BEE FORAGE

AND DISTRICT
WISE FLORAL
CALENDER OF
WEST BENGAL
Introduction
West Bengal as the name implies, is the western part of a larger regional entity named
Bengal. Lying entirely in the northern hemisphere, the state lies between 21

38 N and 2

1!
N latit"des and 8#

#! $ and 8%

#! $ longit"des. West Bengal &o'ers an area of 8,(1(

s)"are *ilometers. +t is bo"nded along the northern frontiers by the great ,imalayas, stret&hes
so"thwards beyond the tropi& of &an&er, broad down to the Bay of Bengal in the east. -he
West Bengal is pre.eminently a land of ri'ers. -he /anges ri'er basin &onstit"tes abo"t #!
per &ent of the state. Brahmap"tra has the greatest 'ol"me of water of all the ri'ers.
0ahanandi is an important ri'er in 0alda. West Bengal has 3 main land regions1
1. The Himalayas in the north zone1 -he mo"ntain area in the north, tho"gh small, is a
part of the worlds loftiest mo"ntains, the ,imalayas, whi&h rise to eternal snows in
north or 2ar3eeling, dominated by 4an&han3anga and her fi'e satellite pea*s. -he
lofty range of 5ingalila rising along the Nepal Boarder to the west of the town is
&o'ered by 6hododendron forests, whi&h pro'ides good forage for honey bees d"ring
7pril and 0ay
2. The Plateau Fringe1 -his is a rolling "pland, with small isolated standing here and
there &ontains green forests of 5al, 0ah"a, 8alash et&. pro'ide good forage for
honeybees d"ring spring.
3. -he plains1 -he 'ast all"'ial plains of the state spread from 9alpaig"ri and 5ilig"ri in
the north to the 5"nderban &ree*s and the 4anthi littoral in the so"th. -he plains are
0ahananda :orridor and 0alda plains in the north; 5o"th western plains in /anga
ban*s; 5o"th western plains; 5"nderbans and *anthi &oastal strip.
Seasons and Climate
-he &limate of West Bengal is generally tropi&al, hot and h"mid, monsoon type, e<&ept the
northern mo"ntains , where the altit"tde high. -here are fo"r well.defined seasons in West
Bengal1 the winter =2e&ember to >ebr"ary?, the s"mmer =0ar&h.0ay? ad'an&e of monsoon
=9"ne to 7"g"st?6etreat of the monsoon =5eptember to No'ember?.
Natural Vegetation
-he nat"ral @egetation is almost disappeared from West Bengal. Aet forests of three distin&t
areas e<ist in the state. -hese are =i? the forests of the north, whi&h in&l"de the mo"ntain
temperate forests and the tropi&al forests of the 2"ras, =ii? the de&id"o"s forests of the platea"
fringe and =iii? the mangro'e forests of 5"nderbans. -he 5"nderbans is a spe&ial type with
predominant est"arial 'egetation that is mainly of an e'ergreen type., Rhizophora conjugata,
Soneratia apetala, Avicennia officinalis, Excoecaria agallocha, Sapium indicum, Casuarina
equisetifolia, Nipa fruticans and Phoenix paludosa are dominant plants that pro'ide bee
2
forage. 5"nderbans is thi&*ly pop"lated by the wild honey bee spe&ies, Apis dorsata, d"e to
these so"r&es and to good prote&tion that is pro'ided by thorny mangro'es present in the
swamps below.
Cultivated Vegetation
-he intensity of agri&"lt"ral &ropping in the state is 3"st the same as the a'erage for +ndia it is
1(B. !B per&ent of the total &"lti'ated area o&&"pies by paddy. 9"te is the ne<t important
&rop. 8"lses in&l"ding gram and peas &o'er hardly one.tenth of the &"lti'ated land. Cil sedds
o&&"pies only trwo per&ent. >r"its of many types grown, in apples in 2ar3eeling, pea&h and
pear in 4alimpong, :o&on"ts in 2D, paraganas, ,owrahand 0idinapore; banana plantation in
5ing"r and :handernagore; 0alda and 0"rshidabadare important prod"&ers of 0angoes;
Lit&hi &"lti'ated in 2D, paraganos. :"lti'ation in /angeti& plains &onsists mainly of m"stards,
*hesari, &oriander, maiEe, or&hards li*e &o&on"ts, lit&hi, &itr"s, are&a n"t and rose.apple,
pro'ides good bee forage. plantations li*e $"&alypt"s and 8ongamia &ontrib"te to good
honey prod"&tion in this area. +n addition, wild shr"bs, herbs and 'egetable &rops =for seed
prod"&tion? pro'ide forage that helps the de'elopment of bee*eeping in the area.
Floral calendar
$ffi&ien&y of the bee.*eeping +nd"stry in any &o"ntry primarily depends on proper "tiliEation
of the flora and its impro'ement so as to a"gment the &omponent spe&ies pro'iding bee.
forage. -his ne&essarily re)"ires &riti&al st"dies of the flora with emphasis on relati'e
e'al"ation of the indi'id"al plant spe&ies as ne&tar or pollen so"r&es. -he breeding season of
honeybees and honey flow season syn&hroniEes with ab"ndan&e of food so"r&es in the form
of ne&tar and pollen from prof"sion of flowering in the lo&ality -he field obser'ations on the
'egetation are important fore form"lation of floral &alendar to standardiEe management
patterns of bee &olonies. Cf these obser'ations most important are
1. >lowering time and d"ration of bee forage plants.
2. 6elati'e importan&e and ab"ndan&e of pollen and ne&tar
3. 6elati'e densities or area &o'erage.
Bee flora of West Bengal
Botanical name Local name Trade name Flowering
period
Pollen Nectar
3
Acanthaceae
Adhatoda vasica Nees Basak Vasaka May - Jan --- Minor
Hygrophila serpyllum (Nees)
T. Anders
Kule Khara Jul - Sep --- Minor
Amaranthaceae
Amaranthus spinosus Linn. Kanta Notey Prikly
a!aranthus
Jan - "e# Minor --
Anacardiaceae
Spondias pinnata Kurt$. %eshi A!rah &o'-plu! "e# - Mar --- Minor
Anacardium occidentale Linn. &i(li Bada! )
Ka(u
*ashe+ nut Apl , May Minor Mediu!
Mangifera indica Linn. Aa! Man'o "e# - Mar Mediu! Mediu!
Apiaceae
Coriandrum sativam Linn. %honey *oriander Jun - "e# Ma(or Ma(or
Daucas carota Linn -a(ar *arrot Mar - Apr Minor --
Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Mouri "ennel No. - Mar Minor
Apocyanaceae
Alstonia scholaris /.Br. *hhati! %ita Bark 0t - %e Minor
Arecaceae
Areca catechu Linn. Supari Betel nut Mar - Apr Minor --
Borassus flabellifer Linn. Taal Pal!yra "e# - Mar Minor --
Cocos nucifera Linn. Narikel *oonut Jan - %e Ma(or Minor
Phoenix paludosa oxb! &intal --- %e - Jan Ma(or --
Phoenix sylvestris oxb! Khe(ur 1ild dates "e# - Mar Ma(or --
Asteraceae
Ageratum cony"oids Linn. 2hunti -oat +eed May - 0t Minor Minor
Carthamus tinctorius Linn.. Kusu! Phool Sa33lo+er Apr - May Minor Minor
Helianthus annuus Linn. Sura(!ukhi Sun3lo+er Jan , "e# Ma(or Ma(or
Botanical name Local name Trade name Flowering
period
Pollen Nectar
Mi#ania scandens &ook. Taralata --- %e- Jan Mediu!
D
Parthenium hysterophorus Linn. *on'ress
'rass
*on'ress
'rass
Mar - %e Minor --
$agetes erecta Linn. -anda Mari'old Al!ost Minor Minor
$ridax procumbens Linn. Tridaksha Apr , Au' Minor ----
%ernonia cineria Less Kukshi! Purple
3lea#ane
No. , %e Minor Mediu!
Barringtoniaceae
Barringtonia acutrangula -aertn. &i(al -- Apr-May4
0t-%e
Minor Ma(or
Bombacaceae
Ceiba pentadra Linn. S+et Si!ul Silk otton %e , Jan Ma(or Mediu!
Bombax ceiba Linn. Shi!ool /ed Silk
otton
%e , Jan Mediu! Minor
Brassicaceae
Brassica &uncea Linn. /ai Sarisha Mustard %e , "e# Ma(or Ma(or
Brassica napus Linn. Sarisha /ape seed No. , Jan Ma(or Ma(or
aphanus sativus Linn Mula4 Mulo /adish "e# , Mar Minor Minor
Caesalpiniaceae
Bauhinia variegata Linn. /aktakanhan Kanhan Mar-Apr Minor Minor
Cassia fistula Linn. Bandar lathi
Sona(uri
5ndian
La#urnu!
May , Jun Minor Minor
Cassia tora Linn. Kalkasunda -- Sep , 0t Minor --
Delonix regia /a3in. Krishana-
hura
-ul Mohar
"la!e tree
Apr , Jan Mediu! Minor
$amarindus indica Linn. Tentul Ta!arind May , Jun Minor Ma(or
Cleomaceae
Cleome 'iscose Linn. &oldey
hurhure
*leo!e May , Au' Minor --
Combretaceae
(uis)ualis indica Linn Brah!alata /an'oon
reeper
May , Au' Minor Minor
Botanical name Local name Trade name Flowering
period
Pollen Nectar
$erminalia ar&una 1t. 6Arn. Ar(un Ar(un May , Jun Mediu! Mediu!
#
$erminalia bellerica /o7#. Bhairah Belleri
!yro#alan
Mar-Apr Minor Mediu!
$erminalia cattappa Linn. %eshi Bada! 5ndian
al!ond
Apr , May Minor Minor
$erminelia chebula /eti$. &aritaki *he#ula "e#-Mar Minor Minor
Commelinaceae
Commelina benghalensis Linn. Kansira *o!!elina Jul , 0t Minor Ma(or
Cyanotis sp. 888 *yanotis Jan , Sep Minor --
Cucurbitaceae
Citrullus lanatus Linn. Tar#u( 1ater !elon "e# , May Mediu! Mediu!
Cucumis melo Linn. Kar#u$ Musk !elon Apr , Jun Minor Minor
Cucumis sativus Linn. Sasha Kakadi "e# , Sep Mediu! Minor
Cucurbita maxima %uhesne Mitha ku!rah Pu!kin "e# , Sep Mediu! Minor
*uffa acutangula /o7#. Jhin'a /i##ed
'uard
Apr-Au' Minor Minor
*uffa cylendrica MJ/oe!. %hundul *ylendrial
'uard
May-Jul Minor Minor
Momordica charantia Linn. Karola Bitter -uard Mar , 0t Minor Minor
Sechium edulis S+. S9uash *ho+-ho+ Mar , May Mediu! Minor
$richosanthes dioca /o7#. Patol Pointed
'ourd
"e# , 0t Minor ++++
Cyperaceae
Cyperus rotundus Linn. Mutha Nut 'rass No. , "e# Minor ---
Dilleniaceae
Dillenia indica Linn. *halta %illenia Jun , Jul Ma(or Minor
Elaeocarpaceae
,laeocarpus lanceolatus /o7#. Bhatrahhe --- %e-Jan Minor Mediu!
,laeocarpus si##imensis Bhatrahhe --- %e-Jan Minor Mediu!
Botanical name Local name Trade name Flowering
period
Pollen Nectar
(
Ericaceae
hododendron sp! -uraas /hododendron Apr-May Mediu! Mediu!
Euphorbiaceae
Croton bonplandianum Bail. Jatalanka --- Jun , Sep Minor --
,mblica officinale -aertn. Aa!loki A!la Apr , May Minor Mediu!
,uphorbia hirta Linn. Barokherui %hudi Minor
,uphorbia pulcherrima 1illd. Poinsettia )
Lal Pala
No. , %e Minor Minor
Macaranga pustulata Kin'. Mallata ---- Jul-Au' Minor Minor
-stodes paniculata Bl. Beparee --- Mar , Apr Minor Mediu!
Fabaceae
Butea monosperma Tau# Phalas "la!e o3 the
3orest
"e#-Mar Ma(or ---
Ca&anas ca&an Millsp. Arahar Pi'eon pea Jan , Mar Mediu! Mediu!
Dalbergia sissoo /o7#. Sisu /ose +ood "e# , Mar Minor Minor
Dolichos lablab Sa.i. Shi! Beans No. , Mar Minor Minor
,rythrina indica La!k. Palita *oral tree Mar , Apr Minor Minor
*athyrus sativus Linn4 Khesari -rass pea Jan-"e# Minor Mediu!
Phaseolus aureus oxb! Sona!un' -reen 'ra! "e# , May Minor Minor
Phaseolus mungo Linn. Maskalai Blak 'ra! "e# , Mar Minor Minor
Pisum sativum Linn. Mator Peas Jan , Mar Minor Minor
Pongamia pinnata Pierre Karan(a 5ndian
Beeh tree
"e# , Mar Minor Minor
Sesbania grandiflora Linn. %hanhe A'athi Jul , Au' Mediu! Minor
$rigonella corniculata Linn Pirin'
Ban!ethi
Kasuri-Methi Mar , Apr Minor Minor
Fagaceae
Castanopsis indica A. %*. *atus 5ndian
*hestnut
May-Jun Minor Minor
Botanical name Local name Trade name Flowering
period
Pollen Nectar

Lamiaceae
*eonurus ibiricus Linn. /akta dron Mother +ort 0t-Jan Minor Minor
*eucas aspera Spren' Sheta dron -u!!a Au'-0t Minor Minor
*eucas linifolia Spren' &alkasa -u!!a Mar- Apr Minor --
Moschosma monosperma Baldin'ra -- Apr , May
0t , No.
---- Minor
-cimum basilicum Linn. Ba#u Tulsi S+eet #asil July , 0t Minor Minor
-cimum gratissimum Linn. /a! Tulsi Shru##y
#asil
Au' , 0t Minor Minor
-cimum sanctum Linn. Kalo Tulsi &oly #asil Jul , 0t Minor Minor
Lauraceae
*indera neesiana Benth. Silti!ur -- No.-Jan Minor Mediu!
*itsea Sp. Sita!#ur -- Mar-May4
No.-Jan
Minor Mediu!
Machilus edulis Kin'. Laphe
ka+ala
-- No. ,%e Minor Mediu!
Liliaceae
Allium cepa Linn. Pian( 0nion "e# , Mar Minor Minor
Allium sativum Linn. /asu! -arli %e , Mar Minor Minor
Linaceae
*inum usitatisimum Lin. Tisi Linsedds Jan-"e# Minor Minor
Loranthaceae
*oranthus longiflorus %esr. Par'aha Apr-May Minor ---
Lythaceae
*agerstroemia speciosa Pers Jarul Apr-May Minor Minor
Punica granatum Linn. %ali! Po!o'ranate Mar , Apr Minor --
al!aceae
Sida cordifolia Linn. Berela *ountry
Mallo+
May-Au' Minor --
Botanical name Local name Trade name Flowering
period
Pollen Nectar
8
Sida rhombifolia *inn! Lal #erela --- May-Au' Minor --
eliaceae
A"adiracta indica A. Juss Nee! Nee! Apr , May Minor Minor
S.etenia mahagoni Ja9. Meha'oni Maha'oni April , May Minor Minor
elisomaceae
Melisoma simplicifolia +all. *hiuri --- No.-Jan Mediu! Minor
imosaceae
Acacia nilotica (L.) %elile Ba#ul Aaia Apr , Jul Mediu! Minor
Acacia auriculaeiformis A.
*unn.
Aakash!oni Akasi %e , Jan Mediu! Minor
Albi"ia lebbec# Benth. Sirish Siris tree May , Jun Minor Mediu!
*eucaena *ucocephola % +it Su#a#ool Mar April Minor --
oringaceae
Moringa oleifera La!k. Sa(ina %ru! stik Jan , "e# Mediu! Mediu!
usaceae
Musa /aradisiacal Linn. Kanha Kala Banana Jan-%e 88 Minor
Musa sapientum Linn Kala Banana Jan-%e 88 Minor
yrsinaceae
Aegiceras corniculatum Blano. Khalish &alsi "e# , Apr Minor Minor
yrtaceae
,ugenia Formosa +all A!#ake -- 0t-No. Ma(or Minor
Sy"ium cumini Skells Kalo(aa! Ja!un Mar , Apr Ma(or Ma(or
,ucalyptus sp. :ua;yptus :ualyptus Sep , 0t Minor Ma(or
Psidium gua&ava Linn Peyara -ua.a Mar , May Minor Minor
Sy"ygium &ambos Alston -ola# Jaa! /ose apple %e , "e# Minor Minor
Sy"ygium malaccensis
Merril 6 Perry
Ja!rool Malay apple No. , "e# Minor Minor
Nelumbaceae
0elumbo speciosum 1illd. Pad!a Lotus May , Sep Minor Minor
Botanical name Local name Trade name Flowering Pollen Nectar
%
period
Nyctaginaceae
Marabilis &alapa Linn. Krishnakali < 0= *lok May , Sep Minor ---
"leaceae
-lea europea Lin Jalpai 0li.e tree Jun , Jul Mediu! Mediu!
"#alidaceae
Averrhoa carambola Linn. Ka!ran'a Three Sorrel Jun , Jul 88 Minor
Pape!araceae
Argemone mexicana Linn. Shealkanta Me7ian
poppy
"e# , May Minor Minor
Pedaliaceae
Seamum indicum Linn. Til -in'ili May , Jun Ma(or Ma(or
Martynia anuua Linn. Ba'h nakhi Ti'er la+ Jun-Au' Minor ---
Poaceae
Andropogon ascinoidis
*.B.*larke
*hor Kanta *attle 'rass Jul , Sep Minor ---
Bambusa arundinaceae 1illd. Bansh Ba!#oo "e# , Mar Ma(or ---
Cynodon dactilon Pers %ur#a-hass %hu# 'rass May , Jul Minor --
Dendrocalamus strictus Nees Karti
Muli#anash
Solid
Ba!#oo
Jan-Mar Ma(or --
-ry"a sativa Linn. %han Paddy Sep , 0t
Apr , May
Minor --
Sorghum vulgare Linn. Jo+ar Pearl !illet May- Jun Mediu! --
Poligonaceae
Antigonon leptopus &k. 6 Arn. *oral
reeper
May , Sep 88 Mediu!
Pontederiaceae
,ichhornia crassipes Sal!s Kohuripana 1ater
&yainth
Jun , Sep Minor
$anunculaceae
0igella sativa Linn. Kalo(ira Blak u!in "e# , Mar Minor Ma(or
Botanical name Local name Trade name Flowering Pollen Nectar
1!
period
$haminaceae
1i"yphus &u&uba Mill. Kool Ju(u#e Sep , 0t P , Minor Ma(or
$i%ophoraceae
Ceriops roxburghiana Arn. -aran --- Apr , May 88 Mediu!
Ceriops tagal *.B. /o#ins. Mot -aran --- Apr , May 88 Mediu!
$osaceae
Prunus armeniaca Linn Aruha
(Nepali Lan')
Pear Mar , May Mediu! Mediu!
Prunus nepalensis Steud. Aru
(Nepali Lan')
Alu peah Mar , May Mediu! Mediu!
Prunus cuminis Linn. Naspathi
(Nepali Lan')
Peah "e#-Mar Minor Minor
osa centifolia Linn. -olap Pro.ene
rose
No. , Mar Minor Minor
$ubiaceae
Anthocephalus cadamba Mi9. Kada! Kada!#a Jul , Au' Minor Minor
$utaceae
Aegle marmelos *orrea. Bel Bael tree Apr , !ay Minor Minor
Citrus aurantifolia S+in'le Bata#i La#u Le!on Mar , Apr Mediu! Minor
Citrus medica Linn. Le#u4 Ne#u Malta "e# , Mar Mediu! Minor
Citrus sinensis 0s#ek ka!ala Le#u 0ran'e Mar , Apr Mediu! Ma(or
,vodia fraxinifolia &ook 3. Kanukpa --- No.- Jan Minor Minor
2lycosmis pentaphylla %* Ash Shaorah 1ild ni!#u Sep , 0t Minor Mediu!
*imonia accidissima Linn. Kaith Bel 1ood apple Apr-May Mediu! Minor
Murraya paniculata Jak Ka!ini *hina #o7 Jul , Au' Minor Minor
Murraya #oenigii Spren' Barsun'a4
karipata
*urry lea.es Mar , Apr Minor Minor
&apindaceae
,uphoria longan Steud. Aanshaphal Lon'an "e# , Mar Minor Mediu!
Botanical name Local name Trade name Flowering Pollen Nectar
11
period
0ephelium litchi *a!#ess Lithu Lithi "e# , Mar Minor Minor
Sapindus sp. Ankar -- Apr-May Minor Minor
Schleichera oleosa 0ken Kusu! La tree "e#-Mar Minor Mediu!
&apotaceae
Madhuca indica J.". -!el Mahua Butter tree Mar-Apr Minor Minor
Mimusops elengi Linn. Bakul Bakula May , Jul --- Minor
&crophulariaceae
Scoparia dulcis Linn. Ban %honey S+eet
#roo! +eed
Au' , 0t Minor Minor
&olanaceae
Capsicum annuum Linn. Lanka Mirhi %e , !ay Minor --
Datura inoxia Mill. Kalo %hutura Thorn apple Sep , "e# Minor --
Datura metal Linn. %hutara Thorn apple Sep , "e# Minor --
Solanum melongena Linn. Be'un Bri'(al Sep , Mar Minor --
&onneratiaceae
Sonneratia apetala Buh-
&a!
Keora ---- Mar , May Minor Ma(or
&ymplocas
Symplocas sp. Kharani Lodhra Apr-May Mediu! Mediu!
Theaceae
Shina +allihii Korth. *hilouni Needle
+ood
Apr-May Minor Mediu!
Tiliaceae
2re.ia asiatica Mast. Phalsa ---- Mar , Apr Minor Minor
Typhaceae
$ypha 34lephantine /o7#. &o'la :lephant
'rass
Au' , Sep Ma(or ---
'erbinaceae
Clerodendrum inreme
-aertn.
-hentu
Bhant
--- "e# , Apr Minor Mediu!
12
Botanical name Local name Trade name Flowering
period
Pollen Nectar
Duranta repens Linn. &ed'e Plant %urenta Jan - Au' Minor Minor
2melina arborea Linn -u!ari -u!har Mar - Apr Minor Minor
%itex negundo Linn. Nishinda &e!p tree Apr - Jun Minor Minor
(in%iberaceae
Ammomum sp. Bara elaihi -- Mar-May Mediu! ----
13
Floral Calendar of South 24 Paraganas District
Botanical Name
an Fe! "ar #$r "ay un ul #ug Se$ %ct No& Dec
1D
Cocos nucifera
=:o&on"t?
Brassica s$'
=0"stard?
Syzygium
malaccensis
Coriandrum
sativum
(2hania?
Phoenix s$$'
Wild 4ha3"r?
Amaranthus s$'
8ri&*ly amaranth?
Aegiceras
corniculatu
m
Nephelium litchi
=Lit&hi?
Spondias pinnata
,og.pl"m?
Sonneratia apetala
Syzygium cumini
=9am"n?
Luffa s$'
:yllendri&al g"ard?
Acacia nilotica
=Bab"l?
Ceropsis s$'
Andropogan
ascinoidis
=/rass?
Anthicephalus
kadamba=4a
damba?
Commelina
bengalensis
=4anna?
Scoperia dulcis
=Weed?
Ne&tar1 0inor 0edi"m 0a3or
8ollen1 0inor 0edi"m 0a3or
1#