1981] 
Ginsberg — Bee Foraging Patterns 
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Pyrus malus ) bloomed soon after, as did several roadside weeds 
such as dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale ) and yellow rocket (Bar- 
barea vulgaris). The spring species were typically clustered in 
distribution at roadsides and forest edges, and the woody species 
had relatively short blooming times. Of 16 species recorded on the 
field in spring (late April and early May in 1975) half were native 
and half were introduced. I do not include any of the several species 
that bloomed in the woods nearby. 
Flower bloom increased on the field to a maximum in early 
summer (late June, early July). Most of the species in bloom at this 
time of the year were introduced (Fig. 1). Table I lists the most 
common of these species and gives their frequencies of occurrence in 
the subquadrats. Note that the most common flowers at this time 
were those of introduced herbaceous species. Most flowers of these 
species were past blooming by midsummer. 
In August, goldenrods ( Solidago spp.) predominated on the field. 
These late summer flowers are native to this region (Table I). Aster, 
another native genus of composites, predominated after goldenrod 
passed bloom in the fall. Late season flowers, therefore, were mostly 
native species (Fig. 1). 
DATE 
Fig. 1. Number of introduced and native flower species blooming over the summer, 
1974, in an old field near Ithaca, New York. 
