Honey Reference Collection
Definition
A set of pollen slides prepared from fresh flowers of honey-plant species, used for comparison when identifying pollen in honey samples. Differs from acetolysed environmental reference slides because honey processing affects grain dimensions.
- Source material
- Fresh flowers of honey-plant species
- Preparation
- Pollen slides, unacetolysed
- Distinguishing use
- Comparison for pollen found in honey samples
- Field
- Melissopalynology
Common questions
Why can't a standard acetolysed pollen reference collection be used for honey analysis instead?+
Acetolysis chemically strips the pollen grain's cell contents and can alter its apparent size and surface detail, while grains found in honey have not undergone this treatment, so comparing against acetolysed references risks a size or morphology mismatch.
What is a honey reference collection used to establish in a forensic or authenticity context?+
It helps identify the floral origin of a honey sample by matching pollen grains recovered from the honey to known plant sources, which supports geographic and botanical origin claims made on honey labelling.
Related terms
- Indicator Plant
- A pollen type whose presence in a honey assemblage is highly diagnostic of a geographic origin because the plant only grows or...
- Melissopalynology
- The study of pollen in honey and bee products to determine botanical origin, geographic provenance, and product authenticity.
- Monofloral Honey
- Honey in which one plant species dominates the pollen assemblage (typically above 45% of the pollen sum), reflecting predominant bee foraging on...
- Multifloral Honey
- Honey produced from diverse plant sources with no single taxon dominant. Also called polyfloral or wildflower honey. The pollen assemblage reflects the...
- Pollen Count (Louveaux Method)
- A quantitative assessment of pollen grains per 10 grams of honey. Below 10,000 grains per 10g suggests adulteration by dilution. The method,...