Sahyadri Conservation Series: 19 ENVIS Technical Report: 49,  August 2012
http://www.iisc.ac.in/
Beekeeping: Sustainable Livelihood Option in Uttara Kannada, Central Western Ghats
 http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ac.in/energy/
Ramachandra T.V.                Subash Chandran M.D.                Joshi N.V.                Balachandran C.
Energy and Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore – 560012, India.
*Corresponding author: cestvr@ces.iisc.ac.in
Chapter 8: Honeybee Forage Plants and Planting Recommendations

Family: Acanthaceae
Adhatoda vasica (Vasaka)
A shrubby medicinal plant. Flowers good sources of nectar for honey bees.

Figure: Adhatoda zeylanica

Family: Acanthaceae

Strobilanthes heyneanus: Shrubby plant closer to perennial streams in evergreen forests. This nectar producer is not common and habitat protection is important. Flowers once in four years.
Figure: Strobilanthes heyneanus
Strobilanthes ixiocephalus: Shrubby plant with white flowers. Forest undergrowth in coastal and malnadu taluks.

Family: Acanthaceae

Stroblathes callosus (Carvia callosa) (vern: Karvi): A shrubby species of forest undergrowth. The species is gregarious and lives for about eight years; vegetative phase only lasts for about seven years and happens a mass flowering phase  followed by the death of the entire population. The flowers are rich in pollen and nectar and are important forage plants for honey bees.

Family: Alangiaceae

Alangium salvifolium (Ankolaemara): A thorny evergreen tree; often in moist secondary forests. Medium source of nectar and pollen.

Family: Amaranthaceae

Achyranthes aspera (Utrani; Apamarga): Medicinal herb; medium producer of nectar.  Recommended promotion of its seasonal natural growth in beekeepers’ gardens.

Family: Acanthaceae

Barleria cristata
Shrubby ornamental grown for colorful flowers. Medium source of nectar; also good for pollen.

Family: Anacardiaceae
Anacardium occidentale (Cashew): A major source of honey and minor source of pollen. It can be raised throughout the district as part of agro-forestry systems and household gardens. Hard laterite is to be avoided.
Lannaea coromandelica (Gojjalu): Medium sized deciduous tree. Medium producer of nectar; also pollen plant.

Family: Anacardiaceae

Holigarna spp.: Most bee-keepers from forested villages informed that two species of Holigarna (vern: Holegeru) namely H. arnottiana and H. graham are major nectar sources for bees. Both these species are wild trees associated with semi-evergreen and evergreen forests. The former ones are common along perennial water courses of villages.

Figure: Holigarna arnottiana

Family: Anacardiaceae

Mangrifera indica (Mango): The tree is anmedium producer of honey and minor source of pollen for bees. Wild varieties of mangoes like ‘Appemidi’ pickling varieties recommended for forests.

Spondias pinnata (Amtekaimara): A medium size tree; good source of nectar for bees. Recommended for cultivation in household gardens of bee keepers

Family: Apocynaceae

Alstonia scholaris (Haalemara):Considered a notable plant for nectar production

Family: Araliaceae

Schefflera venulosa: A woody climber with prolific seasonal flowering and high nectar production. The species need to be spared from indiscriminate climber cutting that has been practiced in traditional forestry.

Family: Arecaceae

Areca catechu (Arecanut, Adeke): An important pollen plant; also nectar source.
Cocos nucifera (Coconut; Tengu): An important pollen plant

Phoenix sylvestris (Wild date): An important pollen plant and nectar source. Good for dry open plains and fallows of maidan taluks.

Family: Asteraceae

Cosmos bipinnatus: An ornamental annual. A medium producer of nectar. Plant can be grown easily in household gardens.

Helianthus annus (Sunflower): An important bee forage plant, especially in its cultivation areas mainly for oil. Recommended for Mundgod and Haliyal. Figure: Helianthus annus

Family: Bignoniaceae

Stereospermum spp (Patali): Large tree of semievergreen and moist deciduous forests. One of the earliest to appear in tree fall gaps of Western Ghats. Medium producer of nectar.

Family: Balsaminae

Impatiens spp. (Balsam; Gourigida): Herb grown for ornamental flowers. Medium source of nectar is present. Recommended for household gardens

Family: Bombacaceae

Bombax ceiba (Silk cotton; Simul): Major source of honey and pollen

Family: Barringtoniaceae

Barringtonia racemosa (Samudraphal): Tree of slightly brackish water and fresh water swampy areas. Medium producer of nectar. Recommended for estuarine hinterlands.

Family: Bombacaceae

Ceiba pentandra (White silk cotton): large, deciduous cultivated tree. Major source of nectar and pollen. Recommeded for cultivation in bee-keepers’ premises and village common lands.

Family: Boraginaceae
Cordia dichotoma: Deciduous tree; major source of nectar.
Family: Combretaceae

Anogeissus latifolius: Medium to small deciduous trees of drier areas. Major source of nectar. Dry deciduous forests of Haliyal, Mundgod and Yellapur.

Family: Burseraceae

Canarium strictum (Black dammar; Karidhupadamara): Evergreen tree; medium source of nectar.

Terminalia spp.: Major sources of honey. The trees grow naturally throughout the drier forests of the district. Terminalia bellirica(Tare) is ideal for roadsides and parks.
Species recommended: T. bellerica, T. paniculata, T. tomentosa.
T. arjuna (Holematthi; Arjuna) associated with river banks

Figure: T. bellerica

Family: Cucurbitaceae
Cucumis sativus (Cucumber; Savuthekai) is a cultivated vine; major source of nectar. Cultivation recommended in bee keeping areas, without use of pesticides..
Momordica charantia (Bittergourd; Haagalakai): Good source of nectar. Recommended for cultivation without use of pesticides

Figure: Momordica charantia

Family: Dipterocarpaceae

Vateria indica (Bili-dhupa): Large evergreen tree; moderate producer of nectar and pollen.

Family: Ebenaceae
Diospyros candolleana: Small tree of evergreen-semievergreen forests. Flowers rich source of honey

Diospyros montana: Tree of dry deciduous forests. Flowers rich source of honey. Diospyros spp.: These are usually evergreen forest trees; considered moderate sources of nectar.

Family: Elaeocarpaceae

Elaeocarpus spp.: Evergreen trees in evergreen forests (E. tuberculatus) and secondary forests in high rainfall areas of malnadu and coast (E. serratus). Moderate producers of nectar and pollen.

Family: Elaeagnaceae

Elaegnus latifolia: Shrubby climber in the forests. Flowers medium sources of nectar production. Identification and protection of the forests, having natural population necessary; especially in semi-evergreen and evergreen forest areas.

Family: Euphorbiaceae
Bridelia retusa: Medium sized deciduous trees; medium source of nectar.
Emblica officinalis (Gooseberry; Nellikai): Moderate source of nectar and pollen

Figure: Emblica officinalis

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Excoecaria agallocha: Small statured mangrove trees. Major source of nectar. Recommended for estuarine banks.

Family: Fabaceae
Acacia catechu (Khair tree): Small tree of drier areas; good source of nectar.

Acacia nilotica (Jalimara; Babul): A medium tree in drier areas; major source of nectar. Good for black soils of maidan areas

Family: Fabaceae
Albizzia procera (Bilibage): Large tree; major source of nectar. Recommended for drier forests of Haliyal and Mundgod and for degraded betta lands

Albizzia lebbek (Siris; Bagemara): Large tree; major source of nectar. Recommended for drier forests of Haliyal and Mundgod and for degraded betta lands.

Family: Fabaceae

Bauhinia spp. (Mandara): Trees of deciduous forests; some species like B. purpurea are cultivated for flowers. Medium sources of honey. Recommended for all deciduous forests.

Family: Fabaceae
Butea monosperma (Palasa): Medium sized deciduous trees of medicinal and cultural importance. Medium source of nectar. Recommended for Haliyal and Mundgod and eastern parts of malnadu taluks.

Cajanus indicus (Red gram; togare): Shrubby annual; Major source of nectar and pollen. Cultivation recommended as a crop in bee keeping areas.

Family: Fabaceae

Cassia fistula: Small tree with pendulous bunch of golden yellow flowers. Moderate source of nectar and pollen for bees.


Family: Fabaceae
Dalbergia spp. Various species of Dalbergia are good sources of nectar. Of these D. latifolia is found in deciduous forests and D. sympathetica, a gigantic liana in the coastal lateritic forests.

Dolichos lablab (Avare): Annual climber with prolific flowering. Major source of nectar and pollen. Cultivation of this important vegetable crop recommended throughout the bee-keeping areas.

Family: Fabaceae

Pterocarpus marsupium (Honnemara): Large, deciduous timber trees of medicinal and fodder value. Medium producer of nectar.

Family: Fabaceae

Erythrina stricta: A small, prickly, deciduous, soft wooded tree. Good for seashores and coastal zones. A major producer of nectar.


Family: Fabaceae

Tamarindus indica (Tamarind): Cultivated large tree. Major source of nectar. Ideal for roadsides, and agro-ecosystems of maidan and eastern malnadu areas.


Family: Fabaceae

Pongamia pinnata (Hongemara): A large, evergreen tree; major source of nectar and pollen to some extent. The tree recommended for large scale planting as a biofuel plant. Beekeeping recommended in such areas.


Family: Flacourtiaceae

Flacourtia Montana: Small sized evergreen fruit trees of the wild. Medium producer of both nectar and pollen.


Family: Lamiaceae

Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi): The cultivation of this sacred plant recommended throughout in the household gardens for various medicinal uses as well as important source of nectar.

Family: Lecithydaceae

Careya arborea (Kavalmara): Moderate sized deciduous trees, known for nectar production

Family: Lauraceae

Alseodaphne semicarpifolia (Mashe): A medium sized, aromatic, evergreen tree. A major producer of nectar and pollen.


Family: Loganiaceae

Strychnos nux-vomica (Kasarka): Large deciduous trees of high medicinal value. Nectar production medium.


Family: Lythraceae
Lagerstroemia microcarpa (Nandi): Large, deciduous tree; major source of nectar.

Woodfordia fruticosa: Shrubby plant; major source of nectar. Good for scrub forests throughout the district

Family: Liliaceae

Allium cepa (Onion): An important source of nectar. Bee keeping recommended for onion cultivation areas of the district, especially in the coast of Kumta, in combination with other forage plants.

Family: Meliaceae

Azadirachta indica (Neem; Bevu): A major source of nectar and pollen. Good for planting in agro-forestry systems. Ideal for planting in eastern parts of Sirsi, Siddapur and Yellapur taluk and throughout in Mundgod and Haliyal taluks.

Family: Moringaceae

Moringa oleifera (Drumstick tree): Flowers produce good amount of nectar and pollen. As flowering is present for several months it can be considered good bee forage plant, especially for nectar. Cultivation of the tree recommended throughout the district especially in home gardens.

Family: Musaceae

Musa paradisiaca (Banana): Good producers of nectar. Bee keeping recommended for all banana growing areas.

Family: Myrtaceae

Psidium guajava (Guava; Perila): A small fruit tree. Medium producer of nectar. Recommended for household gardens throughout the district.

Syzygium cumini (Jamun  tree; Neerilu): Medium to large tree.  One of the very good producers of nectar and pollen. It is amber to dark amber in colour with good taste. Honey is amber to dark amber in color, astringent taste and hard aroma make it unique. It's believed to have benefits for diabetics.


Syzygium caryophyllatum: Small spreading evergreen trees. Medium producer of nectar. Found in coastal forests, especially in lateritic areas. Bee keeping need to be promoted in such forest areas.


Family: Pedaliaceae

Sesamum indicum (Gingelly, Ellu): An annual herb grown for oil seed. A major source of nectar and pollen. Recommended as a crop for growing in Mundgod and Haliyal taluks and in eastern parts of malnadu areas.

Family: Rhamnaceae
Zizyphus Mauritiana (Z. jujuba): Considered an important bee forage plant.
Rhizophoraceae

Carallia brachiata (Andamurugila): Large evergreen trees, considered good producers of nectar.

Family: Polygonaceae
Antigonon leptopus

An ornamental vine with prolific flowering. A medium producer of nectar. Good for growing in household gardens of beekeepers.


Family: Rubiaceae

Adina cordifolia (Kalam; Heddi):  Large tree; medium source of nectar.


Family: Rubiaceae

Anthocephalaus kadamba (Kadamba): Large, spreading tree; major producer of nectar. Suitable for avenues, gardens, parks and roadsides and premises of educational institutions and offices.


Family: Rutaceae
Aegle marmelos (Bael): A medium sized tree with moderate nectar nectar production

Citrus spp. (Lemon and related plants): These cultivated shrubby plants are good producers of nectar. Ideal for large scale cultivation in drier taluks.

Family: Rutaceae
Glycosmis pentaphylla: A shrubby aromatic plant is known to attract honey bees.

Murraya koenigi (Curry leaf): Shrub or small tree. A major source of nectar.

Family: Sapindaceae
Sapindus laurifolius (Soapnut tree; Atlekaimara): A very important nectar plant for bee forage. Soapnut honey is highly priced.
Schleischera oleosa: Medium sized trees of deciduous forests. Major producer of nectar and pollen.

Figure: Sapindus laurifolius


Family: Sapotaceae
Madhuca indica (Mahua tree): Large tree, good producer of nectar

Mimusops elengi (Ranjalu; Bakula): Large tree; a good bee resource plant


Family: Verbenaceae
Avicennia spp:  Mangrove trees growing gregariously in the estuaries and creeks. Good producer of special quality honey because of growing in salinity medium. Hardly any work is done to propagate this species in suitable habitats. Bee keeping needs to be promoted in mangrove areas.

Figure: Avicennia marina


Family: Verbenaceae
Vitex negundo: A common shrub; major producer of nectar. Good for growing along seashores and hedges everywhere

Premna coriacea: A wild scrambling shrub of coastal forests  and close to sea beaches. Major source of nectar. Awareness creation necessary for preserving such species.

 

Sn Species Coastal habitats Inner coastal Malnadu Maidan areas Roadsides Other areas
1 Adhatoda vasica Suitable throughout the district for hedges    
2 Barleria cristata Suitable as hedges throughout the district    
3 Strobilanthes callosus   Forest undergrowth Forest undergrowth; deciduous and semi-evergreen forests  Undergrowth, deciduous forests.    
4 Strobilanthes heyneanus   Forest undergrowth Forest undergrowth; deciduous and semi-evergreen forests  Undergrowth, deciduous forests.    
5 Strobilanthes ixiocephalus   Forest undergrowth Forest undergrowth; deciduous and semi-evergreen forests  Undergrowth, deciduous forests.    
6 Alangium salvifolium   Moist deciduous forests Moist deciduous forests      
7 Achyranthes aspera Weedy undergrowth in gardens and waste places    
8 Anacardium occidentale Tree suitable for cultivation throughout the district; good for sandy coastal terrain
9 Holigarna spp            
10 Lannaea coromandelica Lateritic areas; sea shores; estuarine banks Deciduous to scrub Moist deciduous and bettas Dry deciduous forests    
11 Mangrifera indica Lateritic areas Forests, scrub Semievergreen forests, bettas Deciduous forests; fire prone areas to be avoided Ideal Village landscapes, as avenue trees
12 Spondias pinnata            
13 Alstonia scholaris Lateritic areas Forests, scrub Semievergreen forests, bettas Deciduous forests. Ideal Village landscapes, as avenue trees
14 Schefflera venulosa   Secondary evergreen forests Semievergreen forests, bettas      
15 Areca catechu Plantation crop      
16 Cocos nucifera Plantation crop      
17 Phoenix sylvestris       Dry open areas    
18 Cosmos bipinnatus Ornamental herb for household gardens    
19 Helianthus annus As ornamental herb As oilseed crop    
20 Impatiens spp. Ornamental herb and seasonal growth in wet places    
21 Barringtonia racemosa   Inner coastal creeks        
22 Stereospermum spp   Forests Semievergreen and moist deciduous forests, bettas Deciduous forests; Reco-mmeded  
23 Bombax ceiba   Scrub and secondary deciduous forests Bettas and savannas Throughout forests Ideal for village roads  
24 Ceiba pentandra Suitable or cultivation throughout the district    
25 Cordia dichotoma     Bettas and savannas towards east Throughout forests Ideal for roadsides in low rainfall areas  
26 Canarium strictum   Evergreen forests Semievergreen, evergreen forests   for malnadu areas, in moderate shade Village landscapes, as avenue trees
27 Anogeissus latifolius       Deciduous forests    
28 Terminalia spp.   Secondary forests; T. arjuna for river banks    
29 Cucumis sativus Cultivated vegetable    
30 Momordica charantia Cultivated vegetable    
31 Vateria indica   Semievergreen forests- for introduction near villages For introduction in degraded, but fireproof,  forests   Good for coast and Malnadu Avenue tree in parks and institutional premises
32 Diospyros candolleana   Semievergreen forests Evergreen, semievergreen forests      
33 Diospyros montana     Suitable for open dry betta forests Forest tree; suitable for dry deciduous forests    
34 Elaeocarpus spp   Evergreen/semi-evergreen forests    
35 Elaegnus latifolia            
36 Bridelia retusa   Deciduous forests Deciduous forests, bettas Deciduous forests Recommended in beekeeping areas  
37 Emblica officinalis     Suitable for open dry betta forests; household gardens in moderate rainfall Forest tree; suitable for dry deciduous forests For drier zones Household gardens, school compounds
38 Excoecaria agallocha Mangrove areas          
39 Acacia catechu Laterite hills Laterite hills   Open dry forests    
40 Acacia nilotica       Open dry places    
41 Albizzia lebbek     Bettas Deciduous forests    
42 Albizzia procera     Bettas Deciduous forests    
43 Bauhinia spp.       Deciduous forests    
44 Butea monosperma       Deciduous forests Yes Field bunds
45 Cajanus indicus     Cultivation recommeded    
46 Cassia fistula   Laterite hills, secondary forests; scrub Suitable for open dry betta forests and semi-evergreen forests Deciduous forests Ideal Household gardens, parks
47 Dalbergia spp.       Deciduous forests    
48 Dolichos lablab Recommended for cultivation as a vegetable crop    
49 Erythrina stricta Sandy areas   Bettas Village landscapes    
50 Tamarindus indica     Cultivation recommended Maidan areas  
51 Pongamia pinnata As mangrove associate; sea shores In ravines and gullies, river and stream banks Betta forests, stream banks For plains and dry stream beds, ravines and gullies Throughout the district Farmlands, school compounds
52 Pterocarpus marsupium Lateritic areas Forests, scrub; lateritic areas Deciduous forests, bettas Deciduous forests Ideal, throughout the district. Village landscapes, as avenue trees
53 Flacourtia Montana   Semievergreen forests Semievergreen forests Moist deciduous forests Recommended  
54 Ocimum sanctum Garden plant; cultivation in more numbers recommended    
55 Alseodaphne semicarpifolia Semievergreen forests Evergreen, semievergreen forests; bettas   For coastal and malnadu  
56 Careya arborea Laterite hills Semi-evergreen and secondary forests Bettalands, deciduous forests Deciduous forests    
57 Allium cepa            
58 Strychnos nux-vomica Laterite hills Deciduous forests; laterite hills; scrub Betta, and moist deciduous forests All forests    
59 Lagerstroemia microcarpa   Deciduous and semi-evergreen forests Betta, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests All forests    
60 Woodfordia fruticosa   Edges of forests; in scrub      
61 Azadirachta indica   Well drained open areas Drier eastern eastern parts, as part of agroforestry systems Throughout, in non forest areas Eastern malnadu and Haliyal-Mundgod  
62 Moringa oleifera Cultivation as a vegetable plant recommended    
63 Musa paradisiaca Widely cultivated    
64 Psidium guajava Cultivated fruit tree    
65 Syzygium cumini Laterite hills Semi-evergreen and secondary forests Bettalands, deciduous forests Deciduous forests under fire protection Ideal Open places throughout the district
66 Syzygium caryophyllatum In forests and scrub throughout      
67 Sesamum indicum Oilseed plant; suitable for cultivation in drier parts of malnadu and maidan    
68 Antigonon leptopus Cultivation as ornamental recommended    
69 Zizyphus mauritiana (Z. jujuba) Laterite hills Secondary deciduous forests Bettalands, deciduous forests Dry deciduous forests Wild Open places throughout the district
70 Carallia brachiata Laterite hills, in shade Semi-evergreen forests Bettalands, semievergreen forests   Ideal Good as avenue tree
71 Adina cordifolia   Secondary forests Moist deciduous forests; bettalnds Forest tree; suitable for dry deciduous forests    
72 Anthocephalaus kadamba   For gardens and roadsides Yes  
73 Aegle marmelos   Well drained open areas Drier eastern eastern parts, as part of agroforestry systems Throughout, in forest and non-forest areas on well drained soils Eastern malnadu and Haliyal-Mundgod Premises of temples, offices, institutions, houses.
74 Citrus spp.   Cultivation recommended    
75 Glycosmis pentaphylla   Suitable for open grasslands and forest clearances    
76 Murraya koenigi            
77 Sapindus laurifolius   Secondary deciduous forests Semievergreen forests, bettas Deciduous forests. Ideal Village landscapes, as avenue trees
78 Schleischera oleosa   Secondary deciduous forests Drier eastern eastern parts Throughout, in forest areas and fringes of villages Eastern malnadu and Haliyal-Mundgod  
79 Madhuca indica     Moist deciduous forests; bettalnds Moist and dry deciduous forests For drier areas  
80 Mimusops elengi   Fire protected vegetation; shaded lateritic areas Semi-evergreen/evergreen forests; bettas   Good for malnadu and coast Sacred groves
81 Avicennia spp:  Mangrove areas          
82 Vitex negundo: As  hedge plant    
83 Premna coriacea Coastal, sandy areas          

 

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