For the wedding celebration of Aldarion and Erendis, the Eldar sailed to Númenor, and their ship was filled with flowers. Among them was elanor, which was still known in Middle-earth long afterwards, and another flower, lissuin, that is not mentioned elsewhere. Lissuin was said to have a sweet and calming fragrance. Directly translated, its name means 'honeysuckle', and it may be that lissuin was simply the Elves' name for the flower we know today by that name.
Notes
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Dating the flower lissuin is difficult, because its identity is unclear. If this was the Elvish name for honeysuckle (see note 2 below), then the flower, or a relative, is still extant. It is equally possible, though, the lissuin was a flower unknown in Middle-earth, and in that case it would have ceased to exist outside the Blessed Realm after the Downfall of Númenor in II 3319.
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2 |
The name of this flower seems to be related to Elvish lissë, 'sweet', but no detailed etymology is provided. Lissë itself derived from a root lis-, which could also mean 'honey', so one possible interpretation, combining lis- with a derivative of suk- ('drink' or 'suckle') would give a translation as 'honeysuckle'. It seems at least notable that lissuin can apparently be translated to a modern flower name, but it must be emphasised that this is explanation is conjectural, and there may be no intended connection between the two flowers.
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- Updated 4 November 2025
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