Honey Bee on Black Mustard Flower
by Charles Robinson
Title
Honey Bee on Black Mustard Flower
Artist
Charles Robinson
Medium
Photograph - Landscape Photograph
Description
I found this honey bee on a black mustard flower at McNary National Wildlife Refuge. Black mustard, Brassica nigra, is one of the oldest and most useful spices and herbs known. Its young leaves are used as salad greens, its mature leaves are eaten boiled or sauteed, and its seeds are the source for the tart condiment that bears its name. This beautiful herb native to North Africa and Eurasia is so loved that it has spread worldwide. Both commercial and residential growers have planted it widely, leading to its introduction into local ecosystems.
Black mustard is very easy to grow and will thrive in almost any soil condition. It also reseeds readily which results in rapid spread and this has allowed the plant to naturalize almost everywhere it has been introduced. A consequence of rapid spread has led some areas to label black mustard as invasive, which I believe this the case in this area. Adding to the problem is the allelopathic tendencies of the mustard plant which inhibits the growth of native flora.
Uploaded
June 25th, 2023
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