Trichosanthes root, which can be called honey source pollen, is pollen obtained from flowers. Pollen is mainly composed of stamens and anthers, and nectar and powder are transported through pollen tubes during flowering. Trichosanthes root is the pollen collected by bees from stamens and anthers and then carried to the hive for storage and processing. In the hive, bees will add enzymes to ferment pollen into honey, the nutrient source needed by bees.

The main source of Trichosanthes is flowers. In different seasons and regions, the species, quantity and quality of flowers will affect the quality of collected Trichosanthes. According to different flowering periods, flowers can be divided into four seasons: spring flowers, summer flowers, autumn flowers and winter flowers. For example, pear flowers, rape flowers and apricot flowers in spring are all good sources of Trichosanthes. In addition, bee farmers can use artificial methods, such as introduction and cultivation, to increase the output of Trichosanthes.

The yield of Trichosanthes root varies with many factors, such as geographical environment, flower quality and the number of bees. Under normal circumstances, the output of Trichosanthes kirilowii per mu of land is about 10-20 kg.

However, if the planted flowers have good varieties, long flowering period and abundant anthers, the yield will increase accordingly. In addition, beekeepers' management of beehives, such as replacing queen bees, increasing the number of bees and managing feed, will also have an impact on the output of Trichosanthes.

For example, in Ontario, Canada, there is a bee farm with 2,800 bee nests, and the average output of collecting Trichosanthes in each nest is 5.5 kg. In a bee nest in Louisiana, USA, the weight of Trichosanthes produced in each nest within three months reached 200 pounds.

Generally speaking, reasonable management and adequate maintenance can increase the output of Trichosanthes, reduce waste and loss, and at the same time, increase the income of beekeepers.