From the pages of APIS: Volume 15, Number 6, June 1997
FALSE ACACIA: ONE OF MANY NEW WORLD FRENCH CONNECTIONS
The "acacia" flow is over here in southern France. As is done each year,
beekeepers
are now estimating how good the final crop will be. This is one of the finest of
Provençal honeys and commands a premium price in most markets. The plant is
grown
all across Europe as well. I remember during the Hungarian Apimondia meeting in
1983, when participants were given a tour of the acacia groves there. It was
the only
time I have ever seen a program designed to systematatically improve nectar
production in a plant. At that time, Hungarians were attempting to both
increase nectar
secretion and timber quality from this important plant. Thus, I was pleased
to see my
plant friend again when I came to France. The story of this plant is
admirably told in
the 1978 edition of the Bulletin Technique Apicole, published by O.P.I.D.A
(L'office
pour l'information et la documentation en apiculture). It is "Fiche
Technique" found in
Volume 5 (No. 4), pp. 33-40, authored by J. Albisetti.
Imagine the surprise of a newcomer here from the United States, therefore, upon
discovering this plant isn't "acacia" at all. It's really "false acacia,"
Robinia
pseudacacia, and wonder of wonders, was originally transported around the world
from its native habitat in the Allegany and Appalachian mountains. The King's
gardener, J. Robin, introduced the plant to France in 1601. It is in fact
known as
"black locust" in its native regions, I was informed by Steve Taber, who
recently left
France to return to his southern roots. It is the same plant I remember
growing on the
high banks of the Ohio River where the old National Road crosses that
waterway at
Wheeling, West Virginia.
The "robiniers" as they are called here in France are in the rose order and
legume
family. Three species of the twenty that exist worldwide have been
naturalized in the
country. In general, they are not well exploited by bees because of their
early and short
flowering time. I remember the black locust flow as notoriously
unpredictable and
tempermental on the banks of the Ohio. The later it flowers in France, the
more nectar
collecting possibilities occur, about 7.5 percent increase per day delayed,
acccording
to the article. The French are also aware of the history of their Hungarian
cousins in
culturing the acacia, and data show that a silvo-apicultural program is
possible here
too, the article concludes.
The honey bee's yearly gathering of Robinia pseudacacia honey in Europe is
just one
of many interesting results of human intervention in the biology of planet
earth. The
French-American relationship is filled with these as well. It ranges from
American root
stock in French vineyards to the fine Franco-grape varieties now grown in
California.
Beekeeping in southern France really has few monofloral crops to look
forward to;
prospects would be much poorer without this American vegetational heritage.
For that
matter, where would U.S. beekeeping be without introduction of that most
ubiquitous
of old world insects, Apis mellifera?
===============================================================================
Dr. Malcolm (Tom) Sanford, Extension Apiculturist, University of Florida
Bldg. 970, P.O. Box 110620, Gainesville, FL 32611-0620
Ph. 352/392-1801 ext. 143 Fax 352/392-0190
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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