Oriental alder
The alder of streams in southern Anatolia and the eastern Mediterranean; its wind-pollinated catkins in late winter give the year's first pollen, and resinous buds propolis.
- Nectar
- None
- Pollen
- Medium
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Height
- 10-20 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Oriental alder grows in rows along streams on the southern slopes of the Taurus Mountains and along watercourses in Hatay, Cyprus, Syria and Lebanon. Its flowers are wind-pollinated and give no nectar; but at the end of winter the hanging male catkins shed large amounts of pollen. On the coastal plains it is one of the first pollens bees collect on sunny winter days.
Flowering
Depending on altitude it flowers between January and March, before the leaves come out. The catkins empty quickly on windy, dry days, so the period in which bees can use them may be short.
Honey and pollen
It contributes no honey. The nutritional value of the pollen is moderate, but its arrival when brood rearing starts up again is important. Its sticky buds are among the sources from which bees collect resin for propolis; aphids may produce small amounts of honeydew in summer.
Note for the beekeeper
For streamside overwintering apiaries it is a natural advantage for early pollen; placing the hives in a sunny spot sheltered from the wind makes flight easier.