FloraFinder.org
Home   About Us   FAQ  
Searching   Image Use Plant Books
x
FloraFinder uses cookies only for correct operation. More info. Okay

Linnaea borealis L.

Twinflower

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderDipsacalesIncludes viburnum, honeysuckle, snowberry, beautybush, twinflower, many others
FamilyLinnaeaceae30 species of shrubs and herbs native to the temperate regions of Southeast Asia and North America
GenusLinnaeaNamed for Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778), founder of the modern system of binomial nomenclature
SpeciesborealisNorthern

About plant names...

Twinflower is found throughout the northern hemisphere. In fact, the scientific name borealis means northern. It pre­fers cool, dark forests, alpine zones, woodlands, and boggy or rocky shorelines.

Plants: Plants are evergreen, essentially a micro-shrub. They keep a very low profile, less than 4″ (10 cm), up to about 6″ (15 cm) when in flower, so they are easy to miss. They are evergreen. Fine hairy red-brown stems creep along the ground, rooting to start new plants.

Leaves: Opposite, shiny, oval, and unlobed. Larger leaves have a few small indentations along the edge. Leaves are ¼-⅝″ (8.4-16 mm) × ¼-⅝″ (6.3-16 mm).

Flowers: Delicate pink funnel-shaped flowers top small, hairy stems, from which they hang like bells. Flowers occur in pairs, hence the name “twinflower.” Each flower is up to ½″ (1.3 cm) long, with five lobes and a hairy throat. They have a mild fragrance. Flowers appear from June to Sep­tember.

Fruits: Small, dry, 3-celled pod with one seed.

Online References:

The U.S. Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers site

Minnesota Wildflowers

Gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Wikimedia Commons (Photos)

Depts.washington.edu

Botanyphoto.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

6/9/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

6/10/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 11 cm)

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

6/10/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 11 cm)

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

6/9/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

5/7/2023 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

6/16/2023 · Ovens Mouth West, White Trail, Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

6/3/2021 · Widgeon Cove, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 3 × 4½″ (7.9 × 11 cm)

 

Linnaea borealis description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 26 Sep 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

6/9/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

6/9/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

6/10/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 3½ × 2½″ (9.4 × 6.3 cm)

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

If you were Lilliputian, perhaps an inch tall, twinflowers would look like this. · 6/10/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.5 cm)

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

6/10/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

6/10/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

6/10/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

6/9/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

6/3/2021 · Widgeon Cove, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

9/18/2016 · Barred Island Preserve, Deer Isle, Maine

Linnaea borealis (twinflower)

6/9/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine

Range:

About this map...