Bee Flora of West Bengal

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 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 bee-forage. 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 seasonsynchronizes 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 / Flowering period / Pollen / Nectar

Acanthaceae

Adhatoda vasica Nees / Basak / Vasaka / May - Jan / --- / Minor
Hygrophila serpyllum (Nees) T. Anders / Kule Khara / Jul - Sep / --- / Minor

Amaranthaceae

Amaranthus spinosus Linn. / Kanta Notey / Prickly amaranthus / Jan - Feb / Minor / --

Anacardiaceae

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

Apiaceae

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

Apocyanaceae

Alstonia scholaris R.Br. / Chhatim / Dita Bark / Oct - Dec / Minor
Arecaceae
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 / --

Asteraceae

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 / Medium
Parthenium hysterophorus Linn. / Congress grass / Congress grass / Mar - Dec / Minor / --
Tagetes erecta Linn. / Ganda / Marigold / Almost / Minor / Minor
Tridax procumbens Linn. / Tridaksha / Apr – Aug / Minor / ----
Vernonia cineria Less / Kukshim / Purple fleabane / Nov – Dec / Minor / Medium

Barringtoniaceae

Barringtonia acutrangula Gaertn. / Hijal / -- / Apr-May, Oct-Dec / Minor / Major

Bombacaceae

Ceiba pentadra Linn. / Swet Simul / Silk cotton / Dec – Jan / Major / Medium
Bombax ceiba Linn. / Shimool / Red Silk cotton / Dec – Jan / Medium / Minor

Brassicaceae

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
Caesalpiniaceae
Bauhinia variegata Linn. / Raktakanchan / Kanchan / Mar-Apr / Minor / Minor
Cassia fistula Linn. / Bandar lathi Sonajuri / Indian Laburnum / May – Jun / Minor / Minor
Cassia tora Linn. / Kalkasunda / -- / Sep – Oct / Minor / --
Delonix regia Rafin. / Krishana- chura / Gul Mohar Flame tree / Apr – Jan / Medium / Minor
Tamarindus indica Linn. / Tentul / Tamarind / May – Jun / Minor / Major

Cleomaceae

Cleome iscose Linn. / Holdey hurhure / Cleome / May – Aug / Minor / --

Combretaceae

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
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
Commelinaceae
Commelina benghalensis Linn. / Kansira / Commelina / Jul – Oct / Minor / Major
Cyanotis sp. / ___ / Cyanotis / Jan – Sep / Minor / --
Cucurbitaceae
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 / ----
Cyperaceae
Cyperus rotundus Linn. / Mutha / Nut grass / Nov – Feb / Minor / ---
Dilleniaceae
Dillenia indica Linn. / Chalta / Dillenia / Jun – Jul / Major / Minor
Elaeocarpaceae
Elaeocarpus lanceolatus Roxb. / Bhatrachhe / --- / Dec-Jan / Minor / Medium

Elaeocarpus sikkimensis

/ Bhatrachhe / --- / Dec-Jan / Minor / Medium
Botanical name / Local name / Trade name / Flowering period / Pollen / Nectar

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 / Minor
Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. / Poinsettia / Lal Pala / Nov – Dec / Minor / Minor
Macaranga pustulata King. / Mallata / ---- / Jul-Aug / Minor / Minor
Ostodes paniculata Bl. / Beparee / --- / Mar – Apr / Minor / Medium
Fabaceae
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

Fagaceae

Castanopsis indica A. DC. / Catus / Indian Chestnut / May-Jun / Minor / Minor
Botanical name / Local name / Trade name / Flowering period / Pollen / Nectar
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

Lauraceae

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

Liliaceae

Allium cepa Linn. / Pianj / Onion / Feb – Mar / Minor / Minor
Allium sativum Linn. / Rasum / Garlic / Dec – Mar / Minor / Minor

Linaceae

Linum usitatisimum Lin. / Tisi / Linsedds / Jan-Feb / Minor / Minor

Loranthaceae

Loranthus longiflorus Desr. / Pargaccha / Apr-May / Minor / ---
Lythaceae
Lagerstroemia speciosa Pers / Jarul / Apr-May / Minor / Minor
Punica granatum Linn. / Dalim / Pomogranate / Mar – Apr / Minor / --
Malvaceae

Sida cordifolia Linn.

/ Berela / Country Mallow / May-Aug / Minor / --
Botanical name / Local name / Trade name / Flowering period / Pollen / Nectar

Sida rhombifolia Linn.

/ Lal berela / --- / May-Aug / Minor / --
Meliaceae
Azadiracta indica A. Juss / Neem / Neem / Apr – May / Minor / Minor
Swetenia mahagoni Jacq. / Mehagoni / Mahagoni / April – May / Minor / Minor
Melisomaceae
Melisoma simplicifolia wall. / Chiuri / --- / Nov-Jan / Medium / Minor
Mimosaceae
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 / --
Moringaceae
Moringa oleifera Lamk. / Sajina / Drum stick / Jan – Feb / Medium / Medium
Musaceae
Musa aradisiacal Linn. / Kancha Kala / Banana / Jan-Dec / __ / Minor
Musa sapientum Linn / Kala / Banana / Jan-Dec / __ / Minor
Myrsinaceae
Aegiceras corniculatum Blanco. / Khalish / Halsi / Feb – Apr / Minor / Minor
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
Nelumbaceae
Nelumbo speciosum Willd. / Padma / Lotus / May – Sep / Minor / Minor
Botanical name / Local name / Trade name / Flowering period / Pollen / Nectar
Nyctaginaceae
Marabilis jalapa Linn. / Krishnakali / 4 O’ Clock / May – Sep / Minor / ---
Oleaceae
Olea europea Lin / Jalpai / Olive tree / Jun – Jul / Medium / Medium
Oxalidaceae
Averrhoa carambola Linn. / Kamranga / Three Sorrel / Jun – Jul / __ / Minor
Papevaraceae
Argemone mexicana Linn. / Shealkanta / Mexican poppy / Feb – May / Minor / Minor
Pedaliaceae
Seamum indicum Linn. / Til / Gingili / May – Jun / Major / Major
Martynia anuua Linn. / Bagh nakhi / Tiger claw / Jun-Aug / Minor / ---
Poaceae
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 / --
Poligonaceae
Antigonon leptopus Hk. & Arn. / Coral creeper / May – Sep / __ / Medium
Pontederiaceae
Eichhornia crassipes Salms / Kochuripana / Water Hyacinth / Jun – Sep / Minor
Ranunculaceae
Nigella sativa Linn. / Kalojira / Black cumin / Feb – Mar / Minor / Major
Botanical name / Local name / Trade name / Flowering period / Pollen / Nectar
Rhaminaceae
Zizyphus jujuba Mill. / Kool / Jujube / Sep – Oct / P – Minor / Major
Rizophoraceae
Ceriops roxburghiana Arn. / Garan / --- / Apr – May / __ / Medium
Ceriops tagal C.B. Robins. / Mot Garan / --- / Apr – May / __ / Medium
Rosaceae
Prunus armeniaca Linn / Arucha
(Nepali Lang) / Pear / Mar – May / Medium / Medium
Prunus nepalensis Steud. / Aru
(Nepali Lang) / Alu peach / Mar – May / Medium / Medium
Prunus cuminis Linn. / Naspathi
(Nepali Lang) / Peach / Feb-Mar / Minor / Minor
Rosa centifolia Linn. / Golap / Provence rose / Nov – Mar / Minor / Minor
Rubiaceae
Anthocephalus cadamba Miq. / Kadam / Kadamba / Jul – Aug / Minor / Minor
Rutaceae
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
Sapindaceae
Euphoria longan Steud. / Aanshaphal / Longan / Feb – Mar / Minor / Medium
Botanical name / Local name / Trade name / Flowering period / Pollen / Nectar
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
Sapotaceae
Madhuca indica J.F. Gmel / Mahua / Butter tree / Mar-Apr / Minor / Minor
Mimusops elengi Linn. / Bakul / Bakula / May – Jul / --- / Minor
Scrophulariaceae
Scoparia dulcis Linn. / Ban Dhoney / Sweet broom weed / Aug – Oct / Minor / Minor
Solanaceae
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 / --

Sonneratiaceae

Sonneratia apetala Buch-Ham / Keora / ---- / Mar – May / Minor / Major

Symplocas

Symplocas sp. / Kharani / Lodhra / Apr-May / Medium / Medium

Theaceae

Schina wallichii Korth. / Chilouni / Needle wood / Apr-May / Minor / Medium

Tiliaceae

Grewia asiatica Mast. / Phalsa / ---- / Mar – Apr / Minor / Minor

Typhaceae

Typha lephantine Roxb. / Hogla / Elephant grass / Aug – Sep / Major / ---

Verbinaceae

Clerodendrum inreme Gaertn. / Ghentu Bhant / --- / Feb – Apr / Minor / Medium
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

Zinziberaceae

Ammomum sp. / Bara elaichi / -- / Mar-May / Medium / ----

Floral Calendar of South 24 Paraganas District

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

Cocos nucifera

(Coconut)

Brassica sp.

(Mustard) /

Syzygium malaccensis

/

Coriandrum sativum (Dhania)

Phoenix spp.

Wild Khajur)

Amaranthus sp.

Prickly amaranth) /

Aegiceras corniculatum

/

Nephelium litchi

(Litchi) /

Spondias pinnata

Hog-plum) /

Sonneratia apetala

/

Syzygium cumini

(Jamun) /

Luffa sp.

Cyllendrical guard) /

Acacia nilotica

(Babul) /

Ceropsis sp.