Rape or rape is a biennial weed from the cruciferous family. It is found in the Caucasus and in the European part of our continent. Rape as a honey plant is of value mainly for bee colonies. Thanks to the nectar obtained from this plant, bee nests develop and gain strength.
The content of the article
- 1 Significance for agriculture
- 1.1 Straight
- 1.2 Arcuate
- 1.3 Ordinary
- 2 Honey productivity
- 3 Useful Properties
Significance for agriculture
In agriculture, the honey plant is not specially cultivated. If found in agricultural fields, it is weeded out or destroyed with pesticides.
In addition to arable land, the weed grows in meadows and on the shores of water bodies. Loves wet soils and lowlands.
For beekeepers, only three types of rape are valuable:
- straight;
- arcuate;
- ordinary.
Straight
The weed has a smooth, shiny stem that is branched at the top. Reaches a height of 70-80 centimeters. Blooms with pale yellow inflorescences. Grows in well-moisturized areas.
It is a source of nectar and pollen for honey bees.
Arcuate
This biennial weed does not have a very high stem – depending on the year, it reaches a height of 20 to 60 centimeters. The flowers are yellow.
This variety is also a good source of pollen and nectar for bees.
Ordinary
Common rape honey plant is of the greatest value for apiaries. Differs in long flowering – from May to late July, early August.
Inflorescences are golden yellow with a strong aroma attractive to bees. The weed has a long, erect stem up to 60 centimeters high. Its upper leaves are whole-toothed, and the lower ones are lyre-shaped with a large terminal lobe.
This type of grass provides the bee colonies with a sustaining flow, being a constant source of pollen and nectar.
Honey productivity
On the question whether the honey plant is a honey plant or not, you can answer positively, but with a small proviso. Ripe honey is almost never pumped out! All collected nectar and pollen are used to feed young bees during periods when there is no bribe from other plants in nature.
Data are known only for common rape. From one hectare of solid thickets of this weed, you can get from 40 to 50 kilograms of honey.
The resulting bee product has a pleasant taste, but a very weak aroma. The color is greenish yellow. In liquid form, it is not stored for long – almost immediately after pumping out of the honeycomb, the crystallization process begins.
This type of honey is not very sweet, since the sugar content in the nectar is quite low – 15-20 milligrams in a hundred flowers.
Useful Properties
Ripe honey is a rarity not only in the market, but also in apiaries. If the beekeeper manages to obtain this bee product, it is used for medicinal and prophylactic purposes in the same way as other meadow varieties.
Such honey is different:
- high antibacterial properties – can be used for colds, wounds and purulent formations on the skin;
- good anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, in particular, it is used for kidney diseases;
- anti-aging and restorative components in its composition – suitable for cosmetic procedures, prevention of colds, stimulation of immunity.
Such honey does not differ in monoflernity (single component). The resulting product must contain other meadow herbs (dandelion, thyme, clover, chicory, and so on) that slightly change its color and taste – for example, honey can be more aromatic and bright yellow in color.
