Aesculus sylvatica – Painted Buckeye

Aesculus sylvatica – Painted Buckeye

Botanical Family Hippocastanaceae

Bloom Time March – June

Pollen Characteristics

Dispersal Unit Monad

Aperture Number 3

Aperture Type Compound

Ornamentation Clavate

Tectum Eutectate

Size (um) 

Shape Round

Pollen Color 

Honey Bee Resources 

Pollen Source

Nectar Source

Pollen Load Identification

The pollen of Aesculus spp. is known to cause a lot of dusting on the body of the foraging bee. Typically, the Aesculus spp. pollen creates a dusting on the posterior thorax, and the posterior and anterior abdomen of the foraging bee. Pollen has also been noted on the wings of bees visiting Aesculus for nectar instead of pollen.

Resources

Hodges, D. (1952). The pollen loads of the honey bee: a guide to their identification by colour and form. London: Bee Research Assoc. Ltd.

Flower photos contributed by Mount Cuba