AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 113 



sive and especially abrupt slopes and mountain ridges. It often forms a 

 distinct zone between the foothills and the yellow pine belt." 



Richter lists it as eagerly sought by the bees in several California 

 counties, though no mention is made of it as a source of surplus honey. 



GREENBRIAR (Smilax). 



There are several species of greenbriar, some of which are common 

 from Canada to Texas. They grow along watercourses and in open wood- 

 lands and the stems are covered with stiff and hard thorns. SchoU lists 

 one species as yielding nectar in Texas. The author found reports to 'the 

 effect that bees gather honey from greenbriar in McLennan County, Texas. 

 At the same time it was stated that no honey was gathered from it in other 

 nearby sections. The plant seems to be of doubtful value and is not suf- 

 ficiently abundant to be important. 



GRINDELIA, see Gum Weed. 

 GROUNDSEL, see Butterweed. 

 GROUND LAUREL, see Arbutus. 

 GUAIACUM, see Soapbush. 

 GUAYACAN, see Soapbush. 

 GUM, see Tupelo, also Eucalyptus. 



GUM-ELASTIC or SHITTIM.WOOD (Bumelia lanuginosa rigida). 



Gum-elastic is the common name in south Texas for the Arizona 

 buckthorn, a small tree occurring from western Texas to Arizona. It has 

 a short stem with stiff and very spiny branches. It is frequently men- 

 tioned as a source of honey in southern Texas. 



There are reports to the effect that it sometimes yields a surplus along 

 the Trinity River and that the honey often sours in the combs after being 

 sealed. 



GUM TREE, see Eucalyptus, also Tupelo. 



GUM WEED or GUM PLANT (Grindelia squarrosa). 



The gum weed, also called rosin weed, is a common plant from Wyom- 

 ing and Colorado south to Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. It occurs 

 sparingly eastward to Minnesota and Missouri. The bright yellow flowers 

 exude a milky resinous gum, which gives rise to its name, "gum weed." It 

 Ig also widely known as rosin weed (Fig. 68). It blooms in August and is 

 much sought by the bees. The honey is yellow and of inferior flavor. It 

 i'; often mixed with light honey in the super and the grade spoiled as a 

 result. In Colorado it is well known by the name of "rosin weed." There 

 the comb-honey producers complain that it often spoils the quality of 

 their product through being mixed with the honey from alfalfa and sweet 

 clover. Honey from gum weed candies very quickly, so quickly in fact, 

 that Colorado beekeepers say that the bees have to hurry home with the 

 load to prevent it ^becoming candied in their sacs. Comb honey which 

 candies cannot readily be restored, hence in localities where gum weed 



