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Explore Nov 5, 2011 #109

The largest ecological impact of European colonization may have been wreaked by a small, seemingly benign domestic animal: the European honeybee.

“In early 1622, a ship arrived in Jamestown… loaded with exotic entities for the colonists to experiment with: grapevine cuttings, silkworm eggs, and beehives. Most bees pollinate only a few species; they tend to be fussy about where they live. European honeybees, promiscuous beasts, reside almost anywhere and pollinate almost anything in sight. Quickly, they swarmed from their hives and set up shop through the Americas.

The English imported the bees for honey, not to pollinate crops—pollination wasn’t’ widely understood until the late 19th century—but feral honeybees pollinated farms and orchards up and down the East Coast anyway. So critical to European success was the honeybee that Indians came to view it as a harbinger of invasion.”
“America, Found and Lost”, Charles C. Mann, National Geographic May 2007, pg 51

Honey bees (or honeybees) are a subset of bees in the genus Apis, primarily distinguished by the production and storage of honey and the construction of perennial, colonial nests out of wax. Currently, there are only 7 recognized species of honey bee with a total of 44 subspecies. The first Apis bees appear in the fossil record at the Eocene–Oligocene boundary, in European deposits. The origin of these prehistoric honey bees does not necessarily indicate that Europe is where the genus originated. There are few known fossil deposits in South Asia, the suspected region of honeybee origin, and fewer still have been thoroughly studied.

he flower... Button Snakeroot or Rattlesnakemaster

Don't worry the plant doesn't attract rattlesnakes! The name is derived from an old belief that the roots could be used to heal rattlesnake bites. Resembling something out of the Southwest United States, Rattlesnake master has an arid, heated look. Perhaps it's the yucca-like foliage, resembling its desert counterparts. Or the stiffness of the plant, reminiscent of evolutionary wonders that stand erect in even the most blinding heat. Or the flowers, nestled deep within a hardened carapace.

It is quite a striking plant. Ideal for gardens as specimens or in small groups, this native species will add texture and color to almost any perennial border. Stiff and only 1-4" wide, the sometimes 3-foot long leaves have small prickles along the edges. They are parallel-veined, that is their veins run lengthwise, unbranched from the base of the leaf to the tip.

Borne in spherical, thistle-like heads around 1" diameter, the individual flowers are a greenish-white and are surrounded by larger pointed bracts.The fruit essentially looks the same as the flowers, only darkening to a dull brown and remaining on the stalks for the remainder of the season. They are sometimes gathered and used in dried flower arrangements, but provide equal interest in the winter landscape. Each seedhead contains many 1/4" long seeds (mericarps).

Button Rattlesnakemaster, Button Eryngo, Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
Arch Creek East Environmental Preserve, North Miami, FL

Flowers found at the Bal Harbour shops // Miami