Irene E. La Serna Ramos

Pollen spectra of different unifloral honeys from La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain)

The pollen content of twenty-four unifloral honey samples from twelve different apiaries in La Palma (Canary Islands) was subjected to qualitative and quantitative melissopalynological analysis. The quantitative analysis showed that 4% of the honey belonged to Maurizios Class I, 8% to Class II, 58% to Class III, 17% to Class IV and 13% to Class V. According to the qualitative analysis, eight honeys were typified as unifloral of Castanea sativa , five of Carlina salicifolia , three of Echium brevirame , three of Reseda luteola , two of Erica arborea , two of Lotus hillebrandii and one of Lamiaceae Origanum vulgare ssp. virens -type. No honeydew elements were found. 62 pollen types were identified belonging to 42 different families. There is no pollen type common to all samples but Foeniculum vulgare -type is present in 22 of the samples (91.7%) and the combination Cistus sp., Erica arborea , Aspalthium bituminosum , Origanum vulgare ssp. virens -type and Rumex sp. in 21 (87.5%). The organoleptic analysis indicated that they are of good quality.

Pollen and sensorial characterization of different honeys from El Hierro (Canary Islands)

The pollen content of 31 honey samples from 19 different apiaries of El Hierro (Canary Islands) were subject to qualitative and quantitative melissopalynological analysis. The quantitative analysis demonstrated that 13% of the honey belonged to Maurizio Class I (<2 000 grains), 68% to Class II (2 000–10 000 grains) and 19% to Class III (10 000–50 000 grains). The pollen density ranges from 1 042 grains/g of honey to 24 478 grains/g with an average of 7 471 grains/g. According to the qualitative analysis, six honeys were typified as unifloral and 25 as multifloral. The unifloral honey samples were broken down as follows: two of heather (Erica arborea L.), two of Chamaecytisus proliferus (L. f.) Link‐type (“tagasaste”), one of Fabaceae (Genisteae sp.) and one of Lamiaceae Origanum vulgare L. ssp. virens (Hoffmanns. & Link) Ietsw.‐type (thyme: Micromeria hyssopifolia Webb & Berthel.). Honeydew elements were practically absent. Sixty‐nine pollen types were identified belonging to 42 families. The number of po...The pollen content of 31 honey samples from 19 different apiaries of El Hierro (Canary Islands) were subject to qualitative and quantitative melissopalynological analysis. The quantitative analysis demonstrated that 13% of the honey belonged to Maurizio Class I (<2 000 grains), 68% to Class II (2 000–10 000 grains) and 19% to Class III (10 000–50 000 grains). The pollen density ranges from 1 042 grains/g of honey to 24 478 grains/g with an average of 7 471 grains/g. According to the qualitative analysis, six honeys were typified as unifloral and 25 as multifloral. The unifloral honey samples were broken down as follows: two of heather (Erica arborea L.), two of Chamaecytisus proliferus (L. f.) Link‐type (“tagasaste”), one of Fabaceae (Genisteae sp.) and one of Lamiaceae Origanum vulgare L. ssp. virens (Hoffmanns. & Link) Ietsw.‐type (thyme: Micromeria hyssopifolia Webb & Berthel.). Honeydew elements were practically absent. Sixty‐nine pollen types were identified belonging to 42 families. The number of pollen types range between 18 and 39 (mean of 27.42). Foeniculum vulgare Mill.‐type pollen is present in all the samples. Galactites tomentosa Moench‐type, Echium plantagineum L., Echium L. sp., Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) C. H. Stirt., Chamaecytisus proliferus ‐type and Origanum vulgare ssp. virens ‐type pollen were found in 96.8% of the samples. The sensorial analysis indicated that honey types are generally of good quality, because 62% were evaluated as very high (16%), high (23%), and good (23%).

The importance of Persea americana as a source of nectar in some honeys from La Palma (Canary Islands)

The melissopalynological analysis of eight honey samples from five different apiaries on La Palma (Canary Islands) where avocado (Persea americana) pollen was found is presented. Avocado pollen was always found in low proportions except in one honey that proved to be unifloral. This avocado honey has a medium to low pollen content (7333 grains/g of honey: Class II of Maurizio). It has medium pollen richness with a total of 26 pollen types. There is no secondary pollen and the important minor pollen are: Castanea sativa (14.4%) and Prunus‐type (probably P. dulcis), Rumex sp., Chamaecytisus proliferus‐type, Echium plantagineum, Erica arborea, Brassica‐type, Euphorbia obtusifolia and Cistus sp. which range from 8.8% for Primus‐type to 3.0% for Cistus sp. and Euphorbia obtusifolia.

Pollen characterization of multifloral honeys from La Palma (Canary Islands)

The pollen content of twenty-five honey samples from twelve different apiaries on La Palma (Canary Islands) was subjected to qualitative and quantitative melissopalynological analysis. The quantitative analysis showed that 4% of the honey belonged to Maurizio Class II, 88% to Class III, 4% to Class IV and 4% to Class V. In the qualitative analysis, 60 pollen types were identified from 40 different families. The number of pollen types per honey sample ranges between 16 and 37 (mean of 25.8). Foeniculum vulgare-type and Rumex sp. pollen were present in all the samples. Castanea sativa and Echium plantagineum pollen were found in 96% of them and the combination Aspalathium bituminosum, Bidens pilosa-type and Erica arborea in 92%.

A palynological study of the genus Sideritis subgenus Marrubiastrum (Lamiaceae): Macaronesian endemism

Abstract The pollen of twenty-six of the thirty taxa (specific and infraspecific) of the genus Sideritis L. subgenus Marrubiastrum (Moench) Mend.-Heuer (Lamiaceae) endemic to the Macaronesic region, was studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy. This study was performed to evaluate the possible taxonomic utility of the seemingly absent palynological data for the taxa of this endemic subgenus.

Palynological study of Lavandula (sect. Pterostoechas, Labiatae): Canario-maderiense endemics

Abstract Seven endemic taxa of Lavandula L. (sect. Pterostoechas) were studied palynologically by light and scanning electron microscopy. The data obtained revealed the taxonomic significance of palynological characters.

Pollen morphology of endemic species of the Gonospermum Less., Lugoa DC. and Tanacetum L. complex (Asteraceae: Anthemideae) in the Canary Islands (Spain), and its taxonomical implications.

The pollen of nine endemic taxa of the Gonospermum Less., Lugoa DC. and Tanacetum L. complex and of T. parthenium L. (introduced species from the Canary Islands) was studied using light and scanning electron microscopy with the aim of extending the knowledge of their morphology and to investigate whether pollen morphology may help clarifying the controversial taxonomy of these taxa. Twenty six populations in the Canary Islands (Spain) were studied and the following parameters were measured: polar axis (P), equatorial diameter (E), polar exine thickness (Ex1), length (L) and thickness (A) of the spines in the meridional optical section, exine thickness at the centre of the mesocolpium in the interapertural area (Ex2) and distance between spines (De) in the equatorial optical section. The studies show that the pollen of the three genera is very similar regarding shape, apertures, and ornamentation, but may be distinguished by size and exine thickness.