I

ANNO 3 Numero 3
Ivana Moreschi [1]

Bee plants survey in Alta Valcamonica and preparation of a palinoteque as reference point

[1] Laboratorio di ecologia applicata, Adamello Park, Edolo (BS), Italy


Corresponding author: ivana.moreschi@parcoadamello.it

The present work is a contribution to the knowledge of the correlation between flora and botanical origin of honey. To exploit the honey of Valcamonica (Italy) it’s important to know the bee plants species which are characteristics for this territory and realize a palinoteque as reference point. So, from March to September 2004, field investigation were carried out every week to gain information on the flora (presence, flowering period) and take flowers to collect pollen grains and prepare microscope slides for the palinoteque.

We have also make an estimate of the “flowering’s abundance class” for each botanic specie found. In all 166 species are found of whom the 46,4% are available for nectar or nectar and pollen; the 24,7 % are exclusively foraged for pollen and the 28,9% have not apiarian importance. It is also verified that bee use a very small number of plants in comparison with those available. In particular, in this field, the plants much important for nectar and nectar/pollen have been: Castanea sativa, Robinia pseudoacacia and Taraxacum officinale which have an “abundant” flowering’s abundance class; Salvia pratensis, Thymus sp., Stellaria media, Hypochoeris radicata, Centaurea transalpina and Crataegus monogyna with a “good” class; than Acer pseudoplatanus, Hedera helix, Senecio inaequidens, Convolvulus arvensis, Calepina irregularis, Scabiosa columbaria, Trifolium pratense, Ornithogalum umbellatum, Malus domestica, Potentilla reptans, Prunus domestica, P. spinosa, Rubus fruticosus, Salix caprea, Orylaya grandiflora, Tilia cordata which with a “medium” flowering take however an important part during the different months.