AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



35 



It is of European origin, in 



troduced 



lack bindweed 

 weed. 



nto this country. It belongs to a 

 family of plants which produce 

 honey in quantity, but, is itself, of 

 little value. The first indication 

 that reached the author that this 

 plant was sometimes of value to 

 the bees, was the receipt of a 

 specimen, by mail, with the in- 

 formation that the bees were 

 working upon it. Careful watch 

 was then kept for several years, 

 before they were seen to seek it in 

 his locality. Since that time there 

 have been a few occasions when 

 the bees have sought it freely and 

 when it seemed to yield some nec- 

 tar. It is doubtful whether it is 

 ever of much importance as a 

 source of honey. 



The seed has been widely dis- 

 tributed with grain seeds and is 

 very troublesome in fields of small 

 grain. The vine closely resembles 

 the wild morning glory, to the cas- 

 ual observer, but the blossom is 

 small and inconspicuous, followed 

 with a seed somewhat like buck- 

 wheat, hence it is often called 

 wild buckwheat. 



BIRCH (Betula). 



There are several species of 

 birch trees and shrubs common to 



Fig. 20. The 



Eastern America!"' They are partial to low. rich woodlands, and some oc- 

 cur in the far north. In some localities they are valuable for pollen. 



BITTERSWEET (Celastrus scandens). Waxwork, or Climbing Bitter- 



sweet. 



A well-known climbing shrub common in woodlands. The orange- 

 colored pods displaying the scarlet covered seeds are often gathered or 

 winter bouquets. The flowers are small and greenish m raceme-l.ke clus- 

 ters at the termination of the branches. , „ ^^ , , t 



"The bees work freely on bittersweet."-Miss Mitchell, Keokuk, Iowa. 



BITTERWEED (Helenium tenuifolium). 



The author's first experience with bitterweed honey was in south 

 Missouri in 1904 or 1905. There had been a good flow from white clover, 



