I am not on your email list, this was forwarded to me from someone on the
list, since I am interested in amaranths.
When grain amaranths are in flower, honey bees actively crawl through the
flowers and seem to poke into the flowers. I am uncertain about what they
are doing, and I have asked experts. In published descriptions amaranths
are wind pollinated. I have seen no reports of nectaries in the grain
amaranths (there is nectar from Amaranthus viridis flowers). There are
reports of Amaranth honey being made by honey bees I wonder if the reports
are wrong, or the bees know something that we don't. Amaranths can have a
honey-suckle fragrance which would seem to attract bees. The bees might be
gathering pollen, which is plentiful.
There is a photo of amaranth honey and a research report saying that the
seeds are larger after bee pollination in: S. Yue (ed.), 1993. The research
and development of grain amaranth in China. Inst. of Crop Breeding and
Cultivation, Chinese Acad. Agr. Sciences, Beijing.
However it is in Chinese.
It would be a benefit to science if someone can publish good evidence for
amaranth honey. If you get evidence, please let me know and I will help you
to publish it in a small journal. Or please let me know about publications.
Thanks.
David Brenner [log in to unmask]
Plant Introduction Station phone 515-294-6786
Iowa State University fax 515-294-4880
Ames, IA 50011-1170 http://www.ars-grin.gov/nc7
USA (also the www for the 2003 Amaranth meeting)
Curator of: Amaranthus, Celosia, Chenopodium, Coronilla, Dalea, Galega,
Melilotus, Perilla, Spinacia, and miscellaneous Umbelliferae.
In the US National Plant Germplasm System.
-----Original Message-----
From: Hanlin, Steve
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 11:05 AM
To: Brenner, David
Subject: FW: [BEE-L] Amaranth
Dave:
Here is an email that is presently being discussed in the information group
that I belong to (beeline). I do not have an answer, so I did not comment.
This is more to show you that even beekeepers are talking about your crop,
you can comment either to me or to the sight if you want to. Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Harrison [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, February 28, 2003 6:23 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [BEE-L] Amaranth
Hello All,
I contracted some hives out for polliantion of canola and seed clover today.
The organic farmer asked about bees and his acres of "Amaranth".
I know Amaranth is a wheat type plant and can be used for grain and the
leaves are edible and sold in health food stores but I do not know if bees
get nectar or pollen from the plant. I suspect not but wonder if the list
has information. I could not find any information on the net about bees
and amaranth but did not spend a great deal of time looking.
I have never been asked to polinate canola in Missouri before either. Any
tips on number of hives per acre and placement. Is surplus honey a
possibility.
Thanks in advance!
Bob
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