Palynological characterization of honeys from the Andean Patagonia (Chubut,Argentina)

The pollen content of 58 honey samples of Apis mellifera L. from the Andean region of Chubut (Argentinian Patagonia) was analyzed. The samples were provided by beekeepers between 1999 and 2004. Eighty‐eight pollen types were identified, 30 of them are not reported in Argentinian honeys. Identified types belong to 47 families, of which the most diverse were Asteraceae (15 pollen types), Fabaceae (13 pollen types), and Rosaceae (four pollen types). From the samples analyzed, 47% were monofloral and corresponded to the following taxa: Trifolium spp. (16%), Rosaceae (10%), Aristotelia chilensis (Molina) Stuntz (7%), Discaria‐Colletia (5%), Escallonia spp. (3%), Schinus patagonica (Phil.) I. M. Johnst. (2%), Phacelia secunda J. F. Gmel. (2%), Myrtaceae (2%). The results of this study show a high level of utilization of native flora by Apis mellifera. Four new types of monofloral honey were recognized: Aristotelia chilensis, Discaria‐Colletia, Phacelia secunda, and Schinus patagonica. The high representation of native flora distinguishes these honeys geographically.