Trees Bees Use

The logwood tree - Haematoxylum campechianum

Michael Duggan, Wrens Old Cottage, Upper Teer, Brandon, Tralee, Co Kerry, Ireland

Keywords: bee forage, Caribbean, Central America, honey production

The logwood tree, Haematoxylum campechianum. Inset: Logwood flowers

PHOTOS © MICHAEL DUGGAN

Apicultural value

Haematoxylum campechianum is worked by honey bees for nectar and pollen. Widely cultivated in many parts of the tropical world, is found often on coastal plains, and grows well and quickly on moist land. The nectar flow is much affected by rainfall.

Honey

Light or almost white. The yield is high but in some areas the nectar flow is for only two to three weeks at a time and it is greatly affected by the soil moisture. Rain at the optimum time gives a long, heavy nectar flow.

Pollen

Haematoxylum campechianum is considered an important source of pollen.

Family

Caesalpiniacae (Leguminosae)

Names

French: Campeche or Bois de Campeche; Spanish: Palo de tinta

Leaves

There are 2-4 pairs on each rachis which are small obovate to obscordate 1-3 cm long, and 7-20 mm broad, closely veined leaflets.

Flowers

Pointed at both ends and 3-5 cm long.

Botanical description

A gnarled tree with trunk and lower branches fluted, and grows up to 10 m high. The bark is light grey and smooth. Flowers have 10 free stamens with filaments hairy at the base; a flat, thin nearly sessile membranous pod. Haematoxylum campechianum is endemic to Central America and introduced and widely naturalised in the Caribbean and some parts of the tropics. Unfortunately the wood is still used for making charcoal in some of the islands. It is also used in hedges in some places, in dyes, and thrives on limestone hillsides in dry, secondary thickets. It is easy to propagate from seed and is highly recommended for increasing honey production.