Melliferous Aromatic Plants

Important reference source show that more than eight hundred species of medicinal plants grow on the Romanian’s territory, of which only a small proportion are cultivated. Part of the spontaneous and cultivated medicinal plants, native or introduced in Romania, are aromatic plants, which are rich in essential volatile oils. Essential oils have important biological properties and are increasingly used in various industries such as pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics to name a few. Many plants secreting aromatic essential oils are also plants with a high melliferous potential. Studies carried out over several years, on aromatic plants in spontaneous flora and in integrated crops have demonstrated important melliferous potential for representatives of several botanic families such as: Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae and Amaryllidaceae. The Lamiaceae family is best represented, species such as: Melissa officinalis, Salvia officinalis, Lavandula angustifolia, Mentha piperita, Hyssopus officinalis, Dracocephalum moldavica, Satureja hortensis and Thymus vulgaris being extremely valuable both for the quality and multiple uses of their essential oils, for the honey base they provide to beekeepers as well as the particular quality of the honey. Medicinal and aromatic plants greatly contribute to the beneficial properties of bee keeping products (honey, pollen, royal jelly and propolis) and have the potential to deliver more bioactive bee products.