The Genus Agastache As Bee Forage: a Historical Perspective George S

Home , Agastache, Agastache foeniculum, Agastache nepetoides, Agastache rugosa, Hyssopus (plant)

NCRPIS Publications and Papers North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station

5-1994 The Genus Agastache as Bee Forage: A Historical Perspective George S. Ayres Michigan State University

Mark P. Widrlechner United States Department of Agriculture, [email protected]

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Department of Entomology George S. Ayers MICHIGAN ST ATE UNIVERSITY East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1115

The Genus Agastache as Bee Forage: A Historical Perspective1

by GEORGES. AYERS and MARK P. WIDRLECHNER2

"We believe the potential benefits of commercial Agastache cultivation for the bee keeping industry are quite exciting. "

he September 1992 and January try growing anise hyssop. species is simply referred to as giant hys T 1993 "The Other Side of Beekeep sop. ing" requested reader input about experi Taxonomic overview The most recent taxonomic revision of ences with anise hyssop. This series of the entire genus Agastache was completed articles is our response to your replies. The genus Agastache belongs to the by Lint and Epling ( 1945). The genus Most who made plantings were disap mint family, known in Latin as Lamiaceae Agastache is divided into two sections. pointed, yet historically, very competent or Labiatae. The latter name lost favor Seven species of the first section extend apiculturists thought very highly of anise when a Botanical Congress recommended across most of northern United States and hyssop. In addition, our experiences with that all plant family names end in -aceae. southern Canada with an eighth species this plant and several closely related This is the family to which peppermint, occurring exclusively in eastern Asia. species make us ponder why the responses spearmint, sweet basil, oregano, catnip, Most, if not all, of the apicultural literature were not more positive. In this article, we lavender and many other herbs belong. pertaining to the genus refers to species review the history and biology of the Over the years, the genus Agastache was from this section. The 14 to 19 species genus Agastache as a bee forage. In the given other names, the most common that comprise the second section originate second article of the series, we will use being Lophanthus and Hyssopus. This can in the arid regions of southwestern United this information to speculate on some rea be confusing since at least Hyssopus is still States and Mexico. This group was sons for anise hyssop's poor showing in a recognized genus name. To make the revised taxonomically by Sanders (1987). most plantings. In the final article, we will situation more confusing, plants in the We are unaware of any apicultural litera provide advice for those who would like to genus Hyssopus are also known as hys ture pertaining to this group. None is list sops, e.g., garden hyssop (Hyssopus offici ed, for example, by Sanborn and Scholl nalis L.). In addition, some are also good (1908) in their Texas Honey Plants. I The authors wish to thank Jay Harman and Ed bee forage. Agastache species are often Because of our experience with several Grafius for reviewing this manuscript prior to called giant hyssops and Hyssopus, sim species in the genus, we would not be sur its submittal to ABJ for publication. ply hyssops. This is not, however, always prised if these southwestern species were 2 USDA-Agricultural Research Service, North the case. Often, the "giant" portion of the also attractive to honey bees. Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, name is dropped for Agastache species. Based on cross-pollination experiments Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011. At other times, a specific Agastache (Vogelmann, 1985) and electrophoretic

May 1994 341 b r

enzyme analyses3 (Vogelmann and England, the southern Great Lakes, Ohio in his Nectar and Pollen Plants of Gastony, 1987) the taxonomy of the North River Basin and the Ozarks that is often California (Van sell, 1931). Scullen and American species still seems unsettled. referred to as yellow or catnip [giant] hys Vansell (1942) mention the species in their This uncertainty in scientific circles is car sop. Agastache scrophulariifolia is also Nectar and Pollen Plants of Oregon only ried over into the commercial seed trade, an eastern North American species whose to say "Usually out of range of bees.... " and seeds purchased under the name of range extends from southern New England Burgett et al. (1989) simply quote Scullen one species may, in fact, be those of south to western South Carolina and west and Vansell. We believe the correct inter another. Even specimens in botanic gar to northern Missouri and southern pretation of this phrase to be that the dens are often mislabeled. Minnesota. It is often referred to as purple species grows where few honey bees exist, Of the 20 North American species list [giant] hyssop or figwort [giant] hyssop. but it may also mean that the nectar is out ed by Lint and Epling, only a few species Agastache rugosa is the only Asiatic of reach of the honey bee's tongue. The appear in the beekeeping literature. By species and is often called wrinkled [giant] latter explanation might explain the 1932 far, most references refer to A. foeniculum hyssop or Korean mint. Only rarely do we visitation pattern reported by Vansell (Pursh) 0. Kuntze which is native to the find references to A. rugosa in the bee (1933). Nye (1971), in his Nectar and northern Great Plains and western Great keeping literature and these largely from Pollen Plants of Utah, mentions A. urtici Lakes region4. This species is often our own writings. We find this a little folia as a honey plant of minor importance referred to as fragrant [giant] hyssop or curious since studies at both Michigan in Utah. It is not, however, mentioned in anise hyssop. The only references to State University and the North Central the earlier Pollen and Nectar Plants of other species in the beekeeping literature Regional Plant Introduction Station indi Utah by Vansell (1949). Oertel (1939) in of which we are aware are for A. urticifo cate that A. rugosa is an exceptional bee his Honey and Pollen Plants of the United lia (Benth.) 0 . Kuntze, A. nepetoides (L.) forage. Our lack of information pertaining States lists a hyssop species from 0 . Kuntze, A. rugosa (Fisch. & C .A . to A. rugosa may result from our inability California and an Agastache species from Mey.) 0 . Kuntze, and in rare instances, A. to track the Asiatic literature as well as Nevada as honey plants. We believe these scrophulariifolia (Wilde) 0 . Kuntze. Of that of North America. We would be sur are most likely A. urticifolia, but they these four, the first is the most commonly prised, however, if the Chinese and could also be one or more of the south mentioned and comes from the Sierra Japanese are unfamiliar with its attractive western species mentioned earlier. Pellett Nevadas, eastern Cascades, Great Basin, ness to bees. mentions the species in only the 1947 edi and northern Rockies. This species is tion of his American Honey Plants5 . often called nettle-leaf [giant] hyssop. Review of the less commonly mentioned Pellett (1920, 1923, 1930 and 1947), J. Agastache nepetoides is an eastern North species as bee forage H. Lovell (1926), H. B. Lovell (1956 and American species native to southern New 1966) and Pammel and King (1930) men Vansell (1933) described a honey sur tion A. nepetoides as being very attractive plus of 100 lbs. per hive in Eldorado 3 Electrophoresis is a powerful analytical tool County, California during July of 1931 that separates complex mixtures of proteins into from A. urticifolia. Interestingly, while 5 There were editions of this book in 1920, their individual components for further analysis. the species appeared equally abundant and 1923, 1930, and 1947. There is also a 1976edi Because proteins are products of genes, the vigorous in 1932, honey bees paid no tion made after the author's death in which the technique provides an indirect method of study attention to it. It was, however, visited text is the same as that of the 1947 edition. ing the genetics of an organism. freely by bumble bees, carpenter bees, but Only some of the figures have been changed. 4 Geographic distributions are derived from terflies and hummingbirds. Curiously, the In this work, the 1947 and 1976 editions will be maps provided in Lint and Epling (1945). same author does not mention this species referred to as the 1947 edition.

About the Coauthor

I first met Mark Widrlechner about collection from a particular origin is tar so these nucs must be fed. This labo 1985 when he started a bee forage project known as an accession. Mark's Station rious process during the heat of mid-sum at the USDA/ARS North Central keeps nearly 40,000 different accessions mer could be reduced if suitably high Regional Plant Introduction Station, of field crops, forages, vegetables and quality bee forage could be found. That located at Iowa State University, Ames. ornamentals. As accessions age, or as was the inspiration for Mark' s bee forage Mark has been employed by the U. S. they are used by researchers worldwide, project. He began with a screening pro Department of Agriculture, Agricultural seed supplies must be renewed. Each gram to identify highly productive bee Research Service as the North Central accession is planted and pollinated and forages. Because there were concerns Regional Plant Introduction Station's the resulting seeds are harvested and about introducing new species into the U. Horticulturist since 1983. There are four placed into cold storage. So that genes S. that might become serious weeds, Plant Introduction Stations in the United from a particular accession are not conta Mark focused on our many native plant States, whose major duty is to serve as minated by genes from other accessions, species. Many native mint-family plants germplasm banks for agricultural and they are either pollinated by hand, or were found to be among the most promis horticultural crops and for other plants placed under cages and pollinated by a ing species. After an initial three-year with economic potential. These stations nuc of bees (see Fig. 1). This use of screening period, he has expanded the safeguard much of the genetic material honey bees is rather unusual and is project to look for other potentially eco upon which future crop improvements explained in detail by Ellis et al. ( 1981 ). nomically important traits in these plants. will be based. Each Station specializes in The Plant Introduction Station at Ames The main article gives more details about a particular set of species represented by uses approximately 1000 cages each sum this interesting program. collections from diverse origins. Each mer. Bees in cages collect very little nee-

342 American Bee Journal He was the Iowa State Apiarist between 1912 and 1917, a Field Editor of the American Bee Journal for many years, and then an Associate Editor of the same pub lication, a position he held until the end of his life. He was instrumental in the pio neering research on American foul brood. He initiated and operated the American Bee Journal's Honey Plant Test Gardens at Atlantic, Iowa. He was a careful observer who published books on the his tory of American beekeeping, queen rear ing, practical beekeeping, horticulture, botany and ornithology (Anonymous, 1951 ), but he is probably most remem bered by today's beekeepers for his mag num opus, American Honey Plants, which he revised several times through his life (1920, 1923, 1930, and 1947). His procla mations about bee forage in general (and anise hyssop in particular) demanded the Fig. I - Some of the many insect cages used at the USDA/ARS North Central respect of the apicultural industry. Regional Plant Introduction Station to prevent genetic contamination. While it was Frank Pellett who created a place in apicultural history for anise hys to bees. They do not, however, appear to foeniculum in the 1920 edition of his sop, his interest was sparked by a much imply that it is an important bee forage. American Honey Plants, the 1923 edition earlier writing by H. A. Terry (1872) in Robinson and Oertel (1975) list A. acknowledges its attractiveness to bees. which Terry proclaimed his belief that "an foeniculu m from their northern and south Each succeeding edition (Pellett, 1930 and acre of this plant well established would ern U.S. regions which included all of the 1947) expanded on this topic. be ample pasturage for 100 swarms of United States west to, and including, Based on observations made during a bees." Minnesota and Louisiana. Agastache 1925 trip to Canada, Pellett (1926) Pellett, himself of considerable apicul foenicu lurn was also listed from eastern describes anise hyssop as being " ... a very tural stature, had the greatest respect for Canada, which included Ontario and east important source of surplus honey for the Mr. Terry, as indicated by the following ward. Oertel ( 1980) lists A. foeniculum as beekeepers of western Canada, being com quote (Pellett, 1940b): "In the pioneer an important honey plant of the Northeast mon in the bush regions and on the mar period of Iowa history there Ii ved in and North Central States. We believe that gins of prairies all the way from Winnipeg Pottawattamie County a grand old man these references to A. foeniculum as a to Edmonton." In this article, he reported who was a beekeeper and horticulturist. honey plant of eastern North America are that beekeepers near Red River, Manitoba He left behind him a record of achieve probably better ascribed to A. nepetoides were harvesting large quantities of honey ment which insures that he will be remem and/or A. scrophulariifolia, since A. from the species and that 40 percent of the bered long after most men of his time are foeniculu m would be found only along the honey harvested near Edmonton also came forgotten." While the current authors most western edge of this region. from anise hyssop. A sample sent to him believe that the "JOO swarms/acre" is an Although it is possible that these reports from the Edmonton area was in his words extravagant claim, Terry, who was appar could represent plantings of A. foeniculum, (Pellett, 1926), " .. . of especially fine quali ently a competent horticulturist and bee we feel this is unlikely because there was ty, with a peculiar minty flavor. The keeper, obviously found an Agastache little planting for honey production during honey was thick, with heavy body and species to be an exceptional honey plant. this period. light color, a product that would command More extensive portions of the 1872 JaMoifski (1986) in Poland, using the attention in any market." Interestingly, Terry article than provided here can be capillary method, estimated the honey Mitchener (1948) does not mention found in several writings (Pellett, 1923, potential of A. rugosa to be 616, 430, 706 Agastache in Nectar and Pollen Producing 1930, 1943 and 1947; Pammel and King, and 404 lbs/acre for the years 1980, 81, Plants of Manitoba. 1930 and Stringer, 1990), and the "JOO 83, and 84, respectively. Oertel (1939) lists A. foeniculum as a colonies/acre" estimate is mentioned in Pammel and King (1930) mention A. honey plant of North Dakota. Wilson et many publications. With the exception of scrophulariifolia as being attractive to al. (1958) in their Nectar and Pollen Pellett, apparently few who have quoted bees. Plants of Colorado found A. foeniculum to parts of the Terry article have actually be "one of the most attractive plants to seen it. When Pellett provided extensive Review of anise hyssop as bee forage honey bees" that they had encountered. sections of the 1872 article for his readers, Robinson and Oertel (1975) lists A. he, for some reason, changed the original In American Bee literature, anise hys foeniculum as a honey plant of western wording, " 100 swarms" to " JOO colonies" sop is often given the scientific name A. Canada. It is possible that their account without telling the readers that he had anethiodora. Less often it is referred to as ing may also represent A. urticifolia at done so. All of the quotes with which we A. anethiodorus, A. anisatus or A. anisata. least in part. are familiar use the "JOO colonies" word There is also literature in which these ing. These "blind quotations" have helped names are misspelled. These are all Anise hyssop under cultivated perpetuate two probable myths about anise invalid names for A. foeniculum which is conditions hyssop. The first of these concerns the based on Pursh's first valid scientific actual species about which Terry was writ description of this species. Because of his extensive writing on the ing. The seeds for Terry's planting were subject, Frank Pellett (1879-1951 ), more obtained from the Rocky Mountains as Anise hyssop under wild conditions than anyone else, created a place in U.S . indicated by the following quote from the apicultural history for A. foeniculum . Mr. original paper (Terry, 1872). "Sophantus Although Pellett did not mention A. Pellett was a well respected apiculturist. anisatus [the scientific name Terry used].

May 1994 343 0 0 find it no plants were to be found. 0 n 0 Agastache foeniculum i \ "' Apparently it had disappeared completely Anise hyssop J \ from the region along with the Indian and ' the bison with which it had been associat .' ' I. ': ed." This belief seems to be based on the j i premise that the plants with which Terry 0 : \ 0 ' 0 IO .I : was working were indigenous. As we have pointed out, they apparently were I v\., not. The herbarium records at Iowa State ,1'.J \ I ' University for the years 1880-1930 indi I ~/', cate that Agastache had been widely col ;------,~-,-c...-'-r-'-U-Li--Y-J-1-l.l.....LL~~__:::-----~L l lected through the period. There are 0 0 o -' numerous records for both A. scrophulari ::!!: a. ifolia and A. nepetoides recorded from 0 0 0 a: 0 0 . 0 w widely distributed locations within Iowa. -' i" \ Melilotus alba "' a. Only three records, however, exist for A. CD (/) foeniculum during that same period and all ::!!: i \ White sweet clover w ! \ w were from Emmet County in the extreme :::> CD :E ! \ LL. northern part of the state. This species, x ; \ 0 0 which is currently on Iowa's Endangered <: 0 0 f \ a: Species List (Roosa et al.,1989), has been :E "' ' . w LL. CD collected from only 6 counties in the state, 0 f \ ; \ /', :E four of which are clustered in the extreme 1-z f \ / \ :::> north central and northwestern part of the f ' / \ z w _:: .. .,,...... -..' ' state. We conclude that there is no credi (.) r ---- .....-...... w 0 a: 0 ble evidence that the species ever was w <: a. a: common in the parts of Iowa where Frank w Pellett and Terry lived. 0 0 > 0 0 <: When Pellett attempted to find a source Trifolium repens "' of anise hyssop, he had considerable diffi White clover culty (Pellett, l 940a, 1940b and 1943). Eventually when A. foeniculum was obtained from western Canada, it was

0 apparently much less common than it had 0 0 IO been during Pellett' s 1925 trip. Pellett speculated that the settlers' livestock had found the fragrant foliage so attractive that it had been destroyed by grazing. Other forms of habitat destruction, such as agri

0 0 cultural drainage and plowing of the prairies, probably also contributed to its Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct disappearance. Fig. 2 - Comparison of attractiveness of anise hyssop to white Dutch clover From Pellett's description (1946), we and white sweet clover. The curves represent the flowering dynamics of the judge it was 1939 when anise hyssop was species. Notice the long blooming period of anise hyssop. The bars repre first introduced into the American Bee sent the numbers of bees counted on the different census days. Anise hys Journal 's Honey Plant Test Gardens. sop is clearly at least as attractive as the other two species which are consid Initially, plants were obtained from the ered by many beekeepers to be exceptional bee forage. Data from Ayers et Valley River area of Manitoba approxi mately 180 miles north of Winnipeg. al. (1987). Later, seeds were also obtained from South Edmonton, Alberta. The first This is a perfectly hardy perennial, intro also happens to have purple flowers and a results from the Honey Plant Test Garden duced from the Rocky Mountains three or pleasant aroma? regarding anise hyssop were made public four years since, and is also a very fine The second probable myth concerns an in 1940 (Pellett, l 940a and l 940b ). From garden plant. It takes its specific name alleged disappearance of anise hyssop the beginning, Pellett was greatly from the fragrance of its flowers and from western Iowa. Pellett apparently impressed with the plant which he began foliage which are very similar to that of believed that A. foeniculum was common to refer to as the "wonder honey plant." Anise." This passage raises a question in Iowa during Terry's time. Pellett After eight seasons of observations, Pellett about the identity of the plants which (1940a), after describing his search for the had this to say about anise hyssop (Pellett, Terry grew. Agastache foeniculum is plant, remarked, "Thus we brought back to 1946), "Each year since [its introduction) found in only two sites in the foothills of western Iowa a plant which had once been we have increased the size of the plots and the Colorado Rocky Mountains (Weber, very common there, but which had long always the bees work the flowers more 1990) and, in Wyoming, is found only in since disappeared." In another article the consistently than any other of the 500 two counties (Dorn, 1977), which are not same year (Pellett, l 940b ), he had this to plants tested in the honey plant garden. part of the Rockies, but instead are at the say, "The books state that fragrant giant The bees visit the flowers from dawn to west end of the Black Hills. In contrast, A. hyssop or anise hyssop, (Agaslache dark in wet weather and dry weather from urticifolia is found at North Park in the anethiodera) is found from Lake Superior June to October." In this 1946 article, he Colorado Rockies (Weber, 1990) and is and Manitoba to Nebraska and westward. provides comments from 12 beekeepers widely distributed in Wyoming (Dorn, When Terry lived in western Iowa it was who had tried growing the species. He 1977). Did Terry actually have anise hys so common that his bees harvested fine apparently considered these a representa sop, or did he grow a related species that crops of honey, but when we sought to tive sampling of the many replies he had

344 American Bee Journal being grown in the area of the Agastache planting, it is cut too early, as is the region's practice, for bees to make use of it. Alfalfa grown for seed, however, could contribute significantly to an incorrect apparent production of the anise hyssop field. Personal communications with the authors of the Mayer et al. paper and with Mr. Eckstrom indicate that there were no such plantings near the Agastache test planting. In 1983, Lord published an article, in response to Mayer et al. (1982), entitled Anise Hyssop Not a Panacea. In this paper, he introduces a project at North Carolina State University designed to study the feasibility of growing anise hys sop for honey production in North Carolina. Like many others, his project experienced difficulty in getting good plant stands by direct field seeding. This project was discontinued two years after its initiation because the planting did not Counting bees in the experimental bee forage plantings at the North compete well with local weeds (personal Central Regional Plant Introduction Station. communication). He pointed out correct ly that the plants in the Mayer et al.(1982) received. Of the 12, eight enthusiastically ber of hives present at the approximately paper had been irrigated. In the same endorsed anise hyssop as a superb honey three acre planting, and his estimates of paper he also reported that an "indepen plant, one indicated that it was unattractive the individual hive weights. From what dent source" claimed that the hives used in to honey bees, one indicated it was very the authors of the 1982 paper observed, the Washington study were double attractive one year in five, one indicated it (number of hives and their estimates of the queened. While this seems a reasonable had been very attractive in one year of the approximate weights of those hives), Mr. way to maximize the yield from a planti two he had tested it, and one indicated that Eckstrom's estimates appeared quite rea ng, personal conversations with Mr. it had been very attractive to bumble bees, sonable. Personal conversations with both Eckstrom indicate this was not the case. but not to honey bees. We will have more the authors and Mr. Eckstrom indicate that The brood chambers, however, consisted to say about this last observation in the there was little else in the area for bees to of two deep supers and may have been the July column. work. The study area was east of the source of this misconception. With the ex After Frank Pellett's death in 1951, Cascades where, we estimate from precipi ception of the paper by Mayer et al. comments about anise hyssop, written by tation maps from the Climatic Atlas of the (1982), little appears in the literature con his son Melvin, appear in the American United States (U.S. Dept. Commerce, cerning the honey potential of anise hys Bee Journal until the mid 1960's. The 1968), approximately eight inches of pre sop. Jalrl'onski (1989 and 1990), using the implication of these articles is that most, cipitation falls annually. Consequently, if capillary method of nectar analysis, ana but not all, beekeepers found anise hyssop land in that region is not irrigated, it pro lyzed the honey potential of a planting of to be a superior bee forage. In one of duces little for bees. Although alfalfa was A. foeniculum in Poland during the years these writings, M. Pellett (1965) seems to indicate that a disproportionately high number of the unenthusiastic reports came from the eastern United States. In 1982, Mayer et al. published a paper that suggested that, in the dry area east of the Cascades in Washington, anise hyssop would "yield a surplus of 100 to 125 pounds of honey per colony with 25 colonies per acre." That translates into 2500 to 3125 lbs. of honey per acre6. The authors of this article give credit to a bee keeper named John Eckstrom for being "the local leader in the development of land-based beekeeping." Conversations with two of the authors confirm that the estimates provided in the article were largely those of Mr. Eckstrom. Recent conversations with Mr. Eckstrom indicate that the estimates were based on the num-

6 During communications with Mr. Eckstrom,upon whose work the Mayer et al. article is based, he hastened to point out that the production estimates represented total produc tion and not harvested yields. They do not Portion of the experimental bee forage plantings at the North Central account for overwintering needs. Regional Plant Introduction Station. May 1994 345

... ______------~-- ~------~-~- 1986 through 1988. In this study, the Harman (1992), in their survey of the field. A strain of the fungus Verticillium honey potentials ranged from 373 to 1236 honey plants of North America, list an was isolated from dying plants (Block et lbs/acre with an average of 638 lbs/acre. Agastache species as a nectar and pollen al., 1989). This finding was of more than The September 1992 issue of this column plant from parts of Maryland, North and academic interest because verticillium wilt discusses the techniques and pitfalls for South Carolina and a small portion of has destroyed thousands of acres of com obtaining honey potentials. It also cites Missouri. This was probably A. foenicu mercial peppermint plantings in the north literature values for honey potentials for lum since the respondents indicated it was central U.S. since the 1920s (Nelson, some exceptional honey plants against cultivated for honey production at the 1950). Roger Fuentes-Granados, a gradu which Jabfonski's data may be compared. time. We speculate that the stimulus for ate student at Iowa State University, Again, anise hyssop appears to be a very these plantings came from the Mayer et al. recently evaluated 11 populations of A. productive honey plant. ( 1982) publication. foeniculum, two of A. rugosa and one of A. Apparently, during both the Pellett era nepetoides, along with other mint-family and after the Mayer et al. (1982) publica Current U.S. anise hyssop projects plants, for reaction to the strain of tion, anise hyssop was planted frequently. Verticillium isolated from A. rugosa. He Pellett Gardens at Atlantic, Iowa distrib We head the only two current anise found that the disease was a much greater uted seeds of anise hyssop, as well as of hyssop research projects we know of in the threat to A. rugosa than to A. foeniculum many other honey plants, for many years. United States: one at Michigan State or A. nepetoides (Fuentes-Granados, Their ads in the Classified Section of both University and the other at the 1993). We will discuss this finding further Gleanings in Bee Culture and the USDA/ARS North Central Regional Plant in the July column. American Bee Journal first appeared in Introduction Station at Iowa State As A. rugosa died in the field, it was 1944 and ran till 1981. The 41 st and last University at Ames, Iowa. The Michigan sometimes replaced by seedlings more annual catalog of Pellett Gardens was State University project is investigating vigorous than those of the original plants. issued in 1983. For several years after only in the apicultural aspects of the Interestingly, these seedlings, which were that, limited quantities of seed were avail species. Ayers et al. (1987) reported tests heavily visited by bees, flowered over a able by special request. We have no idea of numerous species of potential bee for longer period than did the A. rugosa they how much anise hyssop seed was sold age which demonstrated that anise hyssop replaced (Widrlechner, 1992). This led to over that period, but it must have been a was quite attractive to bees compared to more questions. What were these considerable amount. The prices were several other quality forages (see Fig. 2). seedlings and were they useful? always very reasonable and the quantities Because of its attractiveness to bees, Ayers Neil Senechal, a former graduate stu supplied were generous. A 1946 catalog et al. (1991) used anise hyssop 7 as part of dent in the project, used electrophoresis to offers a packet of seed for $0.20. By an experimental diversionary planting for study selected proteins from these unusual 1983, this price had ri sen to only $0.95. studying the potential of diverting bees plants (Senechal, 1990) and found that The packets th at one of us (Ayers) pur away from areas of high pesticide risk. In they were all hybrids between A. rugosa chased toward the end of the existence of that study, the bee population during the and A. foeniculum . Insects foraging in the Pellett Gardens contained hundreds and anise hyssop flowering peak was more plots must have moved pollen from A. perhaps over a thousand seeds. than 8 bees per yd2 . This was clearly an foeniculum to A. rugosa and the resulting In 1982, stimulated by the Mayer et al. attractive species in this study. In the hybrid seedlings outlived the maternal ( 1982) article, advertisements for anise January 1994 ABJ, this column described a plants and then outcompeted the non hyssop seed started appearing in the classi new screening underway involving 17 hybrid seedlings. It was also learned why fied section of the American Bee Journal. accessions of A. foeniculum . they flowered over a longer period than These ads continued till 1989. Mr. During 1994, and for the next several did their parents. As first noted by Eckstrom, who we judge to be the main years, the emphasis at Michigan State will Vogelmann (1985), hybrids between A. supplier over this period, estimates that he be on developing dependable establish rugosa and A. foeniculum produce no sold seed to approximately 100 beekeep ment procedures that will be practicable seeds. Normally when Agastache plants ers. We have not contacted the other seed by beekeepers. More will be said about begin to produce seeds they shift resources producers. The species was offered again this in the July column. away from flower production to seed pro in the Classified Section of the American The project at the North Central duction. Eventually, flowering stops Bee Journal and Gleanings in Bee Culture Regional Plant Introduction Station began almost completely. Because the hybrids during 1992 and continues to be offered as a search for exceptional bee forage (see produce no seed, this process never today in both journals. Clearly, fair num About the Coauthor), but now focuses on begins, flowering is not turned off, and bers of beekeepers have tried raising anise various aspects of the biology and poten the hybrids bloom till frost. hyssop since the 1982 Mayer et al. publi tial uses of Agastache. From 1987 to Unfortunately, because they produce no cation. The responses to our requests for 1989, 68 populations of nine different seeds, these plants must be reproduced by information about anise hyssop, upon species of perennial mint-family plants division, cuttings or tissue culture. which we will report in the July issue of were tested as bee forage at the Station in Although all three methods are experimen I I ABJ, are based on plantings made during Ames. As was found in the screenings at tally feasible, none has yet allowed pro this period. Michigan State University, A. foeniculum duction of large numbers of selected One nagging and disturbing feature and A. rugosa were the nectar sources hybrids. through all of this is that we do not find most preferred by honey bees Genetic variation is the source of all any reports by beekeepers who made (Widrlechner, 1992). plant improvement. Vogelmann and large-scale plantings of the species with Before proceeding with additional Gastony (1987) found little variation with good results. Unfortunately, it is unclear selecting and breeding of improved popu in or among populations of A. rugosa . how large the plantings were of the indi lations of Agastache, a number of interest This could be a major hindrance to future viduals about whom the Pelletts periodi ing questions began to surface. First, A. breeding and selection programs. Was A. cally reported. Lovell (1966), comments rugosa was fairly short-Jived and many foeniculum in the same genetic cul-de-sac? that an Iowa beekeeper planted several plants of this species wilted and died in the Roger Fuentes, using similar elec acres of the species and concluded that his trophoretic techniques as did Neil bees visited no other species while his Senechal, discovered that A. foeniculum i anise hyssop was in bloom. 7 Much of the seed used in this planting was had significant levels of variation both While we know of no other successes actually A. Rugosa, collected from a misidenti within and among populations (Fuentes reported in· the literature, Ayers and fied botanical garden specimen. Granados, 1993). This suggests that

346 American Bee Joum al breeding and selection for improved traits Nykiinen et al., 1989 and Weyerstahl et al., University, Ames, IA. should be feasible for A. foeniculum. 1992) suggests that new markets for Galambosi, B. and Z. Galambosi-Szebeni. The final focus of the North Central Agastache may develop quickly. We 1992. Studies on the cultivation methods of Regional Plant Introduction Sta ti on' s believe the potential benefits of commer Agastache foeniculum (Pursch) (sic) Kuntze in Agastache research is on understanding cial Agastache cultivation for the beekeep Finland. Acta Agronomica Hungarica 41:107- the variation in the potentially useful traits ing industry are quite exciting. 115. of flavor and aroma. Many related ques Jabf'onski, B. 1986. Nektarowanie i wydajnosc tions can be posed. How do Agastache CONCLUSIONS miodowa wainiejszych roslin miododajnych w plants vary in essential oils production? warunkach polski. Czf}SC V. Pszczelnicze Are these differences under genetic control The literature and data reviewed in this 'Zeszyty Naukowe 30: 195-205. and do they affect attractiveness to honey article suggest clearly that several species Jabf'o6ski, B. 1989. Kfosowiec fenkufscowy bees? Interestingly, the first tentative of Agastache can be exceptional bee for nowa ro~lina miododajna. Pszcze/arstwo 4:4-5. descriptions of the chemical makeup of age under the proper circumstances. Jablonski, B. 1990. Nektarowanie i wydajnosc' Agastache were completed at Iowa State During the past 50 years, there were two miodowa wazniejszych roslin miododajnych w University (then College) almost 50 years periods during which interest in anise hys warunkach polski. Czr;sc VI. Pszczelnicze ago and were related to Frank Pellett's sop became intense. During both periods 'Zeszyty Naukowe 30: 43-49. work. Because of intense interest gener many beekeepers made plantings of anise Lint, H. and C. Epling. 1945. A revision of ated by Pellett's research at the American hyssop. The disturbing feature of both Agastache. Amer. Midi. Natur. 33: 207-230. Bee Journal's Honey Plant Test Gardens, periods is that despite the species' appar Lord, W. G. 1983. Anise hyssop not a panacea. the Sioux Honey Association funded a ent potential, reports of persistent, produc American Bee Journal 123:339-340. study to determine the potential of anise tive, large-scale plantings are al.most total Lovell, H. B. 1956. Let's talk about honey hyssop as a commercial source of essential ly lacking. These seemingly contradictory plants. Gleanings in Bee Culture 84:680-681. oils (Pellett, 1946). From this work, Polak statements beg for an answer to the ques Lovell, H. B. 1966. Honey Plants Manual. A. and Hixon ( 1945) published the first report tion, What is going wrong? I. Root Co. Medina, OH. 64pp. of the major essential oil components of A. In the July issue of this column, we Lovell, J. H. 1926. Honey Plants of North foeniculum. In the current project, shall use the replies from readers who America. A. I. Root Co. Medina, OH. 408pp. researchers at the Plant Introduction have recently planted anise hyssop to Mayer, D. F., C. A. Johansen and J.C. Bach. Station work closely with researchers at attempt to give some plausible answers to 1982. Land-based honey production. American several universities who are expert in this question. Bee Journal 122:477-479. modern techniques of essential oil analy Mazza, G. and F. A. Kiehn. 1992. Essential sis. The goal of this team project is to ana REFERENCES oil of Agastache foeniculum, a potential source lyze the many components of essential oils of methyl chavicol. Journ. Essential Oil that contribute to the distinctive tastes and Anonymous. 1951. Frank Pellett 1879 1951. Research 4:295-299. aromas of these plants (Charles et al., American Bee Journal 91 :234-237. Menghini, A, M. Capuccella, R. Pagiotti, N. 1991, Wilson et al., 1992). Ayers, G. S., R. A. Hoopingarner and A. J. Pocceschi, and M. Spigarelli. 1992. Pigment Some of the constituents of anise hys Howitt. 1987. Testing potential bee forage for content and methyl chavicol production in sop's essential oils resemble the attractiveness to bees. American Bee Journal Agastache foeniculum Kuntze cultured in vitro. pheromone emissions from the honey bee 127:91-98. Journ. Essential Oil Research. 4:483-486. Nasonov gland, which are very attractive Ayers, G. S., A. Wroblewska and R. A. Mitchener, A. V. 1948. Nectar and pollen pro to honey bees under certain circumstances Hoopingarner. 1991. Perennial diversionary ducing plants in Manitoba. Scientific (Williams et al., 1981 ). This raises the planting designed to reduce pesticide mortality Agriculture 28:475-480. question whether these essential oils are of honey bees in apple orchards. American Bee Nelson, R. 1950. Verticillium wilt of pepper involved in the species' exceptional attrac Journal 131:247-252. mint. Technical Bulletin of the Michigan tiveness to honey bees. A technique called Ayers, G. S. and J. R. Harman. 1992. Bee Agricultural Experiment Station 221. East headspace analysis has been used to ana forage of North America and the potential for Lansing, MI. lyze the air surrounding Agastache leaves planting for bees, pp437-535. In: Graham, J.G., Nye, W. P. 1971. Nectar and pollen plants of and flowers that have been confined with ed. The Hive and the Honey Bee. Dadant and Utah. Utah State University Monograph Series. in a sealed container (Wilson et al., 1992). Sons, Hamilton, IL. Volume 18, No . 3. Logan, UT. These headspace samples simulate the Block, C. C., Senechal, N. P. and M. P. Nykiinen, I., Y. Holm and R. Hiltunen. 1989. aroma that a bee might experience near the Widrlechner. 1989. First report of verticillium Composition of the essential oil of Agastache plants. The suite of compounds that com wilt of Agastache rugosa caused by V. dahliae. foeniculum . Planta Medica 55:314-315. pose this aroma varies considerably from Plant Disease 73: 1020. Oertel, E. 1939. Honey and pollen plants of plant to plant and from population to pop Burgett, D. M., B. A. Stringer and L. D. the United States. United States Department of ulation. It remains to be seen how this Johnston. 1989. Nectar and pollen plants of Agriculture Circular No. 554. Washington, variability is controlled environmentally Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Honeystone D.C. and genetically and how it affects honey Press, Blodgett, OR. 151 pp. Oertel, E. 1980. Nectar and pollen plants, bee preference. Charles, D. J., J. E. Simon, and M. P. ppl6-23. In: Beekeeping in the United States, Hopefully, the answers to these ques Widrlechner. 1991. Characterization of essen Agriculture Handbook No. 335. United States tions will set the stage for the commercial tial oil of Agastache species. Journal of Department of Agriculture, Washington D.C. cu ltivation of Agastache in the United Agricultural and Food Chemistry 39: 1946- Pammel, L. H. and C. M. King. 1930. Honey States as an herb or industrial crop, if not 1949. plants of Iowa. Iowa Geological Survey solely as a bee forage. In addition, the Dorn, R. D. 1977. Manual of the Vascular Bulletin No. 7. Des Moines, IA. growing number of publications from out Plants of Wyoming. Garland Pub!., New York. Pellett, F. C. 1920. American Honey Plants. side the United States (Galambosi and 1498 pp. American Bee Journal, Hamilton, IL. 297 pp. Galambosi-Szebeni, 1992; Mazza and Ellis, M. D., G. S. Jackson, W. H. Skrdla and Pellett, F. C. 1923. American Honey -p1ants Kiehn, 1992; Menghini et al., 1992; H. C. Spencer. 1981. Use of honey bees for (2nd ed.). American Bee Journal, Hamilton, IL. controlled interpollination of plant germplasm 392 pp. collections. HortScience 16: 488-491. Pellett, F. C. 1926. Hyssop a little known 8 Essential oils are the oils that give many of Fuentes-Granados, R. G. 1993. Genetic diver honey plant. American Bee Journal 66:547. the mints their distinctive odor (essence) and sity and reaction to Verticillium among popula Pellett, F. C. 1930. American Honey Plants flavor. tions of Agastache. M.S . Thesis, Iowa State (3rd ed). American Bee Journal, Hamilton, IL.

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419 pp. Sanders, R. W. 1987. Taxonomy of Agastache Vogelmann, J. E. and G. J. Gastony. 1987. Pellett, F. C. 1940a. From our honey plant gar Section Brittonanstrum (Lamiaceae-Nepeteae). Electrophoretic enzyme analysis of North den. American Bee Joumal 80:60, 71. Systematic Botany Monographs No. 15 . Ann American and Eastern Asian populations of Pellett, F. C. 1940b. Anise hyssop wonder Arbor, MI. Agastache sect. Agastache (Labiatae). Amer. J. honey plant. American Bee Journal 80:554- Scullen, H. A. and G. A. Vansell. 1942. Nectar Botany. 74:385-393. 555. and pollen plants of Oregon. Oregon State Weber, W. A. 1990. Colorado Flora: Eastern Pellett, F. C. 1943. Anise-hyssop, wonder Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin No . Slope. Univ. Press of Colorado, Boulder, CO. honey plant. American Bee Joumal 83: 454- 412. Oregon State College, Corvallis. 396 pp. 455. Senechal, N.P. 1990. Evaluation of native Weyerstahl, P., H. Marschall, E. Manteuffel, Pellett, F. C. 1946. Anise-hyssop wonder perennial Lamiaceae as sources of nectar for and S. Huneck. 1992. Volatile constituents of honey plant. American Bee Journal 86:508- honey bees. M.S. Thesis, Iowa State Agastache rugosa. Journal of Essential Oil 509. University, Ames. Research 4:585-587. Pellett, F. C. 1947. American Honey Plants Stringer, B. A. 1990. Anise hyssop. Gleanings Widrlechner, M. P. 1992. A. A field evalua (4th ed.). Orange Judd Publishing Co., Inc., in Bee Culture 118:590-591. tion of native mint family plants as honey bee New York, NY. 467pp. Terry, H.A. 1872. Two new bee plants. forage in Iowa. pp39-42. In : Proceedings of the Pellett, F. C. 1976. American Honey Plants Beekeepers Joumal and National Agriculturist Twelfth North American Prairie Conference: (5th ed.) Dadant and Sons, Hamilton, IL. for the Apiary Farm and Fireside. 13(3):19. Recapturing a Vanishing Heritage; Smith, D. 467pp. United States Department of Commerce, D., and C. A. Jacob Eds. ; Uni versity of Pellett, M. 1965. From the honey plant gar Environmental Science Services Administra Northern Iowa Press: Cedar Falls, IA. dens. American Bee Joumal 105:87. tion, Environmental Data Service. 1968. Williams, I.H., J.A. Picket, and A.P. Martin. Polak, E. H. and R. M. Hixon. 1945. The Climatic Atlas of the United States. U. S. 1981. The Nasonov pheromone of the honey volatile oil from Lophanthus anisatus Benth. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. bee Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae) Journal of the American Pharmaceutical 80pp. Part II. Bioassay of the components using for Association (scientific edition) 35:240-243. Vansell, G. H. 1931. Nectar and pollen plants agers. Joumal of Chemical Ecology 7:225-237. Robinson, E. A. and E. Oertel. 1975. Sources of California. Agricultural Experiment Station Wilson, W. T., J. 0. Moffett and H. D. of nectar and pollen. pp 283-302. In : Dadant Bulletin No. 517. University of California, Harrington. 1958. Nectar and pollen plants of and Sons, eds. Hive and the Honey Bee. Dadant Berkley. Colorado. Colorado State University and Sons, Hamilton, IL. Vansell, G. H. 1933. A crop of honey from Experiment Station Bulletin No . 503-S. Fort Roosa, D. M., M. J. Leoschke and L. J. giant hyssop. American Bee Joumal 73:87. Collins, CO. Eilers. 1989. Distribution of Iowa' s Vansell, G. H. 1949. Pollen and nectar plants Wilson, L. A., N. P. Senechal, and M. P. Endangered and Threatened Vascular Plants. of Utah. Utah Agricultural Experiment Station Widrlechner. 1992. Headspace analysis of the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Circular No. 124. Logan, UT. volatile oils of Agastache. Journal of IA. 127pp. Vogelmann, J. E. 1985. Crossing relation Agricultural and Food Chemistry 40:1362- Sanborn, C. E. and E. E. Scholl. 1908. Texas ships among North American and Eastern Asian 1366. honey plants. Texas Agricultural Experiment populations of Agastache sect. Agastache Station Bulletin No. 102. College Station, TX. (Labiatae). System. Bot. 10:445-452. 6 DREW APIARIES

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348 American Bee Journal