Diversity of melliferous flora in the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico

Abstract

Apiculture continues to grow steadily in Mexico as does interest in potential nectariferous and polliniferous flora in different states. An inventory was made of melliferous plant species in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, visited by Apis mellifera L. in different annual seasons. Field work was done between 2012 and 2015. Plant species whose flowers were visited by A. mellifera were documented, including data on life form, growth form, origin, resource production, vegetation type and flowering time. A total of 215 species were recorded belonging to 173 genera and 60 families of phanerogamic plants. Most are native species (87.91 \%) and herbaceous (42.32 \%). Fabaceae and Asteraceae are the most common families. The highest proportion of plants are nectariferous (45.12 \%), followed by nectariferous-polliniferous (40 \%) and polliniferous (14.88 \%). Secondary vegetation and dry tropical forest contain the largest number of these species, and provide the greatest floral resources during the summer season.