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Introduction to Bee Flora
Honey bees collect nectar and pollen from a variety of plants which are known as bee flora or bee forage or bee pasture or nectar and pollen plants. Nectar is source of honey, meeting the carbohydrate requirements of honey bees, where as pollen is source of protein. Bee pasture can be designated as build up, honey flow and dearth period flora depending on period of availability with respect to development of bee colonies. The flora of an area is characteristic of its agro climatic conditions and as such varies from place to place. This flora is also a food base for large number of pollinators. Out of 3,52,000 species of flowering plants in the world nearly 3,08,000 species (87.5 per cent) are pollinated by animals (including insects, birds, bats, etc.). Bees pollinate a large majority of these plants. Pollination is an ecosystem service provided by the bees that is almost always taken for granted. In simple terms bees make more fruits and seeds for us by collecting nectar and pollen then the quantity of honey they make. Hence, it is essential to understand various types of bee flora and their blooming phenology in a given area to conserve bee colonies. List of important bee flora:
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Last modified: Monday, 16 July 2012, 6:51 AM