Rice
A self-pollinating cereal without nectar; bees collect its pollen only in times of scarcity, during the short morning flowering hours.
- Nectar
- None
- Pollen
- Low
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 0,6-1,5 m
- Life cycle
- Annual
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Rice is largely self-pollinating and gives no nectar. The spikelets open briefly in the morning, usually for an hour or two, and bees can use the pollen shed during that time. Its pollen is considered of low quality; bees rarely choose rice when other sources are available.
Flowering
In Turkey it flowers from July to September on the irrigated plains of Thrace, the Black Sea region and Central Anatolia. In a single field flowering lasts 1-2 weeks.
Honey and pollen
It makes no contribution to honey production. No reliable record of the pollen load colour was found.
Note for the beekeeper
In rice-growing areas, spraying against stem borers and leaf beetles poses a risk to bees that drink from the irrigation channels and collect pollen. In these regions colonies need a clean water source, and the spraying schedule should be followed.