Part 2
Rose family. Rosaceae.
"A Southern blackberry, apparently common in Eastern, Southern and
Western Texas." (Coulter). Common wild, little cultivated; bees on it
busy; honey and pollen. February, April.*
ROSE. Rosa Tourn.
Cultivated widely; honey yield unimportant; pollen gathered from it
sometimes. Spring, summer and fall.*
APPLE. Malus malus (L) Britt.
Rose family. Rosaceae.
Cultivated in orchards; honey yield early; helps in brood rearing;
good where abundant. March, April.*
PEAR. Pyrus communis L.
Rose family. Rosaceae.
A much cultivated fruit tree, important for early honey and pollen.
February, March.*
HAWTHORN. WHITE THORN. Crataegus spathulata Michx.
Rose family. Rosaceae.
"A species of the Gulf States and extending to the lower Colorado in
Texas." (Coulter). In woodlands and creeks; good for honey and pollen.
April.*
HAWTHORN. WHITE THORN. Crataegus arborescens Ell.
Rose family. Rosaceae.
"A species of the Gulf States and extending to the lower Colorado in
Texas." (Coulter). College Station; in woodlands and creek banks;
honey yield good, bees found busily on it; also pollen. April.*
CREPE MYRTLE. Lagerstroemia Indica L.
Loose strife family. Lythraceae.
"In waste places in and near gardens; widely cultivated and
sparingly naturalized from Maryland, Florida and Texas."
(Small). Cultivated ornamental on campus; honey yield occasionally
good and visited much by bees. June, October.*
JUSSIAEA. Jussiaea repens L.
Evening Primrose family. Onagrarieae.
"In streams from the San Antonio northward and eastward." (Coulter).
In water edge of rivers and lakes. Not affected by drouth; it is
important for bees during dearth. June to September.*
JUSSIAEA. Jussiaea diffusa Forskl.
Evening Primrose family. Onagrarieae.
"In and about ponds, Kentucky to Kansas, Florida and Texas, also in
tropical America and Asia." (Small) In water edge of pasture tanks and
pools. Honey yield good; important as it is not affected by drouths
but better after rains. June, August.*
Gaura filiformis Small.
Evening Primrose family. Onagrarieae.
Sandy soils and along creeks; honey yield good; sometimes yielding
surplus in spurts when favorable season and rains prevail. June,
October.*
MUSK MELON. Cucumis Melo L.
Gourd family. Cucurbitaceae.
Hunter: cultivated. Honey yield good; abundant during dewy mornings.
Also pollen. Early summer to fall. Important in melon growing
sections, South Texas. July and September.*
CUCUMBER. Cucumis sativa.
Gourd family. Cucurbitaceae.
Cultivated; honey yield very good; short duration; pollen; but
plants not abundant. April, July.*
WATERMELON. Citrullus Citrullus (L) Small.
Gourd family. Cucurbitaceae.
Cultivated; honey yield good; abundant during dewy mornings, also
pollen; from early summer to frosts in late autumn. May to October.*
"Successful in honey plant plot at College in 1905." (E. Scholl).
WILD GOURD. Cucurbita foetidissima HBK.
Gourd family. Cucurbitaceae.
"Abundant in the valleys of Southern and Western Texas." (Coulter).
Hunter: in a variety of places. Honey yield not important; plants
scattered and few, good for pollen. April, July.*
COMMON PUMPKIN. Cucurbita pepo L.
Gourd family. Cucurbitaceae.
Cultivated: not important for honey, but much pollen. May, June.*
COMMON CACTUS OR PRICKLY PEAR. Opuntia englemannii Salm. & Dyk.
Cactus family. Cactaceae.
"Common throughout Southern and Western Texas. This seems to be
common "prickly pear" of Texas, though all the flat-jointed opuntias
bear that name. The joints are commonly spoken of as "leaves" and form
an important food for grazing of animals, under the name of "nopal."
The "nopal leaf" is also much used for poultices, etc."
(Coulter). Hunter: over entire Southwestern Texas; Honey yield
abundant; sometimes surplus; honey of rank flavor when first
stored. May, June.*
DOGWOOD. Cornus asperifolia Michx.
Dogwood family. Cornaceae.
"An Eastern species extending to Central Texas where the variety
Drummondii is the common form." (Coulter). Lowlands and along banks;
honey yield good and bees fairly roam over blossoms, but species not
plentiful. March, April.*
ELDER. Sambucus Canadensis L.
Honey suckle family. Caprifoliaceae.
"Moist grounds throughout Texas." (Coulter). Along rivers and wet
places; honey yield good but not plentiful. April, May.*
BLACK HAW. Virburnum prunifolium L.
Honey suckle family. Caprifoliaceae.
"An Atlantic species, extending westward into Texas as far as the
valley of the Guadalupe and probably the San Antonio." (Coulter).
Hunter: in woodlands and forests. Honey yield good, early, valuable
for brood rearing. March, April.*
CORAL BERRY. INDIAN CURRANT. Symphoricarpos symphorlcarpos (L) MacM.
Honey suckle family. Caprifoliaceae.
"An Atlantic species extending into Texas. Near New Braunfels.
(Lindheimer)." (Coulter). In woodlands along rivers and rocky soil.
Honey yield good and of long duration. July, September.*
BUSH HONEYSUCKLE. Lonicera fragrantissima Lindle.
Honey suckle family. Caprifoliaceae.
Shrubby vine; cultivated species on campus; honey yield extremely
early, valuable to stimulate bees if weather is favorable; also
pollen. January.*
WHITE-FLOWERED HONEYSUCKLE. Lonicera albiflora Torn. & Gray.
Honey suckle family. Caprifoliaceae.
"Abundant throughout Western Texas and especially in the mountains
west of the Pecos." (Coulter). Hunter: cultivated for ornamental
purposes. Honey yield good, but few plants. May, July.*
HOUSTONIA. Houstonia angustifolia Michx.
Madder family. Rubiaceae.
"Throughout Texas." (Coulter). College Station: on dry soils and
prairies. Bees work on it well but plants not abundant. May, July.*
BUTTON BUSH. Cephalanthus occidentalis L.
Madder family. Rubiaceae.
"Swamps and along streams throughout Texas." (Coulter). Hunter:
along rivers and creeks. Bees work on it. July.*
BUTTON WEED. Diodia teres Walt.
Madder family. Rubiaceae.
"Sandy soil, low grounds of Texas to mouth of Rio Grande."
(Coulter). Low sandy soils; honey yield good and valuable as it comes
during drouth. No surplus. July, August.*
BROOMWEED. Gutierrezia Texana T. & G.
Composite family. Compositae.
"Sterile plains throughout Texas." (Coulter). In open prairies;
honey yield good in fall for winter stores; dark amber and strong
flavor. September, October.*
GOLDENROD. Solidago sp. (?).
Composite family. Compositae.
Occurs in all parts of Texas. September. See A. B. C. 173.
Parthenium Hysterophorus L.
Composite family. Compositae.
"Throughout Eastern and Central Texas. Dr. Harvard remarks that it
is one of the commonest weeds about the streets of San Antonio."
(Coulter). Hunter: in waste places and open town lots of which it
takes possession. Honey yield good in favorable seasons when not too
dry. White pollen. April, November.*
ROMAN WORMWOOD. Ambrosia artemisiaefolia L.
Composite family. Compositae.
"A common weed of waste grounds, extremely variable." (Coulter). Dry
upland soils and waste places; probably pollen only. July, August.*
TALL RAGWEED. Ambrosia aptera DC.
Composite family. Compositae.
"Low grounds in Southern and Western Texas." (Coulter). Hunter:
along field fences and low places. Some honey but more pollen of a
resinous nature. July and August.*
GREAT RAGWEED. Ambrosia trifida L.
Composite family. Compositae.
"Moist river banks throughout Eastern and Central Texas." (Coulter).
College: in low moist creeks and along Brazos river. Honey yield not
important, but yields much pollen. July and August.*
COCKLE-BURR. CLOT BURR. Xanthium Canadense Mill.
Composite family. Compositae.
"Alluvial shores and waste ground." (Coulter). Hunter: along creeks,
in pastures and fields; not important; furnishes pollen late in the
fall. September, October.*
CONE FLOWER. NIGGER HEAD. Rudbeckia hirta L.
Composite family. Compositae.
"Dry and open ground throughout Texas." (Coulter). Waysides and
prairies; of no importance; bees gather propolis from resinous heads
sometimes. May, June.*
CONE FLOWER. NIGGER HEAD. Rudbeckia bicolor Nutt.
Composite family. Compositae.
"Pine woods or sandy soil, Eastern and Southern Texas."
(Coulter). "In woods and sandy soil, Arkansas to Alabama and Texas."
(Small). Waysides and prairies; of no importance; bees gather
propolis from resinous heads sometimes. May, June.*
COMMON SUNFLOWER. Helianthus annuus L.
Composite family. Compositae.
"Abundant in all valleys." (Coulter). Hunter: along roadsides and in
waste fields. Honey yield sometimes good in the fall but strong in
flavor. Much propolis gathered from the large composite heads of the
flower and stems and leaves of the plant. May, September.*
VIRGINIAN CROWN-BEARD. Verbesina Virginica L.
Composite family. Compositae.
"Rich dry soil from the Mississippi and Gulf States through Texas to
Mexico." (Coulter). In rich soils, lowlands and woodlands; honey yield
very abundant, depending upon seasons; fine quality of honey.
October.*
SNEEZE WEED. BITTER WEED. Helenium tenuifolium Nutt.
Composite family. Compositae.
"River bottoms, etc., extending from the Gulf and Mississippi States
to Western Texas." (Coulter). College: abundant on open woodland
prairies and plains of Eastern Texas. Honey yield good in favorable
seasons; pollen; honey golden yellow, heavy body but very bitter, as
if 50 per cent quinine and some pepper was added. June to October.*
MARIGOLD. Gaillardia pulchella Foug.
Composite family. Compositae.
"Extending from plains of Arkansas and Louisiana through Texas to
those of Arizona and Mexico." (Coulter). Hunter: waysides and
prairies. Honey yield of good quality, dark amber colored. A main
yielder of surplus. May, June.*
BLUE THISTLE. Cnicus altissimus Willd.
Composite family. Compositae.
"Borders of woods and open ground. Common in the Atlantic States and
extending into Texas." (Coulter). Hunter: scattered over open
prairies; honey yield unimportant; some pollen. July, August.* "Bees
working heavily on it in June, 1907 along Guadalupe River, New
Braunfels, Texas, where some of the pastures were literally covered
with it." (E. Scholl).
AMERICAN KNAPWEED. Centaurea Americana Nutt.
Composite family. Compositae.
"Extending from the plains of Arkansas and Louisiana through Texas
to Arizona and adjacent Mexico." (Coulter). Hunter: open prairies and
pastures. Not important. July, August.*
DANDELION. Taraxacum officinale Weber.
Composite family. Compositae.
"Common everywhere; an introduction from Europe." (Coulter). See
A. B. C. of Bee Culture. February.*
MARIGOLD. Tagetes patalus L.
Composite family. Compositae.
Cultivated in flower gardens; honey yield not important; bees only
occasionally visiting it. July.*
NARROW-LEAFED IRON WOOD. Bumelia angustifolia Nutt.
Appodilla family. Sapotaceae.
"Valley of the lower Rio Grande." (Coulter). Specimen sent from the
Nueces River. (Cotulla). June.*
MEXICAN PERSIMMON. Diospyros Texana Scheele.
Ebony family. Ebenaceae.
"Woods along streams, Matagorda Bay to the Concho River and
southward." (Coulter). "Mexicans call it "Chapote," also known as
"black persimmon." Often found on rocky mesas but thrives best in
canyons and on the edges of ravines." (Harvard). Hunter: in woodlands:
honey yield abundant, not harmed by showers on account of bell-shaped
flowers. April.*
PERSIMMON (COMMON). Diospyros Virginiana L.
Ebony family. Ebenaceae.
"A common tree of the Atlantic States. Extending Into Texas to the
valley of the Colorado." (Coulter). Throughout East Texas; honey yield
good, not long and trees not abundant. Bell-shaped blossoms are
protected in rain. April.*
CALIFORNIA PRIVET. Ligustrum vulgare L.
Olive family. Oleaceae.
"Thickets and on roadsides, Ontario to Pennsylvania and North
Carolina." (Small). Ornamental shrub cultivated for hedges, etc.,
honey yield good; flowering trees scarce, trimmed and kept down in
hedges. April, May.* "A good flow at College Station in 1906." (E.
Scholl).
SILVER BERRY. Elaeagnus argentia, Pursh.
Oleaster family. Elaeagnaceae.
College Station; cultivated ornamental on campus. Honey yield
abundant in narrowly funnel-shaped blossoms hanging downward. Nectar
runs to mouth of flower. Protected from rains. Corolla
8mm. deep. Long-tongue bees would be of advantage. October, November.*
SWEET OLIVE. Elaeagnus angustifolia L.
Oleaster family. Elaeagnaceae.
College Station: cultivated ornamental shrub on campus; honey yield
good; bees work on blossom. April.*
SILK WEED. Asclepias sp.
Milk weed family. Asclepiadeae.
Beeville; on plains and prairies. Honey yield good but pollen
attaches to bee's feet and cripples them. March.*
DENSE-FLOWERED PHACELIA. Phacelia congesta Hook.
Water-leaf family. Hydrophyllaceae.
"Throughout Texas." (Coulter). Rich places and moist woods; honey
yield sparing. April, June.*
Phacelia glabra Nutt.
Water-leaf family. Hydrophyllaceae.
"Low prairies Arkansas and East Texas." (Coulter). On prairies
Eastern Texas. March, April.*
BORAGE. Borage officinalis L.
Borage family. Boragineae.
College: cultivated; honey yield good; bees working busily on it
during June. Old stalks die down in July and large lower leaves
protect root stock during severe drouth and sprout out for bees to
work on bloom in August. June, July.*
MORNING GLORY. Ipomoea Caroliniana Pursh.
Convolvulus family. Convolvulaceae.
Most common in cultivated fields. Honey yield light, pollen. June to
November.*
NIGHT-SHADE. Solanum rostratum Dunal.
Night-shade family. Solanaceae.
"Plains throughout Texas." (Coulter). Hunter: waste lands, prairies
and roadsides. Honey very little; some pollen. May, October.*
TRUMPET CREEPER. TRUMPET FLOWER. Campsis radicans (L) Seem.
Bigonia family. Bignoniaceae.
"Moist soil, extending from Atlantic and Gulf States into Texas and
common in cultivation." (Coulter). Cultivated and along river bottoms:
honey yield of little importance; external nectar glands; pollen from
flowers. July to October.*
LARGE-FLOWERED VERBENA. Verbena urticaefolia L.
Vervain family. Verbenaceae.
"Waste or open grounds, extending from the Atlantic regions through
Texas to tropical America." (Coulter). College Station: in waste open
ground. April, August.*
BLUE VERVAIN. Verbena xutha Lehm.
Vervain family. Verbenaceae.
"Extending from Louisiana through Texas to Southern California and
Mexico." (Coulter). College: in sandy soils, honey yield sparing and
scattering throughout its season. April, August.*
SPATULATE-LEAFED FOG-FRUIT. Lippia nodiflora Michx.
Vervain family. Verbenaceae.
"Low ground extending from the Gulf States to Western Texas."
(Coulter). In moist places, rivers and creeks; honey yield very light
and of little importance. July.*
WHITE BRUSH. Lippia ligustrina Britt.
Vervain family. Verbenaceae.
"Common on rocky slopes throughout Texas." (Coulter). "Foliage eaten
by cattle, sheep and goats." (Harvard). All over Southwest Texas;
honey yield very heavy of fine quality but very short duration, only a
few days; blooms after each rain during season. May to November.*
LANTANA. Lantana Camara L.
Vervain family. Verbenaceae.
"Extending from the Gulf States through Southeastern Texas to
tropical America." (Coulter). On light soils of Southwest Texas;
unimportant; bees seldom on it. April, October.*
FRENCH MULBERRY. Callicarpa Americana L.
Vervain family. Verbenaceae.
"Rich or moist grounds, extending from Gulf States to Southern
Texas." (Coulter). Brazos bottoms, College; rich soil in woods,
abundant: honey yield only fair. May.*
ROEMER'S SAGE. Salvia Roemeriana Scheele.
Mint family. Labiatae.
"In light fertile soils, Western Texas." (Coulter). Hunter: rich
soils in forests. Unimportant as a honey plant; not abundant; deep
corollas. May, June.*
BLUE SAGE. Salvia azurea Lam.
Mint family. Labiatae.
"From Gulf States to extreme Western Texas." (Coulter). Hunter: dry
soil and waste places; corolla deep and visited much more frequently
by bumble bees than honey bees. April, October.*
CATNIP. Nepeta cataria L.
Mint family. Labiatae.
Cultivated on Apiary Experimental Plats, 1904; only a few plants
grew and bloomed. A few bees visited it. Soon died. July.*
WILD BERGAMONT. Monarda fistulosa L.
Mint family. Labiatae.
"Dry soil throughout Texas, etc." (Coulter). College: along banks of
ravines. Honey yield good but plants not abundant. May, July.*
HORSE-MINT. Monarda clinopodioides Gray.
Mint family. Labiatae.
"Eastern and Southern Texas." (Coulter). Prairies and waste land;
honey yield abundant; one of the main yielders; honey compared to
bass-wood in flavor. May, June.*
HORSE-MINT. Monarda punctata L. (See frontis-piece).
Mint family. Labiatae.
"Sandy ground extending from the Atlantic regions to Southern and
Western Texas." (Coulter). In open prairies and waste land; honey
yield abundant; one of the main crop yielders; honey compared with
basswood. May, July.* "A good yielder in Brazos bottoms. College
Station, Texas, in 1907, June." (E. Scholl).
DRUMMOND'S SKULL-CAP. Scutellaria drummondii Benth.
Mint family. Labiatae.
"Common throughout Texas in damp rich soil." (Coulter). "On
prairies, Kansas to Texas." (Small). Hunter: waste places in fields
and prairies. Honey yield abundant in spring; much visited by
bees. April, May.*
COMMON HOARHOUND. Marrubium vulgare L.
Mint family. Labiatae.
"A common escape in waste or open ground." (Coulter). Hunter: most
all parts of the South; fertile places; fence corners and pens; honey
yield abundant; steady flow; dark amber colored. Claimed bitter by
some. February, July.*
COLEUS. Coleus blumei Benth.
Mint family. Labiatae.
College; ornament for borders, etc. Honey yield of no
importance. Bees gather pollen from it only occasionally. July.*
COMMON PIGWEED. Amaranthus retroflexus L.
Amaranth family. Amaranthaceae.
"Throughout Texas." (Coulter). Waste lands and fields; honey yield
of no importance; some pollen. July, September.*
THORNY AMARANTH. Amaranthus spinosus L.
Amaranth family. Amaranthaceae.
"From Tom Green County to Laredo." (Coulter). Annual weedy herbs. In
waste places and cultivated soils presumably pollen only; not
important. August.*
MADEIRA VINE. Anredera scandens (L). Moq.
Goosefoot family. Chenopodiaceae.
"From the upper Pecos to the lower Rio Grande, (Ringgold)."
(Coulter). Hunter. Texas; cultivated for shade on verandas; honey
yield fair, bees work on it industriously, but the plants are
scarce. May, September.*
JAPANESE BUCKWHEAT. Fagopyrum fagopyrum (L) Karst.
Buckwheat family. Polygonaceae.
Cultivated in fields in a small way; honey yield good on favorable
moist mornings, not in dry weather. Honey very dark and strong in
flavor; not important for bees in Texas. June, July.* "A good yielder
to bridge over from early spring flower to cotton bloom at College
Station, Texas." (E. Scholl).
AMERICAN MISTLETOE. Phoradendron flavescens Nutt.
Mistletoe family. Loranthaceae.
"From Eagle Pass to Central Texas. Reported on Ulmus, Prosopis,
Quercus, etc." (Coulter). Honey yield abundant and also pollen, very
valuable for early brood rearing. The first source for bees in the
season. December, January.* "Blooms in January and February if weather
is not too cold, yields pollen and honey." (Milam, D. C, Uvalde,
Texas).
SPURGE. Euphorbia marginata Pursh.
Spurge family. Euphorbiaceae.
"Throughout the valleys of the Pecos and Rio Grande."
(Coulter). Along valleys and lowlands; honey yield of no
importance. June, October.*
SONORA CROTON. Croton Sonorae Torr.
Spurge family. Euphorbiaceae.
"On rocky bluffs of the upper Llano." (Coulter). Hunter: open places
in woodland bluffs; honey yield only light, but comes in dearth and
good if rains; pollen. July, August.*
CROTON CAPITATUS MICHX.
Spurge family. Euphorbiaceae.
"From the Pecos to Southern and Central Texas." (Coulter). Roadsides
and prairies; unimportant; some pollen when no other bloom. July,
September.* "Plenty of pollen at College Station in August, 1907." (E.
Scholl).
TEXAS CROTON. Croton Texensis Muell.
Spurge family. Euphorbiaceae.
"From the staked plains to Corpus Christi." (Coulter). Hunter:
roadsides and fields; honey yield very light, not important. June,
August.*
ONE-SEEDED CROTON. Croton monanthogynus Michx.
Spurge family. Euphorbiaceae.
"Central and Southern Texas." (Coulter). Hunter: open prairies and
pastures; honey yield fair, but unimportant. May, June.
CASTOR-OIL PLANT. Ricinus communis L.
Spurge family. Euphorbiaceae.
"Cultivated extensively for ornament and sparingly escaped in
Missouri and southwestward to Central Mexico." (Coulter). Planted for
ornamental purposes; honey yield good in favorable seasons; pollen;
has glands at base of leaves. March, April.*
AMERICAN OR WHITE ELM. Ulmus Americana L.
Nettle family. Urticaceae.
"Extending westward to the streams of Southern and Central Texas."
(Coulter). College: along moist creeks and streams; honey yield good
but not very plentiful. August.*
WINGED ELM or WAHOO. Ulmus alata Michx.
Nettle family. Urticaceae.
"On streams extending to the valley of the Trinity." (Coulter). Tree
with corky winged branches, along streams and low soils in woods;
honey yield good sometimes giving surplus; much pollen; honey of amber
color and strong characteristic aroma. August, September.*
GRANJENO. Celtis pallida Torr.
Nettle family. Urticaceae.
"Very common on all mesas and foot-hills of Western and Southern
Texas." (Coulter). Beekeepers value it as an important plant in
Southwest Texas. March, April.*
HACKBERRY. Celtis Mississippiensis Bosc.
Nettle family. Urticaceae.
"Extending to Central Texas." (Coulter). In woodlands; much planted
for shade; honey yield fair, valuable for pollen in the spring. March,
April.*
HACKBERRY. Celtis occidentalis L.
Nettle family. Urticaceae.
"Very common in the valleys of Western and Southwestern Texas, 'Palo
Blanco'" (Coulter). In woods and valleys, planted for shade; honey
yield fair, much pollen, valuable for early brood rearing. March,
April.*
OSAGE ORANGE. Toxylon pomiferum Raf.
Nettle family. Urticaceae.
"Near waters from Eastern to Central and Southern Texas. Extensively
used for hedges." (Coulter). Planted for hedges and timber; honey
yield not important on account of scarcity of trees. April.*
PECAN-NUT. Hicoria Pecan (Marsh) Britt.
Walnut family. Juglandeae.
"Extending from the Mississippi States to the streams of Central and
Southwestern Texas as far west as Fort Concho." (Coulter). Along
rivers and creeks; honey yield where plentiful; valuable for brood
rearing on account of its pollen. March.*
MOCKERNUT. WHITEHEART HICKORY. Hicoria alba (L) Britt.
Walnut family. Juglandeae.
"Extending to the Valley of the Brazos." (Coulter). College Station,
Brazos River. Abundant in the sandy valley land; some honey and
pollen. March.*
BLACK WALNUT. Juglans nigra L.
Walnut family. Juglandeae.
"Extending from the east to the valley of the Colorado and San
Antonio." (Coulter). In forests, along creeks and rivers; some honey,
more pollen; good to stimulate bees. March.*
POST OAK. Quercus minor (Marsh) Sarg.
Oak family. Cupuliferae.
"Sandy or sterile soils, extending from the Atlantic States to
Central Texas." (Coulter). In sandy land sections of the country;
honey yield inferior but with large amount of pollen; good for early
brood rearing. March, April.*
LIVE OAK. Quercus Virginiana Mill.
Oak family. Cupuliferae.
"Common along water courses extending from the Gulf States through
Southern and Western Texas to the mountains of New Mexico." (Coulter).
Hunter: in forests, honey yield good, poor in quality, dark; valuable
for early brood rearing; much pollen. March.*
RED OAK. Quercus rubra L.
Oak family. Cupuliferae.
"Extending to the valleys of the Colorado and San Antonio. Not
abundant and timber poor." (Coulter). Along creeks and low-lands;