Sbam (Translucent Honeysuckle)

Lonicera quinquelocularis (Translucent Honeysuckle)

Vernacular Name: Sbam (in Kinnauri)

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Click here to watch a short video about this species

Lonicera quinquelocularis (Caprifoliaceae), commonly known as Translucent Honeysuckle (Sbam in Kinnauri) is a large shrub or a small tree that is commonly found in dry sunny regions in Asia, primarily in altitudes ranging from 750 to 3000 m.

Ecology of L. quinquelocularis:

Flowers of honeysuckle show variation in color, with young flowers being white and older flowers turning yellow. Such color changes are common in many plant species and are believed to help pollinators identify already pollinated flowers, reducing wasted visits to non-rewarding flowers. This phenomenon is often referred to as False Color Composite (FCC) in evolutionary biology, where different wavelengths of light enhance visual contrast, making rewarding flowers stand out from rewardless ones for pollinators. By helping pollinators efficiently locate nectar-rich flowers, FCC improves foraging success and ensures better pollination, and survival of the plant.

Out of nearly 140 species in the genus, at least half fuse their leaves, bracts, bracteoles, ovaries, or even entire flowers. This fusion has been important in plant evolution, helping with protection, pollination, seed dispersal, and overall survival.

Interesting Facts:

According to farmers in Ralli village of Kinnaur, HP, there is a place called Sbamsab—named so because of the presence of honeysuckle shrubs. However, this information is not common knowledge, as these names were mostly known only to shepherds in previous generations, and today, due to lack of interest, this knowledge has vanished and very few know these native names.

Uses:

• In Kinnaur, honeysuckles were traditionally used to make Kiltas, a basket-like structure for carrying goods on the back. However, with the rise of cheaply available bamboo baskets, these locally made Kiltas are gradually vanishing. In traditional medicine, honeysuckle has been used for its fever-reducing, antioxidant, and sedative effects, as well as for treating low blood pressure.

• Recently, scientists discovered new compounds in this plant that can block cholinesterase, an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine (which is a neurotransmitter important for brain and muscle function). This discovery could provide valuable insights into conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and has potential applications in anesthesiology for reversing paralysis.

References

1. Srivastav, M., Clement, W. L., Landrein, S., Zhang, J., Howarth, D. G., & Donoghue, M. J. (2023). A phylogenomic analysis of Lonicera and its bearing on the evolution of organ fusion. American Journal of Botany, 110(4), e16143.

2. Makino, T. T., & Ohashi, K. (2017). Honest signals to maintain a long‐lasting relationship: floral colour change prevents plant‐level avoidance by experienced pollinators. Functional Ecology, 31(4), 831-837.

3. Khan, D., Khan, H. U., Khan, F., Khan, S., Badshah, S., Khan, A. S., ... & Muhammad, N. (2014). New cholinesterase inhibitory constituents from L. quinquelocularis. PLoS One, 9(4), e94952