74 SOURCES OF NECTAR 
These plants are an important source of fall honey. 
Heartsease (Polygonwm).—There are several species of 
plants belonging to this family (Fig. 38) that are variously 
known as smartweed, knotweed, heartsease, ladv’s thumb, water 
pepper, doorweed, ete. Polygonum persicaria or lady’s thumb 
is perhaps the best honey producer of them all. There are 
fifty or more species in the United States and Canada, a number 
of which produce some honey. 
This plant is particularly valuable in wet seasons, when an 
excess of moisture prevents the usual cultivation of many fields, 
or when, because of abundant water supply, these plants spring 
up in corn fields and grain fields after cultivation has ceased. 
At such times, large quantities of honey are sometimes secured 
from this source. 
While the plants range over a wide area, they are particularly 
valuable as honey producers in the States of Iowa, Illinois and 
eastern Kansas and Nebraska. 
The period of bloom lasts from August until frost and the 
honey varies greatly in color and quality. Much of it is a light 
amber, of fair quality, while some is very dark and of inferior 
quality. 
Horsemint (J/onarda).—Horsemint is most frequently re- 
ported as a valuable honey plant from Texas and nearby States, 
In this section very large yields are occasionally reported from 
this source. There are several species (Fig. 39) ranging from 
Quebec and New England, west to Dakota, and south to Georgia 
and Texas. 
The corolla tubes are very deep, and it would hardly be 
expected that the bees could reach the nectar. Three species 
are reported as yielding freely in Texas, J. clinopodoides accord- 
ing to Scholl being one of the best honey plants. I. fistulosa, 
commonly called wild bergamot, is common in many of the 
States, from New England to the Missouri River and south to 
Florida and Texas. While at times this plant does not seem 
