Diversity and characteristics of the melliferous flora of Moroccan Macaronesia (Territory of Sidi Ifni)

• Awatif Ben Lekbir ^[1] ; Fatima-Zahra Yous ^[1] ; Ahmed Ouhamou ^[1] ; Mohamed Alifriqui ^[1]
  1. [1] Cadi Ayyad University

     Cadi Ayyad University

     Marrakech-Medina, Marruecos

     
• Localización: Mediterranean Botany, ISSN-e 2603-9109, Vol. 45, Vol. 1, 2024
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The melliferous flora of Central Western Morocco, specifically within the Ait Baâmrane territory of Sidi Ifni Province, was investigated between 2016 and 2018 through surveys conducted among beekeepers. The plants foraged by bees were collected, identified, and listed. A total of 117 melliferous species were recorded, constituting 41.64% of the total flora of the study area, which encompasses 281 species. These species belong to 98 genera and 40 families. The Compositae family claims the highest representation at 17.95%, followed by Lamiatae and Leguminosae at 6.84%. Among the identified geographical zones, the continental mountainous region (Zone C) boasts the highest diversity in terms of plant habitats and species count, followed by the plateau and hills zone (Zone B), and lastly, the littoral zone(ZoneA).The region stands out for its remarkable rate of endemism, accounting for 20.51% of the 117 melliferous species. Nevertheless, several species are categorized as rare and endangered taxa, totaling 10 species. Regarding their biological types, Therophytes make up 36.75% of the foraged species, closely followed by Chamaephytes at 17.95%. Concerning flowering periods, the phenomenon occurs consistently throughout the year. Notably, spring is the dominant season, representing 42.45% of the plants, succeeded by summer at 28.98% and then winter and autumn at 15%, 10% and 13.47%, respectively. Bees strongly prefer melliferous plants adorned with yellow flowers (33.33%), fo llowed by white flowers (30.77%). The p lants mentioned in the study are sought after by bees either for their nectar and pollen (74.36%), solely for pollen (15.38%), or exclusively for nectar(8.55%).Considering the endangered status of certain melliferous species, this study underscores the critical importance of conserving the melliferous flora. Such conservation efforts are crucial to enhance and sustain the beekeeping sector in the region