An example of the role of exotic flora in the geographical characterisation of honey: Schinus molle L. in the Canary Islands (Spain)

Abstract

Melissopalynological analyses of honey from the Canary Islands highlights the importance of introduced plants in the bee honey flora. This information on the introduced flora is important in the geographical characterisation of Canary Islands' honey as the composition indicates local provenance and is not an indicator of adulteration. Pollen of Schinus molle was found in 31 (26%) of 121 analysed samples of honey from the Canaries. Eleven of those samples were from the island of La Palma (17% of those analysed from that island), 11 from Tenerife (69%), four from La Gomera (100%), four from Gran Canaria (67%), and one sample from El Hierro (3%). After qualitative analysis, 13 proved to be unifloral (42%) and 18 were multifloral (58%). Within the unifloral samples, five were of heather (Erica arborea), two of saltbush (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum), two of chestnut (Castanea sativa), two of broom (Spartocytisus supranubius), one of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), and one of a short pod mustard (Hirschfeldia incana). © 2011 Collegium Palynologicum Scandinavicum.