Published in Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LXVII, Issue 1
Written by Natalia CÎRLIG
The collection of honey plants of the “Alexandru Ciubotaru” National Botanical Garden (Institute) includes species of different position in the taxonomic system. Thus, 5 species of the Brassicaceae Burnett family have been researched - flowering herbaceous annual and perennial plants. These species belong to 5 genera. The genus Brassica is represented in the collection by: B. napus L. subsp. oleifera DC. (rapeseed); Sinapis L. - Sinapis alba L. (white mustard); Isatis L. - Isatis tinctoria L. (woad); Bunias L.- Bunias orientalis L. (the Turkish wartycabbage, warty-cabbage, hill mustard); Crambe L. - Crambe cordifolia Steven. (greater sea-kale, colewort). All of these species start the growing season early and the flowering stage occurs in May-June, providing honey-producing and pollinating insects with food. Flowering is staggered, abundant, lasting about 20-30 days. The flowers are attractive for a wide range of insects, the most common belong to the order Hymenoptera: Apidae; Diptera: Syrphidae. Both cultivated and wild Brassicaceae can bring a significant contribution to the diversification and use of the potential sources of nectar and pollen in the Republic of Moldova.
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