Trees and Shrubs of benefit to Bees

[Brian Durk]

As an outsider I would like to know what Trees and Shrubs you consider useful to Bees, Beekeeping and the Beekeeper in your particular area. So you need to describe the area you are talking about and where it is.

[oreyemi]

Hi Brian,

The shrub/plant am describing is Aspillia Africana. Its known locally here as Akintola Plant.

Its a dominant plant during this time (dry Season) and bees visit the plant in thier thousands.
As this period is the time for harvesting the honey, i can say the honey may be from this plant. It brings out a white flower and produces nectar. The bees visit it in the early hours of the day.

In the south-west part of Nigeria this plant is seen in all the six-states.
Work is going on to determine the scientific names of some other plants.

Tunde

[Doris]

Dear Tunde


I looked up Aspilia africana and found this link:

www.thetaug.org/aspillia_africana_malaria.html

It shows a yellow flower there. Is this the plant you meant?

The organisation Theta Uganda provides information about medical plants in Africa. It recommends Aspilia africana against malaria.

This is the link to the organisation:

www.thetaug.org/


Doris

[oreyemi]

Hello Doris,
That is definitely not the flower. The one am refering to here as a white flower and the flower stalk is not elongated.The leaves looks alike but the egdes are not straight like this one. We rub it on wounds to stop bleeding and on insect stings including bee stings.
We also have this Ugandan flower in Ijebu ode, Ogun State but the name we give to it is "LOCAL SUNFLOWER" because of its resemblance with SUNFLOWER. Although it as a local name.
If they have done research on this Ugandan plant then they are right about the name. But where we got the name for the plant here is from a science journal. I will go back to the journal. Will post you the name of the journal.

Thanks
Tunde

[oreyemi]

Hello Doris,
The name of the Agric journal is "Footsteps". You can check this site; tilz.tearfund.org.

Tunde

[oreyemi]

Hello Doris

There may be problem with that site but you can check this www.echonet.org

[oleri]

dont worry about the plant. The name is siam weed (chromolaena odorata)