Laurus nobilis – Sweet Bay

Botanical Family Lauraceae

Bloom Time March – May

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 1

Aperture Type Sulcus

Ornamentation Granulate/Perforate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um)

Shape Round 

Pollen Color 

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source

Nectar Source

Larix laricina–American Larch

Botanical Family  Pinaceae

Bloom Time Non-Flowering

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number Inaperaturate

Aperture Type N/A

Ornamentation Psilate/Perforate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um)

Shape Round 

Pollen Color

Hydrangea radiata – Silverleaf Hydrangea

Botanical Family Hydrangeaceae

Bloom Time June – September

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 3

Aperture Type Compound

Ornamentation Porate/Perforate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um)

Shape Round

Pollen Color 

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source

Nectar Source

Flower photo contributed by Mount Cuba

Lamium

Lamium purpureum 

Lamium amplexicaule

 

Lamium purpureum – Purple Deadnettle

Botanical Family Lamiaceae

Bloom Time May – November

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 3

Aperture Type Mircoreticulate

Ornamentation Granulate/Perforate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 31

Shape Triangular

Pollen Color Orange, Red

Pollen Load Identification 

Honey bee foragers collecting Lamium purpureum will typically also have a pollen dusting on their head and antennae.

Lamium spp. are valuable for brood building. All members of the mint family are attractive to bees.

Source

Hodges, D. (1952). The pollen loads of the honey bee: a guide to their identification by colour and form. London: Bee Research Assoc. Ltd.

Sammataro, D. and Harman, A. (2013). “Major Flowers Important to Honey Bees in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States”. AlphaGraphics, Tucson, AZ.

Krigia montana–Dwarf dandelion

Botanical Family Asteraceae

Bloom Time May–September

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 3

Aperture Type Compound

Ornamentation Lophate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 32

Shape Round

Jeffersonia diphylla – Twinleaf

Botanical Family Berberidaceae

Bloom Time April

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 3

Aperture Type Colpus

Ornamentation micro-reticulate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 37

Shape Round

Pollen Color 

Honey Bee Resource

Pollen Source

Nectar Source

Flower photo contributed by Mount Cuba

Iris cristata – Dwarf Crested Iris

Botanical Family Iridaceae

Bloom Time April

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 1

Aperture Type Sulcate

Ornamentation Reticulate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 104

Shape Oval

Pollen Color 

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source

Nectar Source

Flower photo contributed by Mount Cuba

Impatiens capensis – Jewelweed

Botanical Family Balsaminaceae

Bloom Time June – September

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number Inaperaturate

Aperture Type Inaperaturate

Ornamentation Granulate/Perforate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 

Shape Oval

Pollen Color

Honey Bee Resources

Pollen Source

Nectar Source

Flower photos contributed by Mount Cuba

Ilex opaca – American Holly

Botanical Family Aquifoliaceae

Bloom Time May – June

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 3

Aperture Type Compound

Ornamentation Reticulate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 29

Shape Round

Pollen Color Yellow

Honey Bee Resource

Pollen Source • • •

Nectar Source • • • 

Flower photo contributed by Mount Cuba