5* 



AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



that the bees work it eagerly when the weather will permit. The flowers 

 are not showy, but the profuse bloom is rich in nectar. The blooming 

 period begins in June and, in some places, continues as late as August. 



BRUNNICHIA. 



The tendril-bearing smartweed, or ladies' ear drops (Brunnichia cirr- 

 hosa) is a perennial climbing vine, common to the southeastern States. 

 It ranges from southern Illinois and Arkansas to South Carolina and 

 Florida. An Arkansas beekeeper reports that the plant is abundant in his 

 locality and covered with bees. 



H. B. Parks reports it grows on the low lands of Southeast Texas, 

 where it blooms from March till August and yields some surplus. 



BUFFALO CURRANT (Ribes aureum). 



The yellow flowers of the buffalo currant are very fragrant and ap- 

 parently contain much nectar. The writer has often noticed the bees 

 working on the blossoms, but since the corolla tubes are half an inch or 

 more in length he supposed they were getting only pollen. A close ex- 

 amination showed that the bees were unmistakably getting nectar from 

 this source and that the tubes had been slit entirely down one side by 

 some unknown agency. Whether this is a common occurrence the author 

 cannot say. 



Fig- 33. Blossoms of the button-ljush. 



