Abstract

Propolis is a complex product of the beehive. In Chile, propolis is only recently being submitted to systematic studies, particularly chemical analysis and scanning of pollen grains. We report the botanical origin of Chilean propolis from three Mediterranean type climate sites, Santa Cruz, Tanguao and Paine. We show that honey bees, Apis mellifera, visit the introduced species of Eucalyptus and Ricinus and five native Chilean species viz. Baccharis linearis, Buddleja globosa, Peumus boldus, Quillaja saponaria and Salix humboldtiana.