Texas Honey Plants Part 5

"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. Cuc.u.mis 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.*

CUc.u.mBER. Cuc.u.mis 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 p.r.i.c.kLY PEAR. Opuntia englemannii Salm. & Dyk.

Cactus family. Cactaceae.

"Common throughout Southern and Western Texas. This seems to be common "p.r.i.c.kly 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.