Pollen analysis of honeys from the Los Lagos region of southern Chile

Abstract

A total of 93 honey samples were analyzed from the Los Lagos Region (provinces of Valdivia, Osorno, Llanquihué and Chiloé) in Chile, of which 47 were monofloral and the rest polyfloral. The majority of the monofloral honeys were ulmo ones (37 honeys), characterized by the presence of Eucryphia‐Lotus‐Eucalyptus pollen. Five willow honeys containing Salix‐Eucryphia‐Lotus pollen were also identified together with 3 monofloral tineo honeys, with a predominance of Weinmannia‐Salix‐Eucryphia, a single rape honey (Brassica spp.) and another of white clover (Trifolium repens). The polyfloral honeys contain high quantities of pollen characteristic of monofloral honeys, along with pollen of other plants (especially nectar‐producing ones). The following classification for this group of honeys is proposed: Polyfloral I and II (Eucryphia predominant), Polyfloral III (Weinmannia predominant), Polyfloral IV (Lotus predominant), Polyfloral V and VI (co‐predominance of two and three taxa respectively, in different combinations).