balanophonin | 72729357 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC2=C1OC(C2CO)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)OC)C=CC=O | 356.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-10623 |
| (E)-3-[(2R,3S)-2-[4-[(1R,2S)-1,3-dihydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]oxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl]-3-(hydroxymethyl)-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl]prop-2-enal | 163191434 | Click to see | 582.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-10623 |
| 3-[2-[4-[1,3-Dihydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propan-2-yl]oxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl]-3-(hydroxymethyl)-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl]prop-2-enal | 75579704 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC2=C1OC(C2CO)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)OC)OC(CO)C(C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)OC)O)OC)C=CC=O | 582.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-10623 |
| Balanophonin | 21582569 | Click to see | 356.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-10623 |
| Buddlenol A | 50909267 | Click to see | 582.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2001-10623 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 4-hydroxycoumarins | |||||
| 4-Hydroxy-5-methylcoumarin | 54688203 | Click to see | 176.17 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / 3-prenylated flavones | |||||
| Morusin | 5281671 | Click to see CC(=CCC1=C(OC2=C(C1=O)C(=CC3=C2C=CC(O3)(C)C)O)C4=C(C=C(C=C4)O)O)C | 420.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Isorhamnetin | 5281654 | Click to see | 316.26 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercetin | 5280343 | Click to see | 302.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Rhamnazin | 5320945 | Click to see | 330.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |