Ethno Apicultural Survey of Melliferous Plants Species in the Tambacounda District, Senegal

Abstract

An ethno-apicultural survey was carried out for the plant species pollinated by honey bees in the Tambacounda District (East Senegal). This survey was conducted among 85 actors with a well-established questionnaire concerning beekeepers in this District. The listed melliferous flora was made of forty five species either. It’s divided in forty one genera and seventeen families though the most represented are in decreasing order Fabaceae with 12 species (26.66%) followed by Combretaceae and Malvaceae with  six species (13.33% each), Poaceae with three species (6.66% each), then Anacardiaceae, Lamiaceae, Meliaceae and Rubiaceae with  two species (4.44% each) and then Apocynaceae, Moringaceae, Musaceae, Sapindaceae, Balanitaceae, Myrtaceae, Nymphaeaceae, Rhamnaceae, Rutaceae with 1 species (2.22% each). The most cited species such as melliferous plants are : Pterocarpus erinaceus, Anacardium occidentale, Adansonia digitata, Azadirachta indica, Mangifera indica and  Musa sapientum. The trees are more large with 40% followed by shrubs with 33.33%, herbs which represent 24.44% and then Lianas 2.22%. Melliferous plants include 42.22% nectariferous and nectariferous polliniferous plants followed with 13.33% polliniferous and finally meliferous species with 2.22%. This  study enabled  us to identify  six (06) species with  high melliferous value. To valorize these plants and thus preserve them against abusive cuts, it is important to carry out a policy by bringing together the actors of the beekeeping industry for a better knowledge of these meliferous plants.