A dataset of pollen production for 168 common flowering plants in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Nectar and pollen are the two main floral resources consumed by bees, hoverflies and some other flower-visiting insects. However, most existing datasets on floral resources focus on nectar production, and pollen is usually overlooked. We quantified pollen production for 168 common plant species found in the UK. Our dataset consists of pollen volume per flower, calculated from the number of pollen grains and the volume of a pollen grain. Detailed data collection protocols are presented. Practical implication. This pollen dataset provides a means to identify the high pollen producing species for pollinator conservation purposes, and to estimate pollen production at larger spatial scales when combined with field surveys.