Table 3 Plant species mentioned by the interviewees as used for beekeeping purposes (in alphabetical order of botanical name)
Botanical name (voucher specimen code) | Family | Recorded folk name(s)a | Growth habitb | Part(s) mentioned | Use(s) | Frequency of citationc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abutilon mauritianum (Jacq.) Medik. (DMZ2020/001) | Malvaceae | Goldoiywet (O) | S | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Achyranthes aspera L. (DMZ2020/002) | Amaranthaceae | Sarurieet ap tisieet (O) | H | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Alchemilla sp. (DMZ2020/003) | Rosaceae | Nyaek (O)d | H | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochst.) Radlk. (DMZ2020/004) | Sapindaceae | Gipkosoriet/Maraisit (O) | T | Flower | Melliferous | +++ |
Baccharoides lasiopus (O.Hoffm.) H.Rob. (DMZ2020/005) | Asteraceae | Seregutiet (O) | S | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Brassica oleracea L. (DMZ2020/006) | Brassicaceae | Mboga (S)/Â Cabbage (E) | H | Flower | Melliferous (bees drink water from the leaves) | + |
Brassica oleracea var. viridis L. (DMZ2020/007) | Brassicaceae | Sukuma wiki (S) | H | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Brassica rapa L. (DMZ2020/008) | Brassicaceae | Mulo (O) | H | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Carduus nyassanus subsp. kikuyorum (R.E.Fr.) C. Jeffrey (DMZ2020/009) | Asteraceae | Tegweyot (O) | H | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Carduus schimperi Sch. Bip. (DMZ2020/010) | Asteraceae | Tegweyot (O)Â /Â Nyaek (O)d | H | Flower | Melliferous (source of pollen) | ++ |
Clematis simensis Fresen. (DMZ2020/011) | Ranunculaceae | Pisinda (O) | CS | Bark | Ropes (ropes made from the woven fibres are used to fix the bark stripes around the log hives) | + |
Clutia abyssinica Jaub. & Spach (DMZ2020/012) | Peraceae | Kiparnyat (O) | S | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Combretum molle R.Br. ex G.Don (DMZ2020/013) | Combretaceae | Kemeliet (O) | T | Flower | Melliferous (source of pollen) | + |
Trunk | Placing hives (log hives are placed at the bifurcation of two branches strong enough to hold their weight; mostly in the lowlands) | + | ||||
Crassocephalum montuosum (S.Moore) Milne-Redh. (DMZ2020/014) | Asteraceae | Musumioit (O) | S | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Cupressus lusitanica Mill. (DMZ2020/015) | Cupressaceae | Cypress (E) | T | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Trunk | Making hives (timber used mostly for modern beehives) | +++ | ||||
Cyathula cylindrica Moq. (DMZ2020/016) | Amaranthaceae | Mutumiat (O) | CS | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Dombeya torrida (J.F.Gmel.) Bamps (DMZ2020/017) | Malvaceae | Silibwet (O) | T | Flower | Melliferous (considered the best source of nectar, producing the most valued honey) | +++++ |
Branches | Smoking hives (smoke from burning branches is blown inside the log hive to stun the bees before extracting the honeycomb) | + | ||||
Attracting bees (branches are burnt inside the modern hives) | + | |||||
Trunk | Making hives (the trunk is split in two longitudinally and used to build the log hive) | + | ||||
Dovyalis abyssinica (A.Rich.) Warb. (DMZ2020/018) | Salicaceae | Nukiat / Kigorwet (O) | T | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill. (DMZ2020/019) | Myrtaceae | Eucalyptus / Blue gum (E) | T | Flower | Melliferous | ++++ |
Trunk | Making hives (timber used for modern beehives) | + | ||||
Grevillea robusta A.Cunn. ex R.Br. (DMZ2020/020) | Proteaceae | Gravelia (E) | T | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Trunk | Making hives (timber used mostly for modern beehives) | + | ||||
Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce ex Steud.) J.F.Gmel. (DMZ2020/021) | Rosaceae | Pontet (O) | T | Flower | Melliferous (source of pollen) | + |
Trunk | Placing hives (log hives are placed at the bifurcation of two branches strong enough to hold their weight) | ++ | ||||
Helianthus annuus L. (DMZ2020/022) | Asteraceae | Sunflower (E) | S | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Helichrysum argyranthum O.Hoffm. (DMZ2020/023) | Asteraceae | Karabwet (O) | H | Flower | Melliferous | +++ |
Hymenophyllum sp. (DMZ2020/024) | Hymenophyllaceae | Susuot (O) | H | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Leaves | Harvesting tools (to clean hands and the leather bag after harvesting the honey) | ++ | ||||
Harvesting tools (to cover the hole in the centre of the log hive from which honey is harvested) | + | |||||
Hypoestes verticillaris (L.f.) Sol. ex Roem. & Schult. (DMZ2020/025) | Acanthaceae | Nerubat netui (O) | H | Flower | Melliferous (source of pollen) | ++ |
Ilex mitis (L.) Radlk. (DMZ2020/026) | Aquifoliaceae | Tongotwet (O) | T | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Trunk | Placing hives (log hives are placed at the bifurcation of two branches strong enough to hold their weight) | + | ||||
Making hives (the trunk is split in two longitudinally and used to build the log hive) | + | |||||
Jasminum abyssinicum Hochst. ex DC. (DMZ2020/027) | Oleaceae | Mogoiywet (O) | CS | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Trunk | Placing hives (log hives are placed at the bifurcation of two branches strong enough to hold their weight; mostly in lowlands) | + | ||||
Juniperus procera Hochst. ex Endl. (DMZ2020/028) | Cupressaceae | Torokuet (O) | T | Bark | Covering hives (before hanging the log hive on tree, it is covered with bark stripes) | +++ |
Attracting bees (pieces of dry bark are burnt inside modern hives) | + | |||||
Smoking hives (to smoke traditional log hives along with Usnea sp. before extracting the honeycomb) | +++ | |||||
Branches | Storing honey (in the past honey was stored in a hollowed log of Juniperus procera placed one to few metres above the ground over a wooden frame in the forest) | ++ | ||||
Trunk | Placing hives (log hives are placed at the bifurcation of two branches strong enough to hold their weight) | ++ | ||||
Making hives (the trunk is split in two longitudinally and used to build the log hive; considered the best option for log hives) | ++++ | |||||
Kniphofia thomsonii Baker (DMZ2020/029) | Xanthorrhoeaceae | Yamyamt (O) | S | Flower | Melliferous (source of pollen) | ++ |
Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R.Br. (DMZ2020/030) | Lamiaceae | Mosipichiet (O) | S | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Lobelia bambuseti R.E.Fr. & T.C.E.Fr. (DMZ2020/031) | Campanulaceae | Kabosuet (O) | S | Flower | Melliferous | +++ |
Lobelia giberroa Hemsl. (DMZ2020/032) | Campanulaceae | Tangaratwet (O) | S | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Microglossa pyrifolia (Lam.) Kuntze (DMZ2020/033) | Asteraceae | Komereriet (O) | S | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Bark | Ropes (dry fibres are used to tie the two halves of the log hive) | + | ||||
Storing honey (dry fibres of Microglossa pyrifolia and Yushania alpina are interwoven to make a bag where to store honey) | + | |||||
Micromeria imbricata (Forssk.) C.Chr. (DMZ2020/034) | Lamiaceae | Chepsagitiet (O) | H | Flower | Melliferous (source of pollen) | + |
Mikaniopsis bambuseti (R.E.Fr.) C.Jeffrey (DMZ2020/035) | Asteraceae | Sereret (O) | CS | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Branches | Harvesting (beekeepers use the branches of the tree to climb the tree where the loghive is placed) | + | ||||
Trunk | Placing hives (log hives are placed at the bifurcation of two branches strong enough to hold their weight; mostly in lowlands) | + | ||||
Mimulopsis alpina Chiov. (DMZ2020/036) | Acanthaceae | Sosonet (O) | S | Flower | Melliferous (flowering takes places every 10-12 years; when it happens, no circumcision ceremonies are held as it is a considered a bad omen) | ++ |
Musa × paradisiaca L. (DMZ2020/037) | Musaceae | Ndizi (S) / Banana (E) | S | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Leaves | Covering hives (dry leaves are used to cover the traditional log hive before hanging it on trees) | + | ||||
Storing honey (leaves used to make a basket used to transport and store honey) | + | |||||
Nuxia congesta R.Br. ex Fresen. (DMZ2020/038) | Stilbaceae | Choruet (O) | T | Flower | Melliferous (bees feed on it mainly during the rainy seasons) | +++ |
Olea capensis subsp. macrocarpa (C.H.Wright) I.Verd. (DMZ2020/039) | Oleaceae | Masaita (O) | T | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Trunk | Placing hives (log hives are placed at the bifurcation of two branches strong enough to hold their weight) | + | ||||
Making hives (the trunk is split in two longitudinally and used to build the log hive; highly valued to build log hive) | + | |||||
Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata (Wall. & G.Don) Cif. (DMZ2020/040) | Oleaceae | Emitiot / Yemitioot (O) | T | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Trunk | Placing hives (log hives are placed at the bifurcation of two branches strong enough to hold their weight) | + | ||||
Oxalis corniculata L. (DMZ2020/041) | Oxalidaceae | Nyaekd | H | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Phaseolus vulgaris L. (DMZ2020/042) | Fabaceae | Maragwe (S)Â /Â Bean (E) | H | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Pinus patula Schltdl. & Cham. (DMZ2020/043) | Pinaceae | Pine (E) | T | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Trunk | Making hives (timber used mostly for modern beehives) | ++ | ||||
Pittosporum viridiflorum Sims (DMZ2020/044) | Pittosporaceae | Toponit (O) | T | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Trunk | Making hives (the trunk is split in two longitudinally and used to build the log hive; highly valued to build log hive ) | + | ||||
Plagiochila sp. (DMZ2020/045) | Plagiochilaceae | Susuot (O) | Tr | Leaves | Harvesting tools (to clean hands and the leather bag after harvesting the honey) | ++ |
Harvesting tools (to cover the hole in the centre of the log hive from which honey is harvested) | + | |||||
Plectranthus sp. (DMZ2020/046) | Lamiaceae | Korpisiot (O) | H | Leaves | Harvesting tools (to clean hands and clothes after harvesting the honey) | + |
Podocarpus latifolius (Thunb.) R.Br. ex Mirb. (DMZ2020/047) | Podocarpaceae | Saptet (O) | T | Bark | Covering the hive (before hanging the log hive on trees, it is covered with bark stripes) | + |
Trunk | Placing hives (log hives are placed at the bifurcation of two branches strong enough to hold their weight) | ++ | ||||
Making hives (the trunk is split in two longitudinally and used to build the log hive; highly valued to build log hive ) | ++ | |||||
Polyscias kikuyuensis Summerh. (DMZ2020/048) | Araliaceae | Ounet (O) | T | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Trunk | Placing hives (log hives are placed at the bifurcation of two branches strong enough to hold their weight) | + | ||||
Making hives (the trunk is split in two longitudinally and used to build the log hive;highly valued to build log hive ; softwood) | ++ | |||||
Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman (DMZ2020/049) | Rosaceae | Tenduet (O) | T | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Bark | Covering hives (before hanging the log hive on trees, it is covered with bark stripes) | + | ||||
Trunk | Placing hives (log hives are placed at the bifurcation of two branches strong enough to hold their weight) | ++ | ||||
Making hives (the trunk is split in two longitudinally and used to build the log hive; highly valued to build log hive) | + | |||||
Prunus sp. (DMZ2020/050) | Rosaceae | Plum tree (E) | S | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Rapanea melanophloeos (L.) Mez (DMZ2020/051) | Primulaceae | Korapariat (O) | T | Flower | Melliferous (source of pollen) | + |
Trunk | Placing hives (log hives are placed at the bifurcation of two branches strong enough to hold their weight) | + | ||||
Rhoicissus tridentata (L.f.) Wild & Drumm. (DMZ2020/052) | Vitaceae | Ingirenyit (O) | S | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Rubus pinnatus Willd. (DMZ2020/053) | Rosaceae | Chepseonik (O) | S/CS | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Rubus steudneri Schweinf. (DMZ2020/054) | Rosaceae | Taktakuet (O) | CS | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Schefflera volkensii (Harms) Harms (DMZ2020/055) | Araliaceae | Chelumbut (O) | T | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Trunk | Placing hives (log hives are placed at the bifurcation of two branches strong enough to hold their weight) | + | ||||
Scutia myrtina (Burm.f.) Kurz (DMZ2020/056) | Rhamnaceae | Simbeywet (O) | CS/T | Flower | Melliferous | +++ |
Searsia natalensis (Bernh. ex C.Krauss) F.A.Barkley (DMZ2020/057) | Anacardiaceae | Sirondit (O) | S | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Trunk | Placing hives (modern and log hives are placed under this shrub’s canopy) | + | ||||
Senna didymobotrya (Fresen.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby (DMZ2020/058) | Fabaceae | Senetuet (O) | S | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Solanum nigrum L. (DMZ2020/059) | Solanaceae | Managu (S) | H | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Solanum tuberosum L. (DMZ2020/060) | Solanaceae | Viazi (S) / Potato (E) | H | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Syzygium cordatum Hochst. ex Krauss (DMZ2020/061) | Myrtaceae | Lamaywet (O) | T | Flower | Melliferous | + |
Trifolium burchellianum Ser. (DMZ2020/062) | Fabaceae | Dabibit / Puputiet / Nyaek (O)d | H | Flower | Melliferous (bees make propolis from it) | ++ |
Usnea sp. (DMZ2020/063) | Parmeliaceae | Kurongurik (O) | L | Leaves | Smoking hives (dry lichens are burnt with the bark of Juniperus procera before harvesting the honeycomb) | +++ |
Attracting bees (dry lichens are burnt inside modern hives) | + | |||||
Vernonia auriculifera Hiern (DMZ2020/064) | Asteraceae | Tepengwet (O) | S | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Branches | Smoking hives (smoke from burning branches is blown inside the log hive to stun the bees before extracting the honeycomb) | + | ||||
Yushania alpina (K.Schum.) W.C.Lin (DMZ2020/065) | Poaceae | Teegat (O) | S/T | Flower | Melliferous | ++ |
Leaves | Harvesting tools (to cover the hole in the centre of the log hive from which the honey is harvested) | + | ||||
Branches | Smoking hives (dry branches are cut into small pieces and mixed with the branches of Dombeya torrida before harvesting the honeycomb) | + | ||||
Trunk | Storing honey (mature trunks are cut and one side is covered with cow or sheep skin; the resulting container is used to transport and store honey) | ++ | ||||
Zea mays L. (DMZ2020/066) | Poaceae | Maindi (S)Â /Â Maize (E) | S | Flower | Melliferous | ++++ |