162 AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



MISSOURI— Honey Sources of. 



White clover is the one principal source of honey in Missouri. Sweet 

 clover yields surplus in some localities. In the low lands along the Missis- 

 sippi River, heartsease, Spanish needle and boneset are also important. In 

 many places south of the Missouri River, bitterweed yields some nectar, 

 which is often mixed with the better honey and spoils the quality. Blue- 

 vine (Gonolobus laevis) yields surplus in a few localities. In the vicinity 

 of Brunswick as much as 100 pounds of surplus per colony has been re- 

 ported. 



Only a small portion of Missouri is well suited to commercial beekeep- 

 ing, owing to uncertainty of the honey flows. With the extension of the 

 growth of sweet clover as a farm crop conditions are improving. 



MISTLETOE (Phoradendron flavescens). 



The mistletoe is too well known to need description. It occurs as a 

 parasite on trees from southern New Jersey and Missouri south to Florida 

 and Texas. It is a yellowish-green shrub, much branched, which grows on 

 the branches of the trees to which it attaches itself. It flowers early, usu- 

 ally in February and March, and is frequently mentioned as a honey plant 

 in the Southern States. Scholl lists it as the first source of nectar and 

 pollen in Texas, blooming there in January and February. Many Texas 

 beekeepers regard it as valuable for spring stimulation. 



MONARDA, see Horsemint. 



MONTANA— Honey Sources of. 



The principal sources of nectar in Montana are alfalfa and white sweet 

 clover in Yellowstone, Sun River, Missouri, Gallatin and Flat-Head Val- 

 leys; yellow sweet clover in Bitterroot Valley, White clover in Bitterroot 

 and Gallatin Valleys, and fireweed in northwestern timbered region. 

 Minor plants are willow, dandelion, Grindelia (gum-weed), etc. — H. A. 

 ScuUen. 



MONUMENT PLANT (Frasera). 



The monument plant is variously known as columbo, deer's ears (a 

 translation of the Navaho name), and Frasera. It grows in high altitudes 

 from 7,000 to 10,000 feet, from South Dakota westward to Montana and 

 Oregon and south to New Mexico and California. 



It has large, creamy blossoms, about two inches in diameter, on tall 

 flower stalks growing to a height of three feet. (Fig. 94.) It is common 

 in the Rocky Mountains and is much sought by the bees. According to 

 Wesley Foster it is an important source of honey in May. It is a striking 

 plant which once seen is not likely to be forgotten. 



MORNING-GLORY (Convolvulus). 



The morning-glory is a twining perennial vine of wide distribution 

 throughout the United States. It has a large bell-shaped corolla and is 

 often grown for ornament. Originally it was introduced from Europe 



