202 AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS 



PIGEON BERRY, see Buckthorn. 

 PIGEON CHERRY, see Wild Cherry. 



PIN CLOVER or FILAREE (Erodium cicutarium). 



The pin clover, or alfilaria, or tilaree, is widely distributed in the Old 

 World, and in this country has been naturalized from Europe. It is espe- 

 cially well known on the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to southern 

 California. There it is said to be one of the most valuable wild pasture 

 plants. 



It is also called pin grass and heron's bill. It has a long period of 

 bloom, beginning in February or March in California, and in some places 

 continuing through the summer. It produces an abundance of pollen and 

 considerable honey of good quality. In Gray's botany it is listed as 

 "storksbill," and is mentioned as scarce in New York and Pennsylvania. 

 It is recorded as occurring in Alabama, where it apparently was carrieu 

 with railroad ballast. June is given as the blooming period in the vicinity 

 of Mobile. 



It is also known in several places in Connecticut, where it is said to 

 bloom in May and June. Professor Pammel states that it is abundant in 

 the dry soils in the Salt Lake basin and from Colorado to Texas. The 

 seeds cling to the wool of sheep and this aids in its wide distribution. 



Figure 110 shows the plant with blossom and seed pod. It is from the 

 peculiar shape of the latter that it gets the name of "storksbill" and 

 "heron's bill." 



PINE (Pinus). 



Occasionally honeydew is reported from the pine trees. The following 

 references are typical of those to be found in current literature : 



"We are having a real flow of water-white honeydew from the 

 pine here in Polk County. It has been on now for two weeks. Bees 

 in general are in bad condition." — Luther Presswood, Reliance, Tenn., 

 Jan. 18, 1907. American Bee Journal, page 98, 1907. 



"Large quantities of honey are ofteh secured from pine woods in 

 certain parts of Germany. The honey is nearly black in color, still 

 it finds many admirers, and must, therefore, be of better quality than 

 the honeydew gathered here at times. The Enimendingen Beekeep- 

 ers' Society furnishes all the honey for the Grand Duke's table (in 

 Karlsruhe), and it is specified that the honey must be this black honey 

 of the pine woods." — Bztg. for Schles'w. — Holstein. American Bee Jour- 

 nal, page 616, 1906. 



Similar honeydew is harvested in Switzerland and appears to be also 

 much prized by the consumers. 



PLUM (PrunusJ. 



Plums, both wild and cultivated, are important sources of nectar over 

 most of the United States. There are twenty or more species which are 

 native to North America and which are generally known as wild plums. 

 The blooming period comes early and with other tree fruits they are of 

 great value as the source of nectar and pollen at a season when the colo- 



