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ISSN: 0017-3134 (Print) 1651-2049 (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/sgra20

Mapping of key bee flora of upper Gangetic region

of India – a palynological assessment through
regional honeys

Kalyani Datta , Praveen C. Verma & Avijeet Chatterjee

To cite this article: Kalyani Datta , Praveen C. Verma & Avijeet Chatterjee (2008) Mapping of key
bee flora of upper Gangetic region of India – a palynological assessment through regional honeys,
Grana, 47:2, 159-170, DOI: 10.1080/00173130801980109

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/00173130801980109

Published online: 12 Sep 2008.

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Grana, 2008; 47: 159–170

Mapping of key bee flora of upper Gangetic region of India – a

palynological assessment through regional honeys

KALYANI DATTA, PRAVEEN C. VERMA & AVIJEET CHATTERJEE

National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow (UP), India

Abstract
Fifty-one regional honey samples, collected mainly from Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh districts, were studied to
determine the pollen composition. Pollen spectra of the local honeys varied according to the vegetation type utilized by the
bees within this floristically diverse region. Eight pollen types from Uttarakhand and seven from Uttar Pradesh were the
predominant pollen types in honey and included both local naturalized flora as well as cultivated crops. The investigation
revealed that in addition to already known bee forage (e.g. Brassica, Coriandrum, and Litchi) some other species including
Eucalyptus, Callistemon that are planted for social forestry programs, are also heavily utilized as pollen and nectar sources by
honey bees in urban and semi urban areas. Naturalized flora including Myrica, Rumex, Erigeron are also utilized and
therefore are important for apiculture in these regions.

Keywords: Bee forage, predominant pollen, regional honey

Against a backdrop of decreasing biodiversity and
attempts to ensure a livelihood for a large number of
people in developing and poor countries, apiculture
can be encouraged as an ideal eco-friendly and
economically viable enterprise. Apiculture industry
can be managed with very little expenditure as it
utilizes natural resources. It is an industry that
provides employment to rural and tribal people
offering an eco-friendly profitable small scale full or
part-time occupation. Honey is also an excellent
food supplement, ideal for large under-nourished
tribal and rural people in developing countries.
Honey bees not only enhance the production of
agriculture and horticulture crops, they play an
important role in maintaining ecosystem and con-
servation of biodiversity. Analysis of pollen contents
of honey samples provides reliable information of
floral resources of honeys along with relative
preferences of the bees among the diverse assem-
blages of plant species flowering synchronously
(Deodikar, 1961, 1964; Garg, 2006).
Pollen analytical studies of Indian honeys had
been conducted by various workers (Vishnu Mittre,
1958; Ramanujan et al., 1962; Ramanujan &
Kalpana, 1992; Nair, 1964; Sharma & Nair, 1965;
Chanda & Ganguly, 1981; Chaturvedi, 1989) but
considering the diversity and floristic composition of
this large country, the knowledge of potential bee
forage plants is inadequate. Pollen spectra of honey
samples reflect the prevailing local vegetation and
differ with respect to locality and season in which the
honeys are collected. The diversity of vegetation
types and flora within this vast country means that
palynological studies of Indian honeys need to be
done on a regional basis in order to characterize the
relationship between the local flora, vegetation type
and plants utilized by honey bees. The present study
aims to determine the key bee-forage plants of
different eco-floristic and agro-climatic areas of
upper Gangetic region and to identify the major,
medium and minor pollen, and nectar yielding
plants through analysis of pollen contents of regional
honeys of the area.
The scope of the present melissopalynological
investigation is confined to Uttarakhand and Uttar
Pradesh – two states of north India located between

Correspondence: Kalyani Datta, Palynology Laboratory, National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow – 226 001 (UP), India.
E-mail: praveencverma@yahoo.com

(Received 27 November 2007; accepted 6 February 2008)

ISSN 0017-3134 print/ISSN 1651-2049 online # 2008 Taylor & Francis
DOI: 10.1080/00173130801980109
160 K. Datta et al.
78˚–85˚E and 25˚–32˚N. The state of Uttarakhand
encompasses the converging ranges of greater
Himalayas, intersected by valleys and plateaus under
localized cultivation. Uttar Pradesh is the most
populated state of India as well as the highest
producer of food grains. Geographically the states
constitute the upper Gangetic plain as the river
Ganges emerges from the mountains and flows
across the plains. The climate of Uttarakhand is
temperate to sub-tropical due to presence of many
snow clapped mountain peaks while Uttar Pradesh
possesses a tropical monsoon type of climate. As
both of the states are mainly occupied by rural areas,
cultivated fields and forests, bee keeping may be
taken as an eco-friendly, profitable, small scale, full
or part-time occupation. The objective of the present
study was to identify potential bee forage plants of
the area. This information can be applied to under-
stand the types of plants and vegetation association
that require conservation in order to boost honey
production and employment. The honey samples
analysed include both apiary and squeezed honeys as
the later samples have been collected from those
areas where commercial apicultural activities are yet
to start.
Material and methods
A total of 51 honey samples collected from
Uttarakhand (21 samples) and Uttar Pradesh (30
samples) were palynologically analysed (Figure 1).
The samples were collected during autumn 2003
and spring 2004. The 21 samples of Uttarakhand
include ten regional honeys belonging to four
districts (Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri and
Rudrapryag) of Garhwal Division and 11 samples
originating from three districts (Almora, Nainital
and Champawat) of Kumaon Division (Figure 1).
The 30 samples from Uttar Pradesh belonged to 24
districts ranging from western to eastern parts of the
state (Figure 1). Out of the 21 Uttarakhand honey
samples 14 are apiary honey and seven are squeezed
honey while among 30 samples from Uttar Pradesh,
23 samples are squeezed honey and seven are apiary
products.
For microscope studies, the acetolysis method
adopted by Erdtman (1960) was followed. Briefly,
5 ml of honey from each sample was dissolved in
20 ml of warm distilled water (around 40˚C) and
centrifuged twice (2500 rpm) for 10 min. Five ml of
glacial acetic acid was added to the sediment. The
solution was again centrifuged (2 500 rpm) for
10 min. The pollen sediment was then acetolysed
with 10 ml of acetolysis solution (one part of conc.
sulphuric acid was added drop-by-drop to nine parts
of acetic anhydride) and warmed in a water bath (at
100˚C) for 3 min till the liquid turned brown colour.
After cooling it was again centrifuged at 2 500 rpm
for 10 minutes. The supernatant liquid decanted off.
The sediment then treated with glacial acetic acid,
later centrifuged at the same rpm followed by two or
three rinsing with distilled water. After each rinsing,
centrifugation was carried out at 2 500 rpm for 10
minutes. The 50% aqueous glycerin prepared in
distilled water was added and centrifuged for 10
minutes at 3 000 rpm. The supernatant liquid was
decanted off. The rotor length r is 15 cm enabling the
calculation of RCF or g following the recommenda-
tions of Pendleton (2006). The pollen sediment was
taken on a pellet of glycerine jelly and transferred to
the centre of the slides of 75625 mm size having
0.8 mm thickness. After being warmed slightly, the
melted jelly with pollen sediment was covered by ‘0’
number (22 mm) cover glass. The cover glass was
later sealed with paraffin wax (Nair, 1960).
The pollen types were identified with the help of
reference slides made from ground flora and
permanent pollen slides kept in pollen herbarium
of Palynology Laboratory of NBRI, Lucknow.
Relevant literatures were also consulted for pollen
identification and in some cases the pollen types
were identified only to family level. Quantitative
pollen analysis was based according to the method
recommended by the International Commission for
Bee Botany (1970). Counts were taken at random
covering the maximum mounted area to avoid
repetition. Once identified and counted, the pollen
grains were placed into one of following pollen fre-
quency classes – predominant pollen types (w45%),
secondary pollen types (16–44%), important minor
pollen types (3–15%), minor pollen types (v3%)
and pollen present (v1%). Honey samples contain-
ing more than 45% of a single type of pollen were
considered as ‘Unifloral’ honey.
Results
In all 126 plant taxa were microscopically identified
by their pollen from the 51 honey samples (Table I).
The honeys from Uttarakhand contained more varied
pollen types (98) than those belonged to Uttar Pradesh
(83). Among the samples studied, the maximum
number of pollen types diagnosed from a single sample
is 26 (Sample No. 42, from Ukhimath, Rudraprayag
District), and the minimum number of pollen types
found in a sample is 4 (Sample No. 37, from Ram
Nagar, Nainital District), in Uttarakhand both.
Uttarakhand honeys
Among the 21 Uttarakhand honey samples analysed,
12 samples were found to be unifloral and nine were

multifloral (Table I). According to frequency
classes, eight pollen types e.g. Brassicae, L.,
Eucalyptus L’Her., Helianthus L., Litchi Sonn.,
Prunus L., Rumex, L., Erigeron L., and Myrica L.
were identified as predominant (w45%) types. The
first six taxa were also categorized as secondary
pollen types (16–44%) in some unifloral and many
multifloral honeys along with taxa like Coriandrum
L., Alnus Mill., Salix L., Ageratum L., and
Callistemon R. Br. Pollen grains of Brassica is most
dominantly represented in honeys from Uttarakhand
as this type was found to be predominant in three
samples (No. 45, 78 and 79), secondary types in six
samples (No. 43, 44, 52, 38, 77, and 80), important
minor type (3–14%) in two (No. 1, 48) and minor
type in one sample (No. 73). Eucalyptus pollens were
identified as predominant type in two samples
Figure 1. Sites of the honey samples studied.
Bee flora of upper Gangetic region of India 161
(No. 44, 46), as secondary pollen type in five
samples (No. 38, 52, 43, 1, 77, and 42) and as
important minor pollen in four samples (No. 8, 78,
79, and 80). Pollen of fruit tree litchi (Litchi
chinensis) were diagnosed as predominant in two
samples (No. 38, 39) and as secondary pollen in one
sample (No. 80). Incidentally all the above three
litchi containing samples originated from Kumaon
division of Uttarakhand. Pollen of Helianthus,
cultivated as an oil crop had been recorded as
predominant type from one sample (No. 8), as
secondary pollen from three samples (No. 41, 47,
and 48) and as important minor type in two samples
(No. 52, 80). Four temperate plants: Prunus, Rumex,
Erigeron and Myrica were identified as predominant
pollen contributor to particular sample (No. 47, 72,
73, and 74 respectively). Pollen of the fruit tree
162 K. Datta et al.
Prunus was also diagnosed as secondary type in four
samples (No. 41, 46, 48, and 42) and as important
minor pollen type in one sample (No. 45) while
those of Myrica were found as important minor type
in three samples (No. 44, 73, and 74). Likewise,
Rumex pollen was recorded as secondary type in one
sample (No. 42) and as important minor type in six
samples (No. 46, 47, 38, 52, 41, and 80).
Pollen of some plants were frequently found in
considerable proportion in several honey samples of
Uttarakhand although none of these plants was
accounted as predominant type according to fre-
quency classification. Mention may be made
towards cultivated spice crop Coriandrum, pollen of
which were identified as secondary type in two
samples from Ranikhet (No. 77, 79) and as impor-
tant minor pollen in three samples (No. 46, 78, and
80). Pollen of temperate trees e.g. Alnus (No. 48)
and Salix (No. 42) were diagnosed as secondary
pollen type in one sample each and as important
minor pollen in three honey samples (Alnus –
No. 72, 73, and 75; Salix – No. 1, 41, and 75)
each. Pollen grains of Ageratum, a herbaceous weed
of the family Asteraceae had been encountered
frequently in numerous honey samples and it was
categorized as secondary pollen type in two samples
(No. 1, 37) and important minor pollen type in
seven samples (No. 8, 44, 38, 79, 43, 48, and 77).
Callistemon pollen was identified as secondary
pollen type in two regional honeys of Uttarakhand
(No. 74, 80)
In addition to the taxa mentioned above, pollen
grains of plants like Celtis L., Salvia L., Quercus L.,
and those of members of Fabaceae, Fagaceae,
Moraceae, Poaceae and Euphorbiaceae were
recorded in the category of important minor types
in honeys from Uttarakhand. Reflection of local
cultivated and naturalized flora, many of which are
temperate in distribution were noted in Uttarakhand
honeys which include Aster L., Bidens L., Saussurea
DC., Rosa L., Rubus L., Spiraea L., Acer L.,
Aconitum L., Berberis L., Potentilla L., Strobilanthus
Blume, etc. but their contribution in total pollen
contents is less than considerable amount. It was
curiously noted that pollen grains of a number of
anemophilous taxa e.g. Alnus, Rumex and members
of Poaceae also contribute to the pollen contents of
honeys, sometimes in appreciable proportion.
Uttar Pradesh honeys
Pollen analysis of 30 regional honey samples from
Uttar Pradesh confirmed 15 samples as unifloral
honey and the other 15 samples as multifloral
(Table I). Seven plant taxa were identified as
predominant pollen types in regional honey samples
of various districts distributed in this large state,
most of which belong to cultivated crops and
regionally naturalized plants. The analysis indicates
Brassica being the most important bee forage crop of
Uttar Pradesh as its pollen emerged as predominant
type in four honey samples (No. 6, 28, 13, and 24)
as secondary pollen type (16–44%) in eight samples
(No. 23, 36, 53, 24, 31, 27, 55, and 85) and as
important minor pollen types (3–15%) in six
samples (No. 21, 58, 32, 2, 5 and 40). The next
important bee crop appears to be Coriandrum as its
pollen were found as predominant contributor in
three samples (No. 33, 21, and 26) as secondary
type in six samples (No. 34, 81, 31, 50, 36, and 24)
and as important minor pollen type in three samples
(No. 32, 27, and 40). The weed Ageratum conyzoides
(Asteraceae) was found to be one of the prominent
bee favoured plant as its pollen were recorded as
predominant in three samples (No. 3, 30, and 32),
as secondary pollen type in two samples (No. 5, 27)
and important minor pollen type in six samples
(No. 58, 11, 13, 36, 31, and 54). Pollen grains of
Eucalyptus were observed in maximum number of
honey samples (24 of 30) of Uttar Pradesh.
Eucalyptus pollen was diagnosed as predominant
type in two samples (No. 58, 81) as secondary
pollen type in nine samples (No. 2, 50, 53, 5, 36, 24,
40, 83, and 85) as important minor pollen in other
ten samples (No. 28, 3, 13, 26, 34, 30, 32, 64, 23,
and 55) and as minor pollen (1–3%) in three
samples (No. 7, 18, and 27). Three other plant taxa
e.g. Callistemon, Syzigium cumini and Zea mays were
also identified as predominant types in honeys of
Uttar Pradesh, but unlike the preceding types which
were extensively represented, occurrence of these
types were restricted to few regional honeys.
Callistemon, a beautiful road side ornamental tree
and Syzigium cumini the fruit tree producing ‘Jamun’
both belonging to the Myrtaceae were categorized as
predominant type in one sample each of two samples
collected from adjacent districts of eastern Uttar
Pradesh (No. 39 and 64, respectively). Syzigium was
also recorded as secondary type in one sample
(No. 31) also from eastern Uttar Pradesh. Pollen
of the cereal crop maize (Zea mays) was recognized
as predominant type in one sample (No. 7) from
western part of the state and as secondary type in
another sample originating from eastern part
(No. 54) of Uttar Pradesh.
In addition to these taxa, which are categorised as
predominant contributor in one or more honey
samples of Uttar Pradesh, pollen of some other
plants were noted in considerable proportions in
several regional honeys. These include cultivated oil
crop Helianthus, which was identified as secondary
type in three samples (No. 23, 33, and 85) from
Table I. Pollen contents of honey samples of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh with respect to frequency classes

Sl. Sample Type of Pre-dominant Secondary pollen Important minor pollen Minor pollen types Pollen present Colour and
No. No. Locality Honey pollen type (w45%) types (16–44%) types (3–15%) (v3–w1%) (v1-w0.5%) Consistency
Uttarakhand
Unifloral
1 08 Haridwar (Dist. Apiary Helianthus (53.0%) – Cucurbitaceae (12.0%), Solanaceae, Papaveraceae, Albizzia Dark golden,
Haridwar) Asteraceae (7.7%), Coriandrum, Citrus, Thick
Eucalyptus (5.7%), Poaceae Monocot, Urticaceae
(3.5%), Azadirachta (3.5%),
Ageratum (3.9%)
2 44 Gurukul Kangri Apiary Eucalyptus (48.0%) Brassica (31.0%) Myrica (3.5%), Ageratum Fabaceae (Cassia sp.), Papaveraceae, Phyllanthus, Brown, Fluid
(Dist. Haridwar) (9.0%) Holoptelea, Citrus, Morus Rumex hastatus, Monocot,
Rosaceae
3 45 Danda Squeezed Brassica (91.0%) – Prunus (3.0%) Rumex, Salix Papilionaceae, Mimosaceae, Light brown,
(Dist. Tehri) Asteraceae, Cucurbitaceae Liquid
4 47 Brims Squeezed Prunus (53.0%) Helianthus (16.0%) Rumex (12.0%), Celtis (9.0%), Salix, Salvia Acer, Fabaceae, Myrica Buff, Thick
(Dist. Tehri) Cucurbitaceae (5.0%) granulated
5 46 Anjani Sain Squeezed Eucalyptus (49.0%) Prunus (20.0%) Rumex (9.0%), Coriandrum Amaranth./Chenopod., Asteraceae Reddish brown,
(Dist. Tehri) (6.0%), Fagaceae (3.0%) Quercus Thick liquid
6 37 Ram Nagar Apiary Litchi (68.45%) Ageratum (30.0%) – – Polygonaceae, Umbelliferae Mustard yellow,
(Dist. Nainital) Thick Fluid
7 38 Haldwani Apiary Litchi (46.0%) Brassica (19.0%), Ageratum (5.0%), Rumex Cucurbitaceae, Cassia Strobilanthus, Rosaceae, Mustard yellow,
(Dist. Nainital) Eucalyptus (16.0%) (3.5%) sp., Holoptelea, Ageratum, Morus, Ageratum Thick Fluid
Bombax, Citrus
8 78 Kalika Apiary Brassica (82.0%) – Coriandrum (7.0%), Ageratum, Bombax, Citrus – Dark reddish

Bee flora of upper Gangetic region of India

(Dist. Almorah) Eucalyptus (5.2%) brown, Fluid
9 79 Ranikhet II Apiary Brassica (46.0%) Coriandrum (33.5%) Ageratum (3.2%), Eucalyptus Cassia sp., Phyllanthus Citrus Dark reddish
(Dist. Almorah) (9.0%), Luffa (3.1%) brown, Fluid
10 73 Chalthi (Dist. Squeezed Erigeron (85.0%) – Myrica (9.2%), Alnus (3.5%) Brassica Salvia Yellowish brown
Champawat) (dark) Thick
granulated
11 72 Champawat Squeezed Myrica (95.0%) Alnus (3.5%) – Strobilanthus, Helianthus Yellowish brown
(Dist. Champawat) (dark), Thick
Fluid
12 74 Shyamlatal - I Squeezed Rumex (54.0%) Callistemon (31.0%) Myrica (8.0%) Alnus, Ageratum Quercus Golden brown,
(Dist. Champawat) Fluid
Multifloral
13 52 Dehradun Apiary Brassica (32.0%), Rumex (14.0%), Psidium/ Alnus, Cassia, Coriandrum, Poaceae, Rhododendron, Light brown,
(Dist. Dehradun) Eucalyptus (25.0%) Syzigium (5.0%), Helianthus Lagerstroemia, Urticaceae Acacia, Salvia Thick Fluid
(10.0%), Rosaceae (3.0%)
14 43 Jaunsar Apiary Brassica (36.0%), Ageratum (12.0%), Holoptelea, Rumex Terminalia, Poaceae, Brown, Fluid
(Dist. Dehradun) Eucalyptus (24.0%), Cassia-type (6.0%) Strobilanthus, Salix, Citrus,
Rosaceae (16.0%) Moraceae, Meliaceae,
Quercus, Phyllanthus

163
 164
Table I. Continued.

Sl. Sample Type of Pre-dominant Secondary pollen Important minor pollen Minor pollen types Pollen present Colour and

K. Datta et al.
No. No. Locality Honey pollen type (w45%) types (16–44%) types (3–15%) (v3–w1%) (v1-w0.5%) Consistency
15 41 Buraskhand, Squeezed Prunus (38.5%), Salix (7.0%), Rumex (5.5%), Myrica Brassica, Ligustrum, Buff, Very thick
Dhanaulti Helianthus (37.7%) Salvia (4.0%), Pisum (3.0%) Leguminosae, Oleaceae, and granulated
(Dist. Dehradun) Strobilanthus, Sarcococca,
(Buxaceae), Rosaceae,
Moraceae, Liliaceae,
Amaranthus, Chenopodium
16 48 Pugar Squeezed Helianthus (30.0%), Cucurbitaceae (8.5%), Salvia Cannabis, Liliaceae, Reddish brown,
(Dist. Tehri) Prunus (25.0%), Ageratum (4.0%), Poaceae, Cassia - type Very Thick
Alnus (26.0%) Brassica (3.0%)
17 42 Ukhi Math (Dist. Apiary Prunus (29.0%), Eucalyptus (6.0%) Cassia, Pisum, Quercus, Asteraceae, Ageratum, Yellowish
Rudra prayag) Rumex (28.5%), Berberis, Urticaceae Helianthus, Datura, Solanum Brown, Thick
Salix (19.5%) (Solanaceae), Rubus Fluid
(Rosaceae), Potentilla,
Spirea, Labiatae, Salvia,
Strobilanthus, Primula,
Ligustrum, Gentianaceae
18 01 Ram Nagar Apiary Eucalyptus (42.0%), Brassica (7.27%), Moraceae Poaceae, Vernonia – type, Umbelliferae, Polygonaceae, Golden brown,
(Dist. Nainital) Ageratum (17.5%) (7.9%), Salix (9.3%), Convolvulaceae, Rutaceae Papaveraceae Moderately
Euphorbiaceae (5.6%) Thick
19 77 Ranikhet I Apiary Coriandrum (27.0%), Ageratum (7.0%), Phyllanthus Rosaceae, Bombax Ranunculaceae, Viburnum Golden brown
(Dist. Almora) Eucalyptus (22.5%), (6.2%), Cassia sp. (5.0%), Cucurbitaceae, Berberis, (Reddish), Fluid
Brassica (20.3%) Cicer (3.5%), Solanaceae Morus, Castenopsis,
(3.0%) Hyoscyamus niger
20 80 Ranikhet III Apiary Litchi (23.0%), Helianthus (9.0%), Coriandrum Cucurbitaceae, Rosaceae Alnus, Cannabis, Phyllanthus, Dark yellowish
(Dist. Almora) Callistemon (20.0%), (11.0%), Poaceae –cultivated Prunus/Pyrus Terminalia, Chenopod./ brown, Thick
Brassica (16.0%) (5.0%), Rumex (5.3%), Amaranth. fluid
Eucalyptus (3.0%)
21 75 Shyamlatal – II Apiary Ageratum (41.0%), Alnus (5.1%), Salix (3.5%), Murraya sp., Rubus Cannabis, Strobilanthus Golden, Fluid
(Dist. Champawat) Rumex (18.5%), Quercus (5.3%), Phyllanthus
Callistemon (17.3%) (4.0%)
Uttar Pradesh
Unifloral
22 28 Etawa Apiary Brassica (91.2%) – Eucalyptus (3.8%) Poaceae, Cucurbitaceae Acacia Light brown,
(Dist. Etawa) Fluid
23 06 Shikohabad Squeezed Brassica (94.16%) – Helianthus (3.6%) Polygonum Eucalyptus, Fabaceae Reddish brown,
(Dist. Firozabad) Fluid
24 33 Samshabad Squeezed Coriandrum (46.8%) Helianthus (30.6%) Ricinus (9.64%), Prosopis Eucalyptus, Vernonia – Golden brown,
(Dist. Agra) (9.44%) Fluid
25 07 Etah (Dist. Etah) Squeezed Zea mays (92.7%) – – Eucalyptus Moraceae Dark brown,
Medium thick
26 21 Kanpur (Dist. Apiary Coriandrum (60.0%) Holoptelea (17.8%) Ailanthus (12.7%), Brassica – – Golden, Fluid
Kanpur) (8.9%)
Table I. Continued.

Sl. Sample Type of Pre-dominant Secondary pollen Important minor pollen Minor pollen types Pollen present Colour and
No. No. Locality Honey pollen type (w45%) types (16–44%) types (3–15%) (v3–w1%) (v1-w0.5%) Consistency
27 03 Rahaman-khera Squeezed Ageratum (53.2%) – Ailanthus (14%), Eucalyptus Brassica, Cassia sp., Monocots, Coriandrum Light golden,
(Dist. Lucknow) (7.3%), Holoptelea (10.42%) Polygonum, Euphorbia Fluid
28 13 Chinhat Apiary Brassica (78.0%) – Cajanus (9.0%), Eucalyptus Cassia sp., Phyllanthus Holoptelea, Monocot, Morus Yellowish
(Dist. Lucknow) (5.0%) brown, Medium
thick
29 58 Malihabad Squeezed Eucalyptus (48.0%) Citrus (30.0%) Ageratum (8.1%), Brassica Poaceae, Pisum, Cassia Tribulus, Bombax Deep brown,
(Dist.Lucknow) (3.2%) Thick fluid
30 26 Shahganj Squeezed Coriandrum (55.4%) Polygonum (16.0%) Eucalyptus (11.2%), Poaceae – – Golden,
(Dist. Jaunpur) (6.6%), Azadirachta (6.2%), Medium
Holoptelea (4.4%) consistency
31 34 Faizabad Squeezed Brassica (67.4%) Coriandrum (21.8%) Eucalyptus (7.5%) Cassia, Ageratum – Golden brown,
(Dist. Faizabad) Fluid
32 30 Sitapur Squeezed Ageratum (75.0%) – Eucalyptus (13.0%), Citrus Polygonum, Brassica – Light golden,
(Dist. Sitapur) (5.2%) Fluid
33 32 Gorakhpur Squeezed Ageratum (56.8%) – Coriandrum (9.8%), Poaceae Cassia – Golden, Fluid
(Dist. Gorakhpur) (7.4%), Eucalyptus (6.0%),
Chenopodium (8.0%) Brassica
(4.0%), Pisum (4.6%)
34 39 Basti (Dist. Basti) Squeezed Callistemon (48.5%) Citrus (22.0%), Polygonum (10.8%) – – Deep brown,
Meliaceae (18.5%) Fluid
35 81 Doma (Dist. Squeezed Eucalyptus (54.0%) Coriandrum (41.0%) – Cucurbitaceae, Holoptelea Cannabis, Poaceae Deep brown,
Maharaj Ganj) Fluid

Bee flora of upper Gangetic region of India

36 64 Banda Squeezed Syzigium cumini Ricinus (20.16%) Eucalyptus (13.0%), Lawsonia Cucurbitaceae, Terminalia, Golden brown,
(Dist. Banda) (49.8%) Lagerstroemia (7.13%), Citrus, Monocots Fluid
Cassia sp. (3.7%)
Multifloral
37 50 Islam Nagar Apiary Rumex (28.0%), Monocot (Allium) (7.8%), Quercus, Alnus, Salix, Asteraceae (Vernonia), Brown, Thick
(Dist. Pilibhit) Eucalyptus (18.0%), Rosaceae (10.2%), Cassia sp. Cruciferae Aster, Xanthium, fluid
Coriandrum (16.5%) (4.3%), Helianthus (6.0%) Polygonaceae, Anagalis,
Fraxinus, Argemone,
Urticaceae
38 23 Badaun Apiary Brassica (31.0%), Argemone (14.0%), Poaceae – Urticaceae, Asteraceae Mustard, Fluid
(Dist. Badaun) Helianthus (23.0%) (5.2%), Umbelliferae (3.7%)
Polygonaceae (3.5%),
Eucalyptus (8.2%), Ageratum
(5.1%), Erythrina (4.6%)
39 85 Saharanpur Squeezed Eucalyptus (31.3%), Monocot -Allium type (3.2%) Poaceae cultivated Poaceae (wild), Ageratum, Blackish brown,
(Dist. Saharnpur) Brassica (28.6%), Citrus, Alternanthera, Fluid
Helianthus (21.1) Cyperaceae
40 02 Unnao Squeezed Eucalyptus (26.80%), Umbelliferae (9.94%), Poaceae, Citrus, Asteraceae (Vernonia - type) Golden, Thick
(Dist. Unnao) Polygonaceae Brassica (6.88%), Ageratum Azadirachta Asteraceae (other type) fluid
(20.10%), Cassia (6.83%), Urticaceae (4.32%) Amaranth./Chenopod.

165
sp. (18.26%)
 166
Table I. Continued.

Sl. Sample Type of Pre-dominant Secondary pollen Important minor pollen Minor pollen types Pollen present Colour and

K. Datta et al.
No. No. Locality Honey pollen type (w45%) types (16–44%) types (3–15%) (v3–w1%) (v1-w0.5%) Consistency
41 53 Muzzafar Nagar Apiary Brassica (35.2%), Pisum (8.3%) Cucurbitaceae, Cassia Asteraceae (Helianthus & Deep brown,
(Dist. Muzzafar Eucalyptus (30.0%), sp., Salvia, Rutaceae Cichorieae - type), Morus, Thick fluid
Nagar) Citrus (17.3%) Poaceae, Meliaceae,
Amaranth./Chenopod.,
Phyllanthus, Ageratum,
Scrophulariaceae, Oleaceae
42 05 Banthra Squeezed Ageratum (22.3%), Polygonum sp. (13.4%), Poaceae, Urticaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Ailanthus, Light golden,
(Dist. Lucknow) Eucalyptus (19.6%), Moringa (8.2%), Brassica Morus Amaranth./Chenopod., Medium
Holoptelea (18.4%) (7.4%), Umbelliferae (3.6%) Leguminosae consistency
43 36 Barabanki Squeezed Brassica (30.0%), Ageratum (12.0%), Citrus Cucurbitaceae, Ailanthus Cicer, Grevillea robusta, Yellow, Fluid
(Dist. Barabanki) Coriandrum (28.2%), (3.5%) Helianthus, Morus, Euphorbia
Eucalyptus (19.1%) sp., Lagerstroemia, Cassia sp.
44 24 Malihabad Apiary Brassica (32.5%), Cucurbitaceae (8.5%), Citrus Cassia, Poaceae Grevillea, Monocots, Reddish brown,
(Dist. Lucknow) Coriandrum (28.0%), (5.3%) (cultivated) Cucurbitaceae, Amaranth./ Fluid
Eucalyptus (20.4%) Chenopod., Asteraceae
45 31 Sultanpur Squeezed Brassica (26.0%), Ageratum (10.5%), Putranjiva Cucurbitaceae (Moringa) Cicer, Convolvulaceae, Reddish brown,
(Dist. Sultanpur) Coriandrum (22.0%), (5.5%), Polygonum sp. (7.8%), Poaceae, Cassia Liquid
Syzigium (17.2%) Pisum (4.8%)
46 18 Pratapgarh Squeezed Citrus (26.0%), Litchi Amaranth./Chenopod. Brassica sp., Holoptelea, – Reddish brown
(Dist. Pratapgarh) (20.3%), Embellica (5.6%), Prosopis juliflora Eucalyptus medium
officinalis (18.0%), (5.5%) consistency
Cassia sp. (16.7%)
47 27 Jaunpur II Squeezed Ageratum (42.8%), Coriandrum (7.6%), Holoptelea Eucalyptus Leguminosae, Cucurbitaceae, Reddish brown,
(Dist. Jaunpur) Brassica (40.7%) (6.5%) Rutaceae Fluid
48 40 Banaras Squeezed Putranjiva (24.2%), Brassica (12.5%), Coriandrum Calyandra Bombax Reddish,
(Dist. Banaras) Eucalyptus (20.2%) (11.2%), Ailanthus (10.7%), moderately
Morus (10.3%), Poaceae Thick
(8.9%)
49 55 Mirzapur Squeezed Citrus (30.5%), Eucalyptus (12.0%), Putranjiva Embellica, Holoptelea, Amaranth./Chenpod., Dark reddish
Brassica (18.0%) (9.0%), Cucurbitaceae Luffa, Meliaceae Erythrina, Albizzia Brown, Fluid
(5.0%), Azadirachta (3.5%),
Prosopis (4.0%), Bombax
(3.1%), Cassia (3.0%)
50 83 Navgarh (Dist. Squeezed Lagerstroemia Lawsonia (12.0%), Bombax Phoenix, Euphorbia, Mimosa, Rumex, Fabaceae Yellowish
Chandauli) (38.0%), Eucalyptus (3.6%), Cucurbitaceae Leguminosae brown, Fluid
(19.0%), Cassia (3.5%), Ailanthus (3.0%)
(18%)
51 54 Balia (Dist. Balia) Squeezed Holoptelea (24.0%), Chenopod./Amaranth. Asteraceae, Embellica, Rutaceae, Putranjiva, Melia Golden brown,
Zea mays (17.5%), (8.0%), Poaceae- wild Ailanthus azadirachta, Evodia, Morus, Thick fluid
Cassia sp. (19.0%) (5.5%), Poaceae-cultivated Cucurbitaceae, Monocots
(3.2%), Azadirachta (3.5%),
Ageratum (4.2%), Citrus (3.2%)

three districts of western Uttar Pradesh and as
important minor pollen from one district (No. 6).
Pollen grains of Citrus were determined as secondary
pollen type in four samples (No. 58, 39, 53, and 18)
and as important minor type in three samples
(No. 36, 24, and 54) and the relevant districts are
distributed in all directions of the state. In a few
samples, considerable presence of some localized
taxa was noted and they include plants like Cassia
sp., Drypetes roxburghii, Embellica officinalis,
Lagerstroemia, Litchi etc., all of these were classified
as secondary type occurring in a single sample each.
Pollen of anemophilous taxa like Ailanthus,
Holoptelea and Rumex were also recorded in con-
siderable amount in some honey samples indicating
bee’s visit to these plants. Some taxa which were
recorded as important minor pollen type in pollen
spectra of few to several samples are Argemone,
Azadirachta, Chenopodium, Erythrina, Morus, Pisum,
Prosopis and members of Cucurbitaceae, Poly-
gonaceae, Poaceae, Rosaceae etc. Some of locally
naturalized trees like Acacia, Bombax, Moringa,
Phyllanthus, etc. along with undershrubs like
Carthamus, Occimum, Salvia, and Vernonia etc have
sporadic presence in pollen spectra of honey samples
which indicate honey bees do visit these plants but
not very frequently.
Discussion
The pollen spectra of regional honeys of
Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh depicts that the
bee forage plants of this area includes both localized
flora and cultivated plants. The observation also
reveals that in relation to native and wild plants
considerable dominance of cultivated plants and
crops is apparent. The reason behind it may be the
fact that honeys were mainly collected from villages
where agricultural fields prevailed. India is an
agriculture based country and most of its inhabitated
rural area is under cultivation. This fact is reflected
in pollen content of the honeys where the hives were
in proximity of cultivated fields. However, a number
of plants including Erigeron, Myrica and Rumex were
also found as predominant pollen when the sites of
origin of the honeys were near forest land. While the
data indicated prevalence of some entomophilous
crops like Brassica and Coriandrum which are known
bee forage plants of India, it also depicts that some
other common plants e.g. Eucalyptus which are not
accounted for apicultural purpose in India can
be considered as important bee floral resource
(Figure 2).
The present melissopalynological study identifies
Brassica as the most predominant bee crop of Upper
Gangetic area (Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh) as it
Bee flora of upper Gangetic region of India 167
had been diagnosed as predominant pollen in seven
regional honeys (Uttarakhand - 3 and Uttar Pradesh
- 4), secondary type in 14 samples (Uttarakhand - 6,
Uttar Pradesh - 8) and important minor pollen in
seven samples from Uttar Pradesh (Figure 2).
Brassica is cultivated as oil crop throughout India
as mustard oil made from its seed is the main
cooking ingredient in north Indian households. The
period of cultivation and flowering of this oil crop
ranges from autumn to onset of summer depending
upon variations of species, varieties and agriculture
practices of different eco-floristic regions of this vast
stretch of land. This long duration might be the
reason behind the position of Brassica on top of the
list. Among the 51 honey samples analyzed for
pollen component, the most frequently represented
taxa was Eucalyptus because this type was found as
prevalent to minor pollen contributor in a total of 35
samples (11 from Uttarakhand and 24 from Uttar
Pradesh) which confirms the plant as a significant
bee forage (Figure 2). Though Eucalyptus is an
introduced plant, due to integrated plantation under
social forestry programme, Eucalyptus trees had
become a component of naturalized vegetation
throughout India and the data emerging from pollen
spectra clearly indicate that the plant is preferred by
bees and therefore can be advantageously used as
natural resource of bee forage in apicultural pro-
grammes. In fact Eucalyptus is considered as a very
important melliferous plant in many countries and
Eucalyptus honey is highly regarded as an apicultural
product (Méndez et al., 2003).
The analysis also confirms that Coriandrum
sativum (Apiaceae) as an important bee crop in this
region as its pollen are found in considerable amount
in many regional honeys specially in Uttar Pradesh
(Figure 2). The herbaceous plant is cultivated
throughout the region for vegetable and spice and
is rated as a good source of both nectar and pollen
for the bees (Chaudhary, 2003). In the present
study, pollen of another oil seed crop Helianthus
annus was recorded as predominant type in one
sample from Uttarakhand (Figure 2), secondary
pollen type in six samples (three each from
Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh) and as important
minor type in three samples from Uttarakhand and
one from Uttar Pradesh. Presence of Helianthus
pollen in more samples of Uttarakhand may be
related to greater cultivation of this crop in that state
than in Uttar Pradesh. Chaudhary (2003), reported
Helianthus as a major pollen source of bees from
Haryana another state of North India. Exploitation
of this oil seed crop Helianthus annus as bee forage
would be doubly beneficial as remarkable enhance-
ment in crop yield of Helianthus had been effected
by bee pollination (Viraktamath & Patil, 2002).
168 K. Datta et al.

Figure 2. Comparative representation of main pollen types in regional honeys of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh (India).

Litchi chinensis (Sapindaceae) and Syzigium cumini considered as honey yielding plants where they
(Myrtaceae) are two common fruit trees which grow in abundance. Melissopalynological analysis
attracts bees during their flowering and may well of several samples of Litchi and Jamun honeys

collected from various places of India, conducted by
Suryanarayana et al. (1981) included one sample
from Uttar Pradesh. The present study showed two
samples from Uttarakhand having Litchi and one
sample from Uttar Pradesh containing Syzigium as
predominant pollen of regional honeys.
The present analysis confirms presence of pollens
of four temperate plants e.g. Prunus, Myrica, Erigeron
and Rumex in considerable percentage in several
honey samples from mountainous areas of
Uttarakhand. Among these types, Prunus was
recorded from honey samples belonging to
Garhwal division. Myrica and Erigeron were found
in samples of Champawat district of Kumaon
division, while pollen of Rumex was recorded from
many samples from both the divisions. In earlier
studies, Chaturvedi (1983, 1989), reported Prunus
as dominant pollen of unifloral spring honeys from
Kumaon division. The information of present survey
indicates that apiaries can also be set in Tehri region
of Garhwal near the Prunus orchards. The present
study also identifies two road side ornamentals e.g.
Callistemon sp. and Lagerstroemia sp. as potential bee
forage resources in semi urban areas as pollen of
these plants contributed a considerable pollen
contents in the honeys where these trees flowers
profusely. Recently, Bottle brush trees (Lagerstroemia
sp.) have been used in plantation programmes in
urban colonies and industrial belts as ‘green belt’
plants owing to its green foliage and profusely
blooming beauty. Now, as the apicultural potential
of this species is revealed, this plant can be planted
for its multipurpose use.
The weed Ageratum conizoides is important bee
forage based on its occurrence as prevalent, second-
ary and important minor pollen in honey samples
from various localities analysed in present study and
from other geographical places throughout the
country (Datta, 2003; Garg, 1996). The preference
towards this particular plant indicates its success in
commanding pollination service above the other taxa
flowering synchronously in that locality. Thus while
considering Ageratum as potentially good bee forage
it should be remembered that presence of this weed
in vicinities of the crop field may induce negative
impact of floral competition to the target crop and as
a result the crop may get insufficient pollination.
This highlights the importance of balancing the
needs of bee keepers against the management of
crops.
Conclusions
The scope of the present survey is location specific
analysis of honeys from two states of north India
situated in upper Gangetic area. The study throws
Bee flora of upper Gangetic region of India 169
light in the role of honey bees in agro-ecosystem and
forest ecosystem. Mapping of key bee flora of
different floristic and geographical area helps to
determine the suitability of the area to undertake
apicultural activities. The information, apart from
promoting apicultural industry, will help agricultural
production and shall provide both impetus to food
security and conservation of biodiversity.
In fact, in spite of tremendous scope in apicultural
activities owing to its enormous floristic diversity,
the bee keeping industry in India has achieved only a
fraction of its full potential. This is mainly due to
lack of information regarding the role of regional
floral resources in context of its apicultural value.
In this context it should be kept in mind that
pollination management is also important for
improving output of the target crop but that these
needs must be balanced against the resource value
of these plants in other industries such as honey
production.
Acknowledgements
Director, NBRI is acknowledged for infrastructural
facilities.
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