Inventaire et identification des plantes mellifères de la zone soudano-guinéene d'altitude de l'ouest Cameroun

Abstract

Inventory and Identification of Melliferous Plants of the Soudano-guinean Western Highlands of Cameroon. Between November 2000 and 2001, an inventory of major important major melliferous plants of the soudano-guinean Western highlands of Cameroon (Latitude North 5° 21.45' - 5° 35.44' and Longitude East 10° 04.72' - 10° 26.24') was carried out. A total of 78 melliferous plants belonging to 33 families were identified. In terms of the number of plants, the mostrepresented species were Asteraceae (12.9%); Solanaceae (8.6%); Euphorbiaceae (7.6%); Myrtaceae and Malvaceae (6.4%) respectively in decreasing order. When domestication was considered, cultivated species had the highest proportion (64%) of the total melliferous plants identified. Perennial cultivated species were nearly two third (63.5%) more numerous than annual cultivated species (36.5%). Melliferous species flowering in the rainy season (March- November) were more represented (69.2 %) compared to those flowering in the dry season (16.7%) and throughout the year (14.1%). Melliferous plant flowers showed a great diversity of colours with, however, a predominance of white colour (36%). Plants producing pollen were more numerous (41%) as compared to production of nectar (23%) and of both nectar/ pollen (16%).

Keywords

• Melliferous plants
• Inventory
• Pollen
• Cameroon