BEE-spoke-data/bees-v0 huggingface dataset:
"The cowpea is one of our most abundant sources of honey for late summer. The crop is planted here from May 1 to August 1, and furnishes nectar through a considerable period of otherwise scarcity,Unlike other plants, the stems, and not the blossoms, secrete the nectar as the young pods are forming. These the bees work upon excessively. The honey is of good body, thick, deep, approaching dark yellow in color, and of strong taste like that of tulip-poplar, only stronger, with a somewhat slight, wild-green-bean-like flavor."--C. C. Getrys, Hollis, X. C. Gleanings, Sept. 14, 1909.
"A small patch of pens was covered with bees from morning till night. Nearly all of them were working on the stalks, as usual; but here and there I saw a few Italians pushing their tongues down into the blossoms. I have never noticed any pollen from the field pens."--Mrs, Aneda Ellis, Fremont, Mo. Gleanings, June 1, 1910.
"The pens bloom when there is a honey dearth and the bees gather honey from them. However, I notice they do not work on them much if there is a better honey plant blooming at the same time. My bees get a good deal of nice honey from them."--G. H. Latham, Jr., Rapidan, Va. Gleanings, May 15, 1910.
**COYOTE WEED, see Turkey Mullein.**
**CRAB APPLE (Malus).**
There are several species of wild crab apples native to America. The fruit is small and sour and of little value. The blossoms are rose colored and very fragrant, making the tree worthy of cultivation as an ornamental. As a source of honey the wild crab apple ranks with the cultivated
Figure 47: Creons blossoms are among the first to furnish pollen in spring.
apple and other fruit trees. The blossoms appear from March to May and serve to stimulate spring brood rearing, though where abundant, strong colonies may gather some surplus.
The southern crab apple **(Malus angustifolia)** occurs in open woods from southern Pennsylvania south to Florida and west to Louisiana and Missouri.
The American crab apple **(Malus coronaria)** is common from eastern Canada to Michigan and south to Alabama and South Carolina. It is a small tree and often grows in dense thickets, where it furnishes ideal bee justrage.
The Soulard crab apple **(Malus soulardi)** is much like the American crab apple in tree and flower, but has a larger fruit, which leads some authors to regard it as a hybrid between the cultivated apple and a native species. It is sometimes cultivated for its fruit, which is used as a substitute for quince. It occurs in the wild state from Minnesota to Texas, but not very common.
The Oregon crab apple **(Malus diversifolia,** is a native of the Pacific Coast from Alaska through Western Canada south to California. The fruit was formerly dried by the Indians for winter use.
All the wild crab apples are valuable sources of nectar, though the principal value is to stimulate early brood rearing.
## 0.6 Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum)
Crinson clover is grown in the Southern States, but is not hardy in the North. It is an earlier bloomer than the other clovers. The blossoms are more showy than either aisike or red clover. The plant is an annual, and must be resow to perpetuate a field.
The honey yield is reported to be good and the quality similar to that of the other clovers. It is nowhere grows on the scale of the others, so is not so well known as a source of honey.
Bomnier gives it third rank as a honey yielder, while the British Bee Journal states that it is about on a par with buckwheat, and that neither is satisfactory when honey of later yield is worked for.
Niswonger lists it as a very important plant in Kentucky, and states that the honey is of a very light yellow color of good quality.
## 0.7 Crocus
A group of early spring flowers native to the Mediterranean region of Europe, widely cultivated in gardens. Among the first flowers to bloom, they are very attractive to the bees, as shown in Fig. 47.
## 0.8 Croton (Croton)
Scholl lists four species of croton as yielding pollen and nectar in Texas, though none of them are of much importance. Richter states that the bees visit the small blossoms of **Croton californicus** in large numbers. The author can find no records which indicate that the plants are of special value anywhere.
###### Acknowledgements.
**CULVER'S ROOT (Veronica virginica).**
The Culver's root is found from New England and Ontario to Manitoba and southward to Arkansas and Georgia. There are reports to the effect that the bees fairly swarm on this plant, but apparently it is not of much importance to the beekeeper.
**CURRANT (Ribes).**
There are several varieties of the cultivated garden currant and many species of the wild currants which are valuable sources of nectar. There are at least seven species of wild currant native to New Mexico. It is probable that some species of wild currants are to be found in every State where bees are kept. In the vicinity of large plantings of cultivated currants they are an important source of nectar, but generally speaking, they are a minor source and of chief value for pollen and for stimulating early brood rearing along with most other fruits.
**CYNOGLOSSUM, see Hound's Tongue.**
Figure 49: The cup plant.
## Appendix D DDAOON, see Holly.
### DANDELION (Taraxacum officinala).
The dandelion is one of the most widely distributed plants in America. Originally introduced from Europe, it has been naturalized over practically the entire continent. As each plant will produce hundreds of seeds, which are borne for long distances on the wind, its wide distribution is not surprising. The plant is sometimes used for medicinal purposes, serving as a mild laxative and tonic.
The tender shoots are very popular as a table delicacy in early spring, with those who are fond of greens. The bright yellow flowers are very showy, and if the plant was not so abundant, would be considered attractive. The warfare against the dandelion is as relentless and as continuous as the campaign against the house fly. Little is to be accomplished by digging the plants from one's own lawn, when a whole pastureful are going to s
Figure 54: The much despised dandelion is a valuable source of nectar.
The bekeeper has little to complain of from these weeds, as there is nothing of greater value during the short period of bloom. While the honey gathered from dandelions is dark and strong, most of it will be consumed for brood rearing. Occasionally a small surplus will be secured from this source, but it blooms so early that surplus is unusual. Large quantities of pollen as well as nectar are produced, so that a large acreage of dandelions within reach of the apiary is much to be desired. Fig. 50 shows the plant as it appears during the period of bloom, with blossoms and unopened buds.
Hon, Eugene Secor, the bekeeper's poet, has written a number of things regarding the intimate relation existing between bees and flowers, and for one of these, the dandelion furnished the inspiration:
"Here's a bee, my children see!
Gathering swects for you and me,
On Sir Dandy Lion's crown;
She is yellow that was brown,
Yellow with the golden dust
Lent to her in soleus trust;
Blossoms bar'ring gold for gold,
Through this dusty trader bold,
Dandy Lion seeks a bride,
Sends his offerings far and wide
With his trusty friend, the bee,
And with Honey pays the fee."
**DATE-PLUM, see Persimmon.**
**DEER CLOVER, see Wild Alfafia.**
**DEER'S EARS, see Monument Plant.**
**DELAWARE-Honey Sources of.**
Clover, tulip-tree, willows, maples, fruit bloom, dandelion, heartsease,
buckwheat, blueberry, huckleberry, boneset and asters are among the well-known sources of honey in Delaware. Beekeeping is not highly developed in this State and few pay serious attention to honey production.
**DEVIL'S CLAW, see Acacia.**
**DEVIL'S SHOESTRING, see Bluevine.**
**DEWBERRY, see Blackberry.**
**DIERVILA, see Bush Honeysuckle.**
**DOCTOR-GUM, see Poisonwood.**
**DOGBANE (Apocynum).**
When not in bloom the dogbane resembles the milkweed, There are several species found in Europe, temperate Asia and North America. In the United States there are two common species, **Apocynum cannabinoid,**
known as Indian hemp, Canadian hemp or Choctaw root, and **Apocynum androsaemifolium,**
the spreading dogbane.
Dogbane can be distinguished from milkweed by the finer stem and smaller leaves. The stems are unusually reddish in color. By Fig. 51 it will be seen that the flowers are very different. At times the bees work on this plant very freely. It is especially abundant in some localities along the Missouri River in Kansas and Missouri.
**DOGWOD (Cornus).**
The dogwoods or flowering corals are a large group of shrubs with showy flowers. Some species are common over all of Eastern America, from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick south and west to Texas. The group is not important to the bcekeeper, although occasionally some honey is reported from them. W. C. Brass reports that in central Arkansas smooth dogwood **(Cornus femine),** locally called spicewood or buckbrush, is very abundant, and the bees work upon it industriously during May.
He reports, however, that it is uncertain in its value, the bees not working upon it every year. H. B. Parks reports that the bees work upon the red dogwood **(Cornus paniculata)** in Missouri, but the author never knew them to work on this species in Iowa.
Scholl lists **Cornus asperifolia** as yielding nectar freely in Texas, though the species is not plentiful.
DOORWEED, see Heartsease.
DROUTH-WEED, see Turkey Mullein.
EBONY, see Texan Ebony.
ECHINOPS SPHOEROCEPHALUS, see Chapman Honey Plant,
ECHIUM, see Blueweed.
ELDERBERRY (Sambucus canadensis).
The American elder or elderberry is a common shrub from New Brunswick west to Saskatchewan and south to Arizona and Texas. Fig. S2 shows the flower clusters of the common elder (Sambucus canadensis).
Since the plant blooms late in May and June, there is usually an abundance of pollen in most localities. The bees, however, gather the pollen freely at times, and it is of value where pollen is not plentiful at this season.
The berries are used for pics and wine. The flowers and bark are used to some extent for medicinal purposes.
Richter lists the blue elderberry (**Sambucus glauc**) as important for pollen in California, but as yielding no nectar.
**ELM (Ulmus):**
The elms are very attractive to the bees for pollen.
The American or white elm is more especially valuable, and a large tree will attract so many bees that the humming sounds like a swarm.
There are numerous reports of nectar from elm in Texas. Scholl lists the winged elm (**Ulmus alata**) as giving a good yield of honey, surplus sometimes being secured from it. He described the honey as amber in color, with strong and characteristic aroma. He also lists the American elm as a source of nectar.
**EPILOBIUM, see Fireweed.**
Eriogenousum, Wild Buckwheat or Flat Top.A group of low annual or perennial plants common to the Rocky Mountain and plains States. It is a large group and numerous species are to be found from Nebraska to California. In New Mexico the Eriogenousum are among the commonest plants, there being something like forty species recorded from that State. The best known is the wild buckwheat of southern California **(Eriogenous fasciculatum).** This is an important source of nectar in that region. The honey is said to be light amber and of good flavor. It granulates readily.Richter lists it as the most important honey plant in many southern California localities.In Colorado **Eriogenous effusum** is sometimes known as "heather," According to Herman Kanchfuss it yields nectar nearly every year when there are late rains. It blooms in August and September and is usually in bloom for some time before the bees are attracted to it. He sometimes gets a super of comb honey per colony from this source. The honey he reports to be amber, of fine quality, and strong aroma, of which one does not easily tire.It grows abundantly on the prairies about Denver. The plant is small and inconspicuous, with minute flowers, and is not generally recognized as a honey plant among beekeepers of Colorado."Wild buckwheat **(Eriogenous fasciculatum)** is one of the principal honey plants of southern California. In the Acton, Antelope Valley and Elsner districts it is the main reliance. Although quite abundant at lower levels, it does not yield much nectar below 1,500 feet nor above 5,000 feet. The honey is a deep light amber, but of fine flavor, and the comb is very white. The honey has such a heavy body that it is seldom extracted."--J. D. Ristby, Western Honeybee, May, 197, page 16.
ERODIUM, see Pin Clover.Eucalyptus.There are about one hundred and fifty different species of encapsyptus trees, most of which are native to Australia and Tasmania, where they are the most characteristic and important timber trees. Many of them secrete resinous guns, hence are called "gum trees," A number of commercial products are derived from them. They have been widely introduced into California, and, to some extent, also into Florida, Texas and other Southern States. The various species are known as sugar gun, blue gum, mahogany gun,red gun, stringy bark, white iron bark, red box tree and various similar names. Richter lists 21 species as yielding honey in California. According to this author there is a great variation in the quality of honey from the different species. While some species seem to yield water-white honey of good quality, others produce an amber product of low value. The blue gum **(Eucalyptus globulus)** is said to produce "honey, amber, of acid flavor, heavy body and granulating within a few months. The blue gum is very constant in nectar secretion, even in spite of unfavorable weather, and since it is of wide distribution, considerable quantities of honey come from this source. On account of the pronounced flavor of encapsyptus honey there is little or no demand for it in the retail trade."
On the other hand, he describes white ironbark **(Eucalyptus leucoxylon)** "a great honey producer, with a beautiful flavor much like vanilla extract."
Almost all of the honey seems to be gathered from the sources which produce the poorer grade, so that the eucalyptus honey is not favorably known in the markets.
The blooming period of the different species varies so that there are some in bloom at all times during the year. The blue gum, already mentioned, blooms from December until June, while the sugar gum blooms from August to November. Several species bloom during the winter months, when they are especially valuable in sustaining the bees until the time of the main honeyflows. Fig. 53 shows the eucalyptus blossoms.
At the California short course, at Davis, in 1918, M. H. Mendleson, of Ventura, spoke as follows concerning this source:
"Every winter the gum, or eucalyptus, comes into bloom. Last winter they filled two or three stories high on eucalyptus. I got 17% cents per pound for it; previously I never could get more than 4 cents, but it was seldom that I got a surplus from this source. The most eucalyptus honey I have ever known was gathered last spring.
"The scarlet bloom **(Eucalyptus ficiolia)** is one of the greatest honey producers I have ever known. It grows from 10 to 25 feet and
Figure 54: Avenue of eucalyptus trees in California.
has a brilliant bloom, in clusters, a beautiful sight. * * The honey is of fine flavor, water white. You can see the nectar wave in the flower cup when you shake it. The flow sometimes lasts a month. It will stand a light frost, but not a heavy one. Our hot east winds are very hard on it, as they scorch the trees."
**EUPATORIUM, see Boneset.****EUPHORBIA, see Snow-On-the-Mountain, also Poinsettia.**
**FALSE INDIGO (Amorpha fruitcosa).**
False indigo is a tall shrub common to low lands along streams from
Pennsylvania west to the plains. It grows in thickets and is very attractive to the bees. It is of special importance in Nebraska and Kansas. In the Arkansas Valley beekeepers report that bees get both nectar and pollen in considerable quantity, though it is seldom mentioned as a source of
Figure 55: Figwort, or Simpson honey plant.
surplus. Nebraska beekeepers value it because it fills in the period between fruit bloom and white clover.
**FARKLE-BERRY or SPARKLE-BERRY (Vacenium arboreum).**
The farkle-berry or sparkle-berry is also known as winter huckleberry and tree huckleberry. It is a tall shrub 6 to 25 feet in height and common from southern Illinois and Missouri east to North Carolina and south to Texas and Florida. In parts of Arkansas it is one of the main sources of honey.
W. C. Brass writes that in Lonoke County, near the center of the State, it is very abundant and takes the place of clover further north. It blooms in May and the bees roar on the sparkle-berry bushes like swarming time. It belongs to the group of plants to which the blueberries belong and most of these are good honey plants.
**FIDDLE NECK, see Phacelia.**
**FIGUREWORT (Serophularia marilandica).**
Simpson honey plant, or figwor, is another widely distributed plant.
Figure 56: Blossoms of fireweed.
It is common in the woods from Maine to the Rocky Mountains and south to the Gulf. It is also said to occur on the Pacific Coast. The samc, or a similar plant occurs in Europe and Asia.
It is a tall growing plant from 3 to 6 feet high, with numerous small branches. The stem is four angled, with rather long-pointed leaves. The flowers are very numerous and quite small, as will be seen by the picture, Fig. 55. It blooms in the late summer and is freely visited by the bees.
**FILLAREE, see Pin Clover.**
**FIREWEED or WILLOW HERB (Epilobium angustifolium).**
Fireweed is a common plant in the woodlands of the Northern States and of Canada. It is a tall herb with attractive pink blossons on a long terminal spike, as shown in Fig. 56. It springs up following forest fires and covers the burned district with a dense growth. The blooming period is long, lasting from July till frost, as new blossons appear as the older ones fade. It is important as a source of honey in much of eastern Canada, Minnesota, parts of Michigan, Wisconsin and on the Pacific Coast, where it is also valuable in Oregon, Washington and parts of Montana. It is gradually crowded out by other growth. A locality may yield great crops of fireweed honey for two or three years and then little surplus be gathered from it for many years. The author has visited beckeepers in Northern Michigan who count on an average of fifty pounds or more per colony, with as high as 125 pounds, in locations where fireweed was yielding. As fireweed disappears in that locality, raspberry and milkweed follow, and these are also good sources, so that the location does not suffer from the change.
Honey from fireweed is very light in color and of high quality. The late W. Z. Hutchinson, who wrote much concerning bekeeping in the forest region of northern Michigan, styled it as the whitest and finest-flavored honey with which he was acquainted.
As the timber is removed, settlement gradually clears the land, and the wild growth gives place to cultivated fields and pastures. Most of the fireweed country is also good clover territory, so that the beekeepers need not fear the development of the country.
**FLAT TOP, see Eriogonum.**
**FILEA WEED, see Blue Curls.**
**FLORIDA--Honey Plants of.**
Wild Pennsylvania in southern half of the State.
Titi, in pine swamps in northern portion, gives surplus only in west Florida.
Black Tupelo, in same territory as titl, bad weather makes the yield uncertain.
White upelo in low swamps over west Florida; main source in swamps along the Appalachicola and Chipola rivers in Callhou County.
Orange from the north central portion to the southern end of the peninsula.
Andromeda, central and northwestern part of the State, not important. Gallberry or holly grows in almost all parts of Florida, but does best in north part of the State.
Saw or scrub palmetto thrives on sandy soils, doing best on moist hummocks.
Black mangrove grows on lands overflowed daily by salt water along the east coast, but yields best on east side.
Partridge pea grows in great abundance in the high pine lands of the northern half of the State.
Cabbage palmetto reaches its greatest height on the coasts and keys of the southern section. Yields heavily when it does yield.
Manchineel, on southern coast and keys as far north as Palm Beach.
Dogwood, along the keys and southern coast.
Pigeon cherry, same range as the two preceding.
In addition there are a number of such fall flowers as wild sunflowers, asters, goldenrods and thoroughwort.
Four-fifths of all the surplus honey produced in the State comes from the blossoms of nectar-producing trees or shrubs, not flowering plants,--E. G. Baldwin in Gleanings in Bee Culture, March and April, 1911.
**FLORIDA MAHOGANY, see Red Bay.**
**FLOWERING RASPBERRY, see Salmon Berry.**
**FRUIT Bloom.**
All the orchard fruits are of more or less value to the beekeeper, and few differentiate between them when speaking of the sources of early nectar. In localities where a great variety of fruit is grown, the blooming period is longer than where there are large orchards of one kind. In most localities the beekeepers depend upon fruit blossoms for building up their colonies in spring, and when the weather is unfavorable at this time, feeding is often necessary to carry the bees until the next honeyflow. Apples, peaches, pears, plums, apricots and cherries all secrete nectar abundantly and, given strong colonies of bees and favorable weather, large quantities of surplus honey should be gathered from these trees. If it were possible to bring the bees through the winter as strong as in the fall, there is no estimating the amount of honey that would be gathered from the early blooming orchard fruits.
**FOG FRUIT, see Carpet grass.**
**FRASERA, see Monument Plant.**
**FURZE, see Gorse.**
## Appendix GALLARDIA, see Marigold.
**GALLBERRY (Ilex glabra).** See also Holly.
The gallery, in some localities better known as inkberry, is usually heard of as a honey plant only in the South. However, it occurs as far north as Nova Scotia, on the seashore, and along the coast from Massachusetts to Virginia and Florida, and west to Louisiana. It is a common shrub in the low pine barrens of the Gulf States. It is a small evergreen shrub with small, dark leaves. It is an important honey plant in southern Georgia, where it is widely distributed over the sandy lands, especially of the coastal plains. It is important, also, in the Carolinas. It grows in dense thickets and rapidly extends over newly cleared lands. Fig. 57.
"As a honey plant perhaps it has no equal in the southeast. We have never failed to get a surplus from it, even during the most unfavorable weather conditions. It begins to bloom the first of May and continues for 24 to 28 days. During this time bees disregard other bloom, working it up to about 8 o'clock for the pollen; then the flow comes on for the remainder of the day. ** ** It is a great bloomer; even the stems are rolls of bloom. ** ** We have never taken off a large crop of this honey, as 147 pounds of surplus is the best crop we have ever had from one colony. The honey is a light amber color, has a heavy body, a very mild taste, and is highly flavored. The demand for this honey is so great that we cannot furnish our local markets, consequently very little is shipped from the southeast to other markets.
"We have raised tons of this honey and have never seen a pound of the pure article, well ripened, that granulated.
"It has been said that it is impossible to overstock a good gallberry location. We do not know that this statement is true, but we have never heard of one being overstocked. We have had bees in a location where there were 363 colonies, with the same result as with 100 colonies. Good gallberry locations are nearly numberless and large quantities of this fine honey are wasted every year in localities where there is not a bee to gather it. The gallberry should be included in the list of the best honey plants."--J. J. Wilder, Cordele, Ga. Gleanings, page 1200, September, 1907.
**GAURA.**
There are several species of gaura of wide distribution. Although frequently mentioned as honey plants, they are seldom of sufficient abundance to be important.