Bees for Development Journal 106
TREES BEES USE Parkia Biglobosa Samuel Adelani Babarinde, Gabriel Olulakin Adesina, Mathew Oladejo Akanbi and Julius Ipadeola Olaifa Department of Agronomy, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, PMB 4000, Ogbomoso, Nigeria Keywords: Africa, bee forage, honey production, Nigeria, pollen
and 20-40 cm long, with 8-30 pairs of alternate pinnate and 14-65 pairs of leaflets per pinnate. The bark is grey with a scaly texture in mature trees (up to 200 years old)
Apicultural value
Between 1100-1800 hours Parkia biglobosa is a good source of pollen for bees.
Flowering
December to May
Agricultural value
Flower
The soil beneath Parkia biglobosa is improved by leaf fall. An aqueous extract of its fruit pods is used as a crop spray to deter insect pests.
The inflorescence is a pendant raceme of red, pink or orange balls set at the end of a branch with a peduncle up to 40 cm long. Each ball is 5 cm in diameter and composed of about 1,700 flowers.
Names
Social-economic uses
English African locust bean, Monkey cutlass tree French Arbe a farine, Nerre Hausa (northern Nigeria) Dadawa Yoruba (south-west Nigeria) Igi iru, Igi igba
The fruits are eaten by humans and the seeds are fermented and used in cooking and medicine. The wood provides timber but is highly susceptible to fungi and xylophagous pests. Exudates can be used to produce good quality dyes.
Family
Which trees do your bees use?
Leguminoseae
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Origin
Parkia biglobosa is indigenous to Africa.
For other species that have featured in Trees Bees Use see www.beesfordevelopment.org/portal
Description
Parkia biglobosa is a tall deciduous tree growing 10-20 m high. It has an umbrella shaped spreading crown, with drooping, but spineless dark green leaves. The leaves are alternate, bi-pinnate
PHOTOS © S A BABARINDE
Main photo: Parkia biglobosa; insets: Flowers of Parkia biglobosa
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