Melliferous flora in arid regions of Algeria (case of Biksra)

Abstract

Melliferous flora diversity of the arid region Biskra located at South East Algeria is revealed in the present study. Through visual inspection, information collected from local guides of different prospected sites when we collected samples. Then a list of plant species valuable for honey bees was established. The list consisted of 122 species distributed in 102 genera and 43 families though the most represented were in decreasing order Asteraceae (22 species), Fabaceae (14 species), Apiaceae (8 species), Brassicaceae and Lamiaceae (with 7 species for each family), Boraginaceae (4 species). These families alone account for a half (51.23%) of all taxa identified.  However, Anacardiaceae, Resedaceae, Rosaceae and Solonaceae were represented by 3 species for each family, Amaranthaceae, Apocynaceae, Asphodelaceae, Cistaceae, Cleomaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Cuperaceae, Lythiraceae, Nitraceae, Oleaceae, Plombaginaceae, Rutaceae, Tamaricaceae and Zygophylaceae were represented by 2 species for each family. The rest of the families were represented by one species. A flowering calendar as well as apicultural value of the most common melliferous plants is given.  Melliferous flora included 37.70% nectariferous and polliniferous at the same time species, 31.15 % polliniferous species, 27.86% nectariferous species, 1,64% were sources of propolis and 0.82% were sources of resin.