Letters

Chromolaena odorata

Thanks for the latest issue of the Journal. I was interested to see Chromolaena odorata featured on page 7 though I would query the entry under Apicultural value. In Bas-Congo the plant is the most important source of honey, flowering from April to July (see page 42 in Latham, 2005 Some honey bee plants of Bas-Congo Province, Democratic Republic of Congo). I wonder whether a mistake was made as there are a number of references regarding the fact that bees do not collect pollen from the flowers, only nectar (see under Eupatorium odoratum in: Crane ef al (1984) Directory of important world honey sources and Thapa & Wongsiri (1997) Eupatorium odoratum: a honey plant for beekeepers in Thailand. Bee World 78 (4) 175-178). also have a handwritten note from Marieke Mutsaers whilst in Nigeria stating that bees do not collect pollen from this plant.

Paul Latham

Thanks to Paul for this observation - the text in Trees Bees Use,

BfD Journal 86 should have read: Apicultural value: Chromolaenaodorata is a good source of nectar for bees.

Semi-desert plants

Thank you for sending the copies of B/D Journal and other booklets. We will send you a report when we finish the training session.

We have a suggestion for Cabesi-Self-Help Project who featured in BfDJ 85, December 2007 - concerning their problem of the land being semi-desert. They should use vetiver grass on this and and they can also plant Neem trees. If they need more help they are welcome to contact us.

Simon Ngwainmbi, Director, BERUDEP. Belo Division, Cameroon