COMMON POLLEN GRAINS FROM LAB HONEY
Basswood, Tilia species
Habitat: Basswood is commonly found in mixed northern hardwood forests and prefers
moist but slightly drained (mesic) fertile soils
Characteristics: Basswoods typically reach a height of between 50 to 80 feet; the trunk
having a diameter of 2 to 3 feet. The flowers (Jun-Aug) of the tree are white and speckled
with yellow and purple. The leaves turn russet in the autumn.
Orange, Citrus sinensis
Habitat: Citrus trees are cultivated in any warm climate but originated in the region
encompassing Southeast Asia and India.
Characteristics: The sweet orange is a compact evergreen tree 20-30 ft tall with a
rounded, symmetrical crown spreading 15-20 ft or so. The leaves are shiny and leathery,
oblong to elliptic, up to 4 in long, and have narrow wings on their petioles (leaf stems).
Orange blossoms are white, very fragrant, and arranged in clusters of 1-6. They bloom in
spring and give rise to oranges the following autumn or winter.
Sunflower, Helianthus annuus
Habitat: The wild sunflower is native to North America and was first cultivated by
American Indians in the southwest. It is currently cultivated worldwide, but wild plants
can be found in fields, borders, waste places and gardens.
Characteristics: This is a herbaceous plant, it is an annual which can reach a height of 10
feet. The stalk is hairy and sometimes branched and the leaves are alternate. The flowers
are yellow and have numerous parts. Blooms first appear in early summer and continue
into early fall. Cultivated plants often have extremely large disk flowers exceeding 30cm
(1') wide.
Manuka, Leptospermum scoparium
Habitat: The Manuka tree is indigenous to New Zealand and has been used by the Maori
for its healing properties for centuries. Found in mesic to wet forests, 300-700 m above
sea level.
Characteristics: Shrubs or small trees 2-5 m tall, bark shredding into long strips. This
small, scrubby tree forms thickets which crowd out other plants. Has a heavy blossom of
white to red flowers in early spring to early summer
Fireweed, Erechtites hieracifolia
Habitat: This coarse, homely American weed is an annual and derives its name from its
habit of growing freely in moist open woods and clearings, and in greatest luxuriance on
newly-burnt fallows.
Characteristics: Fireweed is a rank, slightly hairy plant, growing from 1 to 7 feet high. It
has white or yellow composite flowers, blooming from July to September.
Sweet Clover, Melilotus officinalis
Habitat: Melilotus spp. are native to the Mediterranean area through central Europe to Tibet.
They were reported in North America as early as 1664 and have been extensively used by
agriculturalists as forage crops, soil builders, and as a nectar source for honey bees. The
sweetclovers have spread from cultivation and thrive in waste places and roadsides
throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Characteristics: Melilotus spp. are monocarpic, annual or biennial herbs of the legume
family, sweet-scented, with alternate, pinnately three-foliate leaves. They produce white or
yellow flowers in June and July.