Lonicera involucrata involucrata

I had to make this photo a giant so you can see the swollen nectaries at the base of these flowers. Must be for hummingbirds, butterflies, or both. Don't these flowers look like two femurs attached to a pelvis? It's called twinberry honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrata involucrata). Twinberry because the flowers will swell at the base to become two dark shiny berries, side by side. The fused bracts (or involucre--notice scientific name) that the flowers are sitting on will become deep red.



They are bizzare, but also beautiful at the right angle.

But like many interesting flowers, you've got to look closely to fully appreciate them. They are easy to overlook.

Yep, it's a Humboldt County native from the backyard.