136 



AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



midsummer. Heartsease is valuable on low lands over the State and on 

 higher lands in the vicinity of ploughed fields in wet seasons. Asters, 

 boneset, Spanish needle and numerous other fall flowers add something 

 to the production of the hives, but in few localities can be said to be im- 

 portant. Basswood was once of great value to Iowa beekeepers, but has 

 largely been cut down. 



IRONWEED (Vernonia). 



There are many species of the ironweeds to be found in many coun- 

 tries. They are common in Asia and Africa, as well as North America. 

 They are common from New England south to Florida and west to Dakota 

 and Texas. Figure 84 shows the flowers of the western ironweed (Ver- 

 nonia fasciculata) and Figure 83 a clump of the common ironweed (Ver- 

 nonia Baldwini). In the middle west they grow very commonly in pas- 

 tures, and the purple blossoms are very conspicuous in late summer. At 



Fig. 83. Clump of common ironweed in bloom. 

 times the bees work them very eagerly, but it is doubtful whether they 

 are often of much value as a source of surplus. 



IRONWOOD, see Coma, also Titi. 

 IVYWOOD, see Laurel. 



