Thanks for the latest issue of the Journal. I was interested to see Chromolaena odorata featured on page 7 though I would query the entry under Apicultural value. In Bas-Congo the plant is the most important source of honey, flowering from April to July (see page 42 in Latham, 2005 Some honey bee plants of Bas-Congo Province, Democratic Republic of Congo). I wonder whether a mistake was made as there are a number of references regarding the fact that bees do not collect pollen from the flowers, only nectar (see under Eupatorium odoratum in: Crane et al (1984) Directory of important world honey sources and Thapa & Wongsiri (1997) Eupatorium odoratum: a honey plant for beekeepers in Thailand. Bee World 78 (4) 175-178). I also have a handwritten note from Marieke Mutsaers whilst in Nigeria stating that bees do not collect pollen from this plant.
Paul Latham
Thanks to Paul for this observation - the text in Trees Bees Use, BfD Journal 86 should have read:
Apicultural value: Chromolaena odorata is a good source of nectar for bees.