Determination of attractiveness of the apicultural plants using ordination method

In order to determine the attractiveness of plants for apiculture, an area was selected in the summer rangelands of Freidan region. To identify the plants and determine the apicultural potential, sampling was conducted randomly along three transects of 200 m and 30 plots when 10-20% of dominant species were in the flowering stage. The attractivity index (AI) of each plant was determined by direct observation of the films taken from the study area, and averaging the number of bees and the time each bee spent on the flowers. The attractivity index (AI) of plant species was determined using ordination method, classified in four classes as excellent, good, fair and poor. Our results showed that a high number of visitor bees and a high time spent on species were the common characteristics of the plants classified in the class I. In the study area, Compositae, Labiatae, Umbelifera, and Cruciferae were the most important plant families used by bees. Of the 88 species in the region, 70 species, forming the dominant vegetation cover of poor rangelands, are used by bees.