Plant I.D with Pics.

[Ando]

Hi

Can anyone identify this plant and tell me what it is, I have 3 fields of it 250m from the hives, I stopped and had a quick look in the field this morning to see if there were bees on it, I did see a few flying around it and some bumbles.

Is it good for the bees and should I be ready with more supers? It has come in to flower middle of last week.

Cheers

Mark.

 

[jezd]

Dont think its borage, bit of a shame, sorry not much help here.

Jez

 

[Floss]

I think it might be Flax. A field of flax will give a beautiful blue from a distance. It is often grown en bloc in some area like rape is.

Floss

 

[Ando]

Hi,

It is a nice sea of blue when the suns out, but the flowers do close up when its not.

Cheers

Mark.

 

[Ando]

Hi Floss

You got it right just done a quick search and found this. click the link to see a good close up of the flower.

Cheers

Mark.


http://www.wildliferanger.com/users/www.wildliferanger.com/upload/Pale Flax 444.JPG
Pale Flax

Pale Flax meanwhile, is a totally versatile plant and has been used for centuries in the production of linen cloth. In fact, a cultivated variety of the plant was grown as a crop in many parts of the UK until ousted by mass-produced cotton in the 19th Century. It's still used to this day in the production of some high-grade writing paper and even cigarette papers!
I've read that the ancient Egyptians once wrapped mummies with the stems of the plant, while a useful food-oil (linseed) has been obtained for thousands of years by simply crushing the seeds. A purified form of linseed continues to be used today by artists worldwide and can still be found in many modern paints, varnishes and putty.

***Edit***

Just found this to, seems it may be good for the bees then!.

This delicate annual or biennial plant, a close relative of the flax long cultivated for fibre and linseed oil, has the palest of blue flowers - attractive to bees - at the end of narrow stems, which support alternating pairs of narrow, three-veined leaves.

The fruit is a round capsule which splits open to reveal 10 smaller seeds. Flax likes dry, coastal grassland conditions, making it especially suitable for a seaside garden.

Two flax flea beetles, Aphthona euphorbiae and Longitarsus parvulus may be found on the foliage.

 

[gavin]

Also this page which says that it is a weak source of nectar and pollen.

http://gears.tucson.ars.ag.gov/book/chap9/flax.html

G.

 

[crazy_bull]

Certainly linseed (Flax), unfortunatley i have never got a crop of honey from it, i don't think it produces a great deal of nectar as per Gavins post, I think most bee's will pass over working it in favour of more productive plants that reward them better.

C B