Bee Flora of WestBengal

BEE FORAGE AND DISTRICT WISE FLORAL CALENDER OF WEST BENGAL

Introduction West Bengal as the name implies, is the western part of a larger regional entity named Bengal. Lying entirely in the northern hemisphere, the state lies between 21 ◦ 38’ N and 27◦ 10’

N latitudes and 85◦ 50’ E and 89◦ 50’ E longitudes. West Bengal covers an area of 87,616 square kilometers. It is bounded along the northern frontiers by the great Himalayas, stretches southwards beyond the tropic of cancer, broad down to the Bay of Bengal in the east. The West Bengal is pre-eminently a land of rivers. The Ganges river basin constitutes about 50 per cent of the state. Brahmaputra has the greatest volume of water of all the rivers. Mahanandi is an important river in Malda. West Bengal has 3 main land regions:

1. The Himalayas in the north zone: The mountain area in the north, though small, is a part of the world’s loftiest mountains, the Himalayas, which rise to eternal snows in north or Darjeeling, dominated by Kanchanjanga and her five satellite peaks. The lofty range of Singalila rising along the Nepal Boarder to the west of the town is covered by Rhododendron forests, which provides good forage for honey bees during April and May

2. The Plateau Fringe: This is a rolling upland, with small isolated standing here and there contains green forests of Sal, Mahua, Palash etc. provide good forage for honeybees during spring.

3. The plains: The vast alluvial plains of the state spread from Jalpaiguri and Siliguri in the north to the Sunderban creeks and the Kanthi littoral in the south. The plains are Mahananda Corridor and Malda plains in the north; South western plains in Ganga banks; South western plains; Sunderbans and kanthi coastal strip.

Seasons and Climate The climate of West Bengal is generally tropical, hot and humid, monsoon type, except the northern mountains , where the altitutde high. There are four well-defined seasons in West Bengal: the winter (December to February), the summer (March-May) advance of monsoon (June to August)Retreat of the monsoon (September to November).

Natural Vegetation The natural Vegetation is almost disappeared from West Bengal. Yet forests of three distinct areas exist in the state. These are (i) the forests of the north, which include the mountain temperate forests and the tropical forests of the Duras, (ii) the deciduous forests of the plateau fringe and (iii) the mangrove forests of Sunderbans. The Sunderbans is a special type with predominant estuarial vegetation that is mainly of an evergreen type., Rhizophora conjugata, Soneratia apetala, Avicennia officinalis, Excoecaria agallocha, Sapium indicum, Casuarina equisetifolia, Nipa fruticans and Phoenix paludosa are dominant plants that provide bee 2

forage. Sunderbans is thickly populated by the wild honey bee species, Apis dorsata, due to these sources and to good protection that is provided by thorny mangroves present in the swamps below.

Cultivated Vegetation The intensity of agricultural cropping in the state is just the same as the average for India it is 16%. 70% percent of the total cultivated area occupies by paddy. Jute is the next important crop. Pulses including gram and peas cover hardly one-tenth of the cultivated land. Oil sedds occupies only trwo percent. Fruits of many types grown, in apples in Darjeeling, peach and pear in Kalimpong, Coconuts in 24, paraganas, Howrahand Midinapore; banana plantation in Singur and Chandernagore; Malda and Murshidabadare important producers of Mangoes; Litchi cultivated in 24, paraganos. Cultivation in Gangetic plains consists mainly of mustards, khesari, coriander, maize, orchards like coconuts, litchi, citrus, areca nut and rose-apple, provides good bee forage. plantations like Eucalyptus and Pongamia contribute to good honey production in this area. In addition, wild shrubs, herbs and vegetable crops (for seed production) provide forage that helps the development of beekeeping in the area.

Floral calendar Efficiency of the bee-keeping Industry in any country primarily depends on proper utilization of the flora and its improvement so as to augment the component species providing beeforage. This necessarily requires critical studies of the flora with emphasis on relative evaluation of the individual plant species as nectar or pollen sources. The breeding season of honeybees and honey flow season synchronizes with abundance of food sources in the form of nectar and pollen from profusion of flowering in the locality The field observations on the vegetation are important fore formulation of floral calendar to standardize management patterns of bee colonies. Of these observations most important are 1. Flowering time and duration of bee forage plants. 2. Relative importance and abundance of pollen and nectar 3. Relative densities or area coverage.

Bee flora of West Bengal Botanical name

Local name

Trade name

3

Flowering period

Pollen

Nectar

Acanthaceae Adhatoda vasica Nees

Basak

Hygrophila serpyllum (Nees) T. Anders

Kule Khara

Vasaka

May - Jan

---

Minor

Jul - Sep

---

Minor

Amaranthaceae Amaranthus spinosus Linn.

Kanta Notey

Prickly amaranthus

Jan - Feb

Minor

--

Spondias pinnata Kurtz.

Deshi Amrah

Hog-plum

Feb - Mar

---

Minor

Anacardium occidentale Linn.

Hijli Badam / Kaju

Cashew nut

Apl – May

Minor

Medium

Mangifera indica Linn.

Aam

Mango

Feb - Mar

Medium

Medium

Coriandrum sativam Linn.

Dhoney

Coriander

Jun - Feb

Major

Major

Daucas carota Linn

Gajar

Carrot

Mar - Apr

Minor

--

Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

Mouri

Fennel

Nov - Mar

Minor

Chhatim

Dita Bark

Oct - Dec

Minor

Areca catechu Linn.

Supari

Betel nut

Mar - Apr

Minor

--

Borassus flabellifer Linn.

Taal

Palmyra

Feb - Mar

Minor

--

Cocos nucifera Linn.

Narikel

Coconut

Jan - Dec

Major

Minor

Phoenix paludosa Roxb.

Hintal

---

Dec - Jan

Major

--

Phoenix sylvestris Roxb.

Khejur

Wild dates

Feb - Mar

Major

--

Ageratum conyzoids Linn.

Uchunti

Goat weed

May - Oct

Minor

Minor

Carthamus tinctorius Linn..

Kusum Phool

Safflower

Apr - May

Minor

Minor

Helianthus annuus Linn.

Surajmukhi

Sunflower

Jan – Feb

Major

Major

Botanical name

Local name

Trade name

Flowering period

Pollen

Nectar

Mikania scandens Hook.

Taralata

---

Dec- Jan

Anacardiaceae

Apiaceae

Apocyanaceae Alstonia scholaris R.Br. Arecaceae

Asteraceae

4

Medium

Parthenium hysterophorus Linn.

Congress grass

Tagetes erecta Linn.

Ganda

Tridax procumbens Linn.

Tridaksha

Vernonia cineria Less

Kukshim

Congress grass

Mar - Dec

Minor

--

Marigold

Almost

Minor

Minor

Apr – Aug

Minor

----

Purple fleabane

Nov – Dec

Minor

Medium

--

Apr-May, Oct-Dec

Minor

Major

Barringtoniaceae Barringtonia acutrangula Gaertn.

Hijal

Bombacaceae Ceiba pentadra Linn.

Swet Simul

Silk cotton

Dec – Jan

Major

Medium

Bombax ceiba Linn.

Shimool

Red Silk cotton

Dec – Jan

Medium

Minor

Brassica juncea Linn.

Rai Sarisha

Mustard

Dec – Feb

Major

Major

Brassica napus Linn.

Sarisha

Rape seed

Nov – Jan

Major

Major

Raphanus sativus Linn

Mula, Mulo

Radish

Feb – Mar

Minor

Minor

Mar-Apr

Minor

Minor

Brassicaceae

Caesalpiniaceae Bauhinia variegata Linn.

Raktakanchan

Kanchan

Cassia fistula Linn.

Bandar lathi Sonajuri

Indian Laburnum

May – Jun

Minor

Minor

Cassia tora Linn.

Kalkasunda

--

Sep – Oct

Minor

--

Delonix regia Rafin.

Krishanachura

Gul Mohar Flame tree

Apr – Jan

Medium

Minor

Tamarindus indica Linn.

Tentul

Tamarind

May – Jun

Minor

Major

Holdey hurhure

Cleome

May – Aug

Minor

--

Quisqualis indica Linn

Brahmalata

Rangoon creeper

May – Aug

Minor

Minor

Botanical name

Local name

Trade name

Flowering period

Pollen

Nectar

Terminalia arjuna Wt. &Arn.

Arjun

Arjun

May – Jun

Medium

Medium

Cleomaceae Cleome 5iscose Linn. Combretaceae

5

Terminalia bellerica Roxb.

Bhairah

Belleric myrobalan

Mar-Apr

Minor

Medium

Terminalia cattappa Linn.

Deshi Badam

Indian almond

Apr – May

Minor

Minor

Terminelia chebula Retiz.

Haritaki

Chebula

Feb-Mar

Minor

Minor

Commelina

Jul – Oct

Minor

Major

___

Cyanotis

Jan – Sep

Minor

--

Citrullus lanatus Linn.

Tarbuj

Water melon

Feb – May

Medium

Medium

Cucumis melo Linn.

Karbuz

Musk melon

Apr – Jun

Minor

Minor

Cucumis sativus Linn.

Sasha

Kakadi

Feb – Sep

Medium

Minor

Cucurbita maxima Duchesne

Mitha kumrah

Pumkin

Feb – Sep

Medium

Minor

Luffa acutangula Roxb.

Jhinga

Ribbed guard

Apr-Aug

Minor

Minor

Luffa cylendrica MJRoem.

Dhundul

Cylendrical guard

May-Jul

Minor

Minor

Momordica charantia Linn.

Karola

Bitter Guard

Mar – Oct

Minor

Minor

Sechium edulis Sw.

Squash

Chow-chow

Mar – May

Medium

Minor

Trichosanthes dioca Roxb.

Patol

Pointed gourd

Feb – Oct

Minor

----

Mutha

Nut grass

Nov – Feb

Minor

---

Chalta

Dillenia

Jun – Jul

Major

Minor

---

Dec-Jan

Minor

Medium

Commelinaceae Commelina benghalensis Linn. Cyanotis sp.

Kansira

Cucurbitaceae

Cyperaceae Cyperus rotundus Linn. Dilleniaceae Dillenia indica Linn. Elaeocarpaceae Elaeocarpus lanceolatus Roxb.

Bhatrachhe

Elaeocarpus sikkimensis

Bhatrachhe

---

Dec-Jan

Minor

Medium

Botanical name

Local name

Trade name

Flowering period

Pollen

Nectar

6

Ericaceae Rhododendron sp.

Guraas

Rhododendron

Apr-May

Medium

Medium

Euphorbiaceae Croton bonplandianum Bail.

Jatalanka

---

Jun – Sep

Minor

--

Emblica officinale Gaertn.

Aamloki

Amla

Apr – May

Minor

Medium

Euphorbia hirta Linn.

Barokherui

Dhudi

Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd.

Poinsettia / Lal Pala

Macaranga pustulata King.

Mallata

Ostodes paniculata Bl.

Minor Nov – Dec

Minor

Minor

----

Jul-Aug

Minor

Minor

Beparee

---

Mar – Apr

Minor

Medium

Butea monosperma Taub

Phalas

Flame of the forest

Feb-Mar

Major

---

Cajanas cajan Millsp.

Arahar

Pigeon pea

Jan – Mar

Medium

Medium

Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.

Sisu

Rose wood

Feb – Mar

Minor

Minor

Dolichos lablab Savi.

Shim

Beans

Nov – Mar

Minor

Minor

Erythrina indica Lamk.

Palita

Coral tree

Mar – Apr

Minor

Minor

Lathyrus sativus Linn,

Khesari

Grass pea

Jan-Feb

Minor

Medium

Phaseolus aureus Roxb.

Sonamung

Green gram

Feb – May

Minor

Minor

Phaseolus mungo Linn.

Maskalai

Black gram

Feb – Mar

Minor

Minor

Pisum sativum Linn.

Mator

Peas

Jan – Mar

Minor

Minor

Pongamia pinnata Pierre

Karanja

Indian Beech tree

Feb – Mar

Minor

Minor

Sesbania grandiflora Linn.

Dhanche

Agathi

Jul – Aug

Medium

Minor

Trigonella corniculata Linn

Piring Banmethi

Kasuri-Methi

Mar – Apr

Minor

Minor

Castanopsis indica A. DC.

Catus

Indian Chestnut

May-Jun

Minor

Minor

Botanical name

Local name

Trade name

Flowering period

Pollen

Nectar

Fabaceae

Fagaceae

7

Lamiaceae Leonurus ibiricus Linn.

Rakta dron

Mother wort

Oct-Jan

Minor

Minor

Leucas aspera Spreng

Sheta dron

Gumma

Aug-Oct

Minor

Minor

Leucas linifolia Spreng

Halkasa

Gumma

Mar- Apr

Minor

--

Moschosma monosperma

Baldingra

--

Apr – May Oct – Nov

----

Minor

Ocimum basilicum Linn.

Babu Tulsi

Sweet basil

July – Oct

Minor

Minor

Ocimum gratissimum Linn.

Ram Tulsi

Shrubby basil

Aug – Oct

Minor

Minor

Ocimum sanctum Linn.

Kalo Tulsi

Holy basil

Jul – Oct

Minor

Minor

Lindera neesiana Benth.

Siltimur

--

Nov-Jan

Minor

Medium

Litsea Sp.

Sitambur

--

Mar-May, Nov-Jan

Minor

Medium

Machilus edulis King.

Lapche kawala

--

Nov –Dec

Minor

Medium

Allium cepa Linn.

Pianj

Onion

Feb – Mar

Minor

Minor

Allium sativum Linn.

Rasum

Garlic

Dec – Mar

Minor

Minor

Tisi

Linsedds

Jan-Feb

Minor

Minor

Pargaccha

Apr-May

Minor

---

Lagerstroemia speciosa Pers

Jarul

Apr-May

Minor

Minor

Punica granatum Linn.

Dalim

Mar – Apr

Minor

--

Lauraceae

Liliaceae

Linaceae Linum usitatisimum Lin. Loranthaceae Loranthus longiflorus Desr. Lythaceae

Pomogranate

Malvaceae Sida cordifolia Linn.

Berela

Country Mallow

May-Aug

Minor

--

Botanical name

Local name

Trade name

Flowering period

Pollen

Nectar

8

Sida rhombifolia Linn.

Lal berela

---

May-Aug

Minor

--

Azadiracta indica A. Juss

Neem

Neem

Apr – May

Minor

Minor

Swetenia mahagoni Jacq.

Mehagoni

Mahagoni

April – May

Minor

Minor

Chiuri

---

Nov-Jan

Medium

Minor

Acacia nilotica (L.) Delile

Babul

Acacia

Apr – Jul

Medium

Minor

Acacia auriculaeiformis A. Cunn.

Aakashmoni

Akasi

Dec – Jan

Medium

Minor

Albizia lebbeck Benth.

Sirish

Siris tree

May – Jun

Minor

Medium

Leucaena Lucocephola Dc wit

Subabool

Mar April

Minor

--

Meliaceae

Melisomaceae Melisoma simplicifolia wall. Mimosaceae

Moringaceae Moringa oleifera Lamk.

Sajina

Drum stick

Jan – Feb

Medium

Medium

Musa 9aradisiacal Linn.

Kancha Kala

Banana

Jan-Dec

__

Minor

Musa sapientum Linn

Kala

Banana

Jan-Dec

__

Minor

Halsi

Feb – Apr

Minor

Minor

Musaceae

Myrsinaceae Aegiceras corniculatum Blanco.

Khalish

Myrtaceae Eugenia Formosa wall

Ambake

--

Oct-Nov

Major

Minor

Syzium cumini Skells

Kalojaam

Jamun

Mar – Apr

Major

Major

Eucalyptus sp.

Euca;yptus

Eucalyptus

Sep – Oct

Minor

Major

Psidium guajava Linn

Peyara

Guava

Mar – May

Minor

Minor

Syzygium jambos Alston

Golab Jaam

Rose apple

Dec – Feb

Minor

Minor

Syzygium malaccensis Merril & Perry

Jamrool

Malay apple

Nov – Feb

Minor

Minor

Nelumbo speciosum Willd.

Padma

Lotus

May – Sep

Minor

Minor

Botanical name

Local name

Trade name

Flowering

Pollen

Nectar

Nelumbaceae

9

period Nyctaginaceae Marabilis jalapa Linn.

Krishnakali

4 O’ Clock

May – Sep

Minor

---

Jalpai

Olive tree

Jun – Jul

Medium

Medium

Kamranga

Three Sorrel

Jun – Jul

__

Minor

Shealkanta

Mexican poppy

Feb – May

Minor

Minor

Seamum indicum Linn.

Til

Gingili

May – Jun

Major

Major

Martynia anuua Linn.

Bagh nakhi

Tiger claw

Jun-Aug

Minor

---

Andropogon ascinoidis C.B.Clarke

Chor Kanta

Cattle grass

Jul – Sep

Minor

---

Bambusa arundinaceae Willd.

Bansh

Bamboo

Feb – Mar

Major

---

Cynodon dactilon Pers

DurbaGhass

Dhub grass

May – Jul

Minor

--

Dendrocalamus strictus Nees

Karti Mulibanash

Solid Bamboo

Jan-Mar

Major

--

Oryza sativa Linn.

Dhan

Paddy

Sep – Oct Apr – May

Minor

--

Sorghum vulgare Linn.

Jowar

Pearl millet

May- Jun

Medium

--

Coral creeper

May – Sep

__

Medium

Kochuripana

Water Hyacinth

Jun – Sep

Minor

Nigella sativa Linn.

Kalojira

Black cumin

Feb – Mar

Minor

Major

Botanical name

Local name

Trade name

Flowering

Pollen

Nectar

Oleaceae Olea europea Lin Oxalidaceae Averrhoa carambola Linn. Papevaraceae Argemone mexicana Linn. Pedaliaceae

Poaceae

Poligonaceae Antigonon leptopus Hk. & Arn. Pontederiaceae Eichhornia crassipes Salms Ranunculaceae

10

period Rhaminaceae Zizyphus jujuba Mill.

Kool

Jujube

Sep – Oct

P – Minor

Major

Ceriops roxburghiana Arn.

Garan

---

Apr – May

__

Medium

Ceriops tagal C.B. Robins.

Mot Garan

---

Apr – May

__

Medium

Arucha

Pear

Mar – May

Medium

Medium

Alu peach

Mar – May

Medium

Medium

Peach

Feb-Mar

Minor

Minor

Golap

Provence rose

Nov – Mar

Minor

Minor

Kadam

Kadamba

Jul – Aug

Minor

Minor

Aegle marmelos Correa.

Bel

Bael tree

Apr – may

Minor

Minor

Citrus aurantifolia Swingle

Batabi Labu

Lemon

Mar – Apr

Medium

Minor

Citrus medica Linn.

Lebu, Nebu

Malta

Feb – Mar

Medium

Minor

Citrus sinensis Osbeck

kamala Lebu

Orange

Mar – Apr

Medium

Major

Evodia fraxinifolia Hook f.

Kanukpa

---

Nov- Jan

Minor

Minor

Glycosmis pentaphylla DC

Ash Shaorah

Wild nimbu

Sep – Oct

Minor

Medium

Limonia accidissima Linn.

Kaith Bel

Wood apple

Apr-May

Medium

Minor

Murraya paniculata Jack

Kamini

China box

Jul – Aug

Minor

Minor

Murraya koenigii Spreng

Barsunga, karipata

Curry leaves

Mar – Apr

Minor

Minor

Euphoria longan Steud.

Aanshaphal

Longan

Feb – Mar

Minor

Medium

Botanical name

Local name

Trade name

Flowering

Pollen

Nectar

Rizophoraceae

Rosaceae Prunus armeniaca Linn

(Nepali Lang) Prunus nepalensis Steud.

Aru (Nepali Lang)

Prunus cuminis Linn.

Naspathi (Nepali Lang)

Rosa centifolia Linn. Rubiaceae Anthocephalus cadamba Miq. Rutaceae

Sapindaceae

11

period Nephelium litchi Cambess

Litchu

Litchi

Feb – Mar

Minor

Minor

Sapindus sp.

Ankar

--

Apr-May

Minor

Minor

Schleichera oleosa Oken

Kusum

Lac tree

Feb-Mar

Minor

Medium

Madhuca indica J.F. Gmel

Mahua

Butter tree

Mar-Apr

Minor

Minor

Mimusops elengi Linn.

Bakul

Bakula

May – Jul

---

Minor

Ban Dhoney

Sweet broom weed

Aug – Oct

Minor

Minor

Capsicum annuum Linn.

Lanka

Mirchi

Dec – may

Minor

--

Datura inoxia Mill.

Kalo Dhutura

Thorn apple

Sep – Feb

Minor

--

Datura metal Linn.

Dhutara

Thorn apple

Sep – Feb

Minor

--

Solanum melongena Linn.

Begun

Brigjal

Sep – Mar

Minor

--

Keora

----

Mar – May

Minor

Major

Kharani

Lodhra

Apr-May

Medium

Medium

Chilouni

Needle wood

Apr-May

Minor

Medium

Phalsa

----

Mar – Apr

Minor

Minor

Hogla

Elephant grass

Aug – Sep

Major

---

Ghentu Bhant

---

Feb – Apr

Minor

Medium

Sapotaceae

Scrophulariaceae Scoparia dulcis Linn. Solanaceae

Sonneratiaceae Sonneratia apetala BuchHam Symplocas Symplocas sp. Theaceae Schina wallichii Korth. Tiliaceae Grewia asiatica Mast. Typhaceae Typha 12lephantine Roxb. Verbinaceae Clerodendrum inreme Gaertn.

12

Botanical name

Local name

Trade name

Flowering period

Pollen

Nectar

Duranta repens Linn.

Hedge Plant

Durenta

Jan - Aug

Minor

Minor

Gmelina arborea Linn

Gumari

Gumhar

Mar - Apr

Minor

Minor

Vitex negundo Linn.

Nishinda

Hemp tree

Apr - Jun

Minor

Minor

Bara elaichi

--

Mar-May

Medium

----

Zinziberaceae Ammomum sp.

13

Floral Calendar of South 24 Paraganas District Botanical Name

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

14

Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Brassica sp. (Mustard) Syzygium malaccensis Coriandrum sativum (Dhania) Phoenix spp. Wild Khajur) Amaranthus sp. Prickly amaranth) Aegiceras corniculatu m Nephelium litchi (Litchi) Spondias pinnata Hog-plum) Sonneratia apetala Syzygium cumini (Jamun) Luffa sp. Cyllendrical guard) Acacia nilotica (Babul) Ceropsis sp. Andropogan ascinoidis (Grass) Anthicephalus kadamba(Ka damba) Commelina bengalensis (Kanna) Scoperia dulcis (Weed)

Nectar: Minor

Medium

Major

Pollen: Minor

Medium

Major

15