AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



71 



CLEMATIS. 



The white clematis is commonly known by the name of virgin's 



bower, but also has several other 

 local names, such as love vine, 

 traveler's joy and devil's hair. 

 Fig. 42 shows the delicate white 

 Ijlossoms and the leat, and Fig.. 43 

 shows a mass of vines on a road- 

 side fence. 



The range of the plant is from 

 Nova Scotia and Ontario west to 

 Lake Winnipeg and Nebraska 

 and south to Louisiana and Flor- 

 ida. It may be expected almost 

 anywhere east of the Mississippi 

 River. It is a slender climbing- 

 vine on the borders of woods, 

 roadsides and hedgerows. The 

 blossoms are white and fragrant, 

 blooming in midsummer. It is 

 much sought by the bees, and ap- 

 parently produces considerable 

 nectar. It is doubtful whether the 

 plant is anywhere sufficiently 

 abundant to make an appreciable 

 difference in the production of 

 the hive. 



Richter, in his "Honey Plants 

 of California," reports a related 

 species, the hill clematis, (Cle- 

 matis Hgusticifolia, as common in the hilly districts almost throughout 

 California. It is said to produce "a great deal of pollen and probably some 

 honey," but it is not known to produce surplus. Common also in the Rocky 

 Mountains. 



CLEOME, see Rocky Mountain Bee Plant. 



Fig. 42. Blossom and leaf of white clematis. 



CLEOMELLA (Cleomella angustifola). 



The Cleomella is very similar to the Rocky Mountain bee plant, or 

 cleome. The flowers are small and yellow and the plant does not grow so 

 tall as the cleome. 



An Oklahoma beekeeper reports as follows : 



"It seems to be a remarkable honey plant. It was in bloom for 

 more than ten weeks during the dry season, and bees worked upon it 

 freely every morning. The blossom is very fragrant, sweet, yellow, 

 and is at the branches. It keeps crowding out a new growth and 

 blooming, forming small purse-shaped seed pods as the blossoms drop. 

 The growth is much like sweet clover or yellow mustard, but forming 

 a larger spreading top. Some plants grow four feet tall and three feet 



