Linnaea borealis (Twinflower)
Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands.  Summer.
Lake Hope Trail, August 7, 2005.

These delicate beauties grow in moist, shaded woods in bright evergreen patches.  They spread by runners, one of which can be seen in the bottom center of the picture, just to the right of, and paralleling the stick.  Flower stems are typically two-to-four inches tall, leafless, and quite slender.

The genus was named by Gronovius for Carl Linnaeus and was published by Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum in 1753.  "Borealis" is Greek for "northern" and refers to the distribution of this plant across the northern hemisphere. The plant is, in fact, circumboreal. Click for more biographical information about Linnaeus.

Linnaea borealis (Twinflower)
Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands.  Summer.
Lake Hope Trail, August 7, 2005.

There is a quiet, airy charm about these flowers.

Linnaea borealis (Twinflower)
Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)

Montane, subalpine. Woodlands.  Summer.
Lake Hope Trail, August 7, 2005.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Linnaea borealis