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kope, Coffee

Coffea arabica

Summary 7

Pollen:Low
Nectar: Good
Honeybee pollination increases yeild

The dried roasted beans (seeds) of this evergreen tree or shrub are used to make a beverage. This species, which provides about 90% of the world's coffee, is grown in cooler parts of the tropics. The plant is a tetraploid and self-fertile; over 30 mutations have been recognized. In the bisexual flowers, pollen is shead shortly after the flower opens, and the stigma is receptive immediately. Self-pollination can occur, since seeds set even when flowers are bagged. On cloudy days fully developed bus tend to remain closed, and pollen may be shed within the bud. In Brazil 7-9% natural cross pollintion was reported. Some seem to show that the species is self-fertile, and others that it definately benefits from bee pollination. Honeybees certainly collect nectar and pollen from coffee, which is an important honey source. The reason for such difference may be the cultivars uses, or conditions of growth not yet analysed. It seems likely that bees can play some role in increasing yields. (Crane, E., & Walker, P. (1984). Pollination Directory for World Crops)

Flowering time 9-5, 10-12 Tropical East Africa....Flowers are small, white, star-shaped, fragrant and with a corolla tube of about 8 mm, allowing honeybees to reach the nectar. Several flowering bursts in succession, each lasting about a week. 'Waiting' flower buds open about 8-14 days after a good rain shower. Pollen is eagerly collected, although a limited amount is available. Honey is reported to be light in colour, quick-granulating and with a mild taste. Available information strongly suggests that honeybees should be provided for pollination to obtain a greater yield of berries from this self-fertile crop. (Johannsmeier, M. F. (2016). Beeplants of South Africa: Sources of Nectar, Pollen, Honeydew and Propolis for Honeybees)

Blooms May to Sept. Requires rich, fertile, well watered soil. Propagated by seeds and cuttings. (p. 114 Le Corre 1985)

Native to mountainous regions of southeastern Sudan, Ethiopia, and Yemen, where the plant grows wild as an understory tree in premontane to montane forests. The coffee plant requires a mild, subtropical climate without frost. In the tropics it is generally cultivated in humid highlands from 1,200 to 1,800m elevation with average temperatures between 16 and 24 C (60-75F) and annual rainfall of 1,500 -2,800 mm (59-110 in). (Blancke, R. (2016). Tropical fruits and other edible plants of the world : an illustrated guide.)

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) jeevan jose, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/9643110@N08/4684152253
  2. (c) AJC1, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajc1/9422486374/
  3. (c) Scott Zona, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://www.flickr.com/photos/12017190@N06/4099255092
  4. (c) Photo by David J. Stang, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coffea_arabica_35zz.jpg
  5. (c) Boston Public Library, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/8009659484/
  6. Franz Eugen Köhler, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diagram_of_Coffea_arabica-cropped.jpg
  7. (c) Megan W., some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

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