Palynological characterisation of Algerian honeys according to their geographical and botanical origin

Abstract

Pollen spectra of 67 honey samples from four regions of central Algeria were studied. Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Apiaceae were the best represented families. The pollen from Hedysarum coronarium, Ziziphus lotus, Eucalyptus, Peganum harmala, Echium, Olea europaea, Citrus, Ononis natrix, Dorycnium and Euphorbia were identified as dominant pollen. Samples had significant differences in their pollen content due to their geographical origin. For instance, the presence of P. harmala was common in honeys coming from the dry grasslands and near to the oases of the desertic area of Laghouat. Ziziphus lotus, a dominant plant of the semi-desert sclerophyllous scrubland, was the principal source of honey production in the Djelfa region. In the coastal province of Blida, the presence of pollen from some Mediterranean crops such as Citrus and Olea europaea in honeys was also noted. Médea honeys had a remarkable presence of Fabaceae, principally H. coronarium. According to the botanical origin of honeys, 17 samples were classified as polyfloral and 50 as monofloral. The monofloral samples were as follows: 12 sulla (H. coronarium), 11 as jujube (Z. lotus), nine as Citrus, eight as Eucalyptus, six as harmal (P. harmala), two as Echium, one as Euphorbia and Dorycnium, respectively.