Texas Honey Plants.

by C. E. Sanborn and E. E. Scholl.

PREFACE.

This preliminary bulletin on Texas Honey Plants represents work of the Department of Entomology dating through the office tenures of Professors Mally, Newell, Sanderson and Conradi. They each have authorized and aided in the collection of the flora and data contained in this publication.

To Mr. Louis H. Scholl, of New Braunfels, Texas, a.s.sistant and Apiarist from 1902 until 1906, the Department is directly indebted for the material contained herein, except as is otherwise designated.

Mr. Ernest Scholl, now a.s.sistant and Apiarist, has furnished material as shown herein. He is now working on a continuation of the subject.

Mr. D. C. Milam, of Uvalde, formerly Foul Brood Inspector, has also contributed, as is shown.

The main body of the work, however, has been accomplished through the services of Mr. Louis H. Scholl, and much credit is due him, since he has done more in this Department, and perhaps more than any other person in helping to build up the Bee Industry of Texas. His data are followed by this mark *

INTRODUCTION.

This publication treats of many of the Texas honey plants in a brief technical manner. In addition, wherever possible, the common name is used in connection with the description.

The sequence followed by Coulter in his Botany of South West Texas is herein mainly followed. In some instances quotations from Small's Botany of Texas were used, as is shown in the publication. The plants are discussed by families.

Not only is the honey producing qualities of the plants mentioned, but frequent mention is also made of the respective quality and yield of pollen and propolis. Data are included in many instances concerning the weather conditions and its effects upon the yield of certain plants.

It is hoped that this will be a great help to apiarists in selecting locations for bees, since the value of bees depends entirely on the environment under which they may be placed. Again it may help in selecting certain plants to be planted that might prove to be very beneficial to an established apiary.

The geographical distribution is given in a general brief way, so that one is less apt to be confused concerning the abundance in nature of certain plants. In this connection it must be remembered, however, that on account of extended cultivation in Texas, some of the common wild plants are becoming less numerous than formerly, while cultivated varieties are becoming more common.

Two indices are contained in this bulletin. The first contains all the common or vernacular names, and the second contains the latin or technical names. The latter is complete, since some plants are known only by the technical appellation.

TRIPLE-LEAFED BARBERRY. Berberis trifoliata Moric.

Barberry family. Berberideae.

"On gravelly slopes and foothills from the Gulf coast to the Limpia mountains." (Coulter). Hunter, gravelly hills; honey yield abundant, also pollen; fine for early brood rearing. January and February.*

p.r.i.c.kLY POPPY. Argemone platyceras (Link. and Otto.) Poppy family. Papaveraceae.

"Abundant in valleys and along dry hillsides." (Coulter). Roadsides, waste fields and prairies. Honey yield unimportant, but abundance of pollen during the dearth of summer. May and July.*

"This plant is abundant along the Brazos valley. Bees work heavily on it in June, carrying heavy loads of pollen, which they store in nearly every comb, thus making it disagreeable in the honey combs sometimes."

(E. Scholl).

POPPY. Papaver rhoeas L.

Poppy family. Papaveraceae.

Cultivated in flower gardens. Honey yield not important and plants few. May.*

PEPPERGRa.s.s. PEPPERWORT. Lepidium Virginic.u.m L.

Mustard family. Cruciferae.

"In all situations, Quebec to Minnesota, Kansas, Florida, Texas and Mexico. Naturalized in Europe." (Small). Found in all kinds of places; honey yield not important; some pollen. June to August.*

GREGGIA. Greggia camporum Gray.

Mustard family. Cruciferae.

"Mountains of Western Texas." (Coulter). Honey yield early but not abundant; also pollen helps early brood rearing. Hunter; waste fields and fertile prairies. Honey yield early, but not abundant; also pollen; helps early brood rearing. February.*

COMMON TURNIP. Bra.s.sica rapa L.

Mustard family. Cruciferae.

Cultivated and sometimes escaped; bees work on the blossoms, honey and pollen. June and July.*

BLACK MUSTARD. Bra.s.sica nigra Koch.

Mustard family. Cruciferae.

Cultivated and escaped; bees sometimes busy on it. June and July.*

MIGNONETTE. Reseda odorata L.

Mignonette family. Resedaceae.

College: cultivated on Apiary Experimental plats. Honey yield good; plants not plentiful enough for surplus. June and July.*

PORTULACA. Portulaca grandiflora Hook.

Purslane family. Portulaceae.

Cultivated in ornamental flower beds. Honey yield good as it comes during time when few others in bloom; also abundance of highly colored pollen, red, orange and yellows. June until frost.*

SALT CEDAR. Tamarix gallica L.

Tamarisc family. Tamariscineae.

"A common European Mediterranean shrub which seems to have escaped in many places in Texas." (Coulter). "On roadsides, in thickets and waste places; warmer parts of Southern United States, naturalized from Southern Europe." (Small). College Station; cultivated ornamental shrub bees worked well on it, but number of trees scarce. May and June.*

FRINGED POPPY MALLOW. Callirrhoe digitata Nutt.

Mallow family. Malvaceae.