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NEW ZEALAND BEEKEEPER, JUNE 2017
Hoheria glabrata occurs on the wetter western side of the Southern Alps in the South Island and Mount Taranaki in the North Island, but extends eastward into Central Otago, where it hybridises with H. lyallii. Hoheria lyalli’s natural range is the drier eastern side of the Southern Alps. Nevertheless, with careful siting these species are of tremendous value to bees in autumn. Pollen Hoheria flowers are a perfect example of ‘open dish’ flowers, with exposed nectar and pollen giving ready access for bees. Each star-shaped flower has many stamens (from 25 to 30 or more) in a whorl around the centre of the flower (Figure 2). The numerous stamens, large-sized flowers, and high density of flowers per plant add up to provide abundant pollen on each tree or shrub. Our results for protein content in pollen ranged from 18% to 22%.
Figure 2. Lacebark (Hoheria populnea) flower with 25 to 30 stamens arranged in whorls around the centre of the flower.
Nectar Lacebark species produce plentiful nectar for bees in autumn. Figure 3 shows a flower dissected to show the nectary area. The petals have been pulled off the flower in one unit (they are fused at the base of the petals) and the stamens are attached to the petals, not the ovary or receptacle, so they come off with the petals. At the base of the flower is a central yellow-tinged ring of the nectaries where nectar is produced. Walsh (1967) has reported that H. populnea yields abundant nectar in May. In Auckland, the bees even obtain a surplus of nectar from this source in May. Planting advice Hoheria species are ideally suited to a wide range of bee feed designs. They can be included in riparian plantings, mixed native species shelterbelts, and group plantings of native species. As small trees, they should be spaced 5–6m apart, but can be interplanted with smaller shrub species. Care should be taken to use species that are endemic to your region, as there is increasing hybridisation of Hoheria species and this is becoming an issue in some areas. Clustering many trees or shrubs together in hedges or rows close to the apiary will make autumn foraging more efficient for the bees.
Figure 3. Lacebark (H. populnea) flower dissected to show the nectary at the base of the flower. To expose the nectary area, the petals are pulled off the flower in one unit because they are fused at the base of the flower. There is a yellowish tinge to the nectary area in the mature flower.
Nectaries are yellow tinged and in a ring around centre of the flower
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