The characteristics of 59 unifloral honeys of Condalia microphylla Cav. ("piquillín"), Centaurea solstitialis L. ("yellow starthistle") and Prosopis spp., from La Pampa, Argentina, were studied. Pollen features (abundance and frequency of pollen types) and some physicochemical parameters (colour, electrical conductivity, free acidity, glucose content, glucose:water ratio, moisture and pH) were determined. Two different but related sets of calculations were done: the first involved single-factor variance analysis, while the second set involved two multivariate methods, principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Variance and multivariate analysis allowed differentiation of the three honey types according to their physicochemical properties. The variables that best explained this differentiation were pH, electrical conductivity, colour, glucose content and the glucose:water ratio. Pollen analysis showed that the pollen frequency traditionally used (> 45%) for a botanical origin assignment in honey was not valid for the unifloral honeys studied. Therefore, pollen analysis should be combined with the above physicochemical analysis order to obtain a successful classification of these unifloral honeys.Additional key words: botanical origin, Centaurea solstitialis, Condalia microphylla, melissopalynology, multivariate analysis, pollen analysis, Prosopis spp. Resumen Características palinológicas y fisicoquímicas de tres tipos de mieles uniflorales del centro de ArgentinaSe estudiaron las características de 59 mieles monoflorales de Condalia microphylla Cav. ("piquillín"), Centaurea solstitialis L. ("abrepuño amarillo") y Prosopis spp., provenientes de La Pampa, Argentina. Se determinaron caracteres políni-cos (abundancia y frecuencia de tipos polínicos) y algunos parámetros fisicoquímicos (color, conductividad eléctrica, acidez libre, contenido de glucosa, relación glucosa-agua, humedad y pH). Se utilizaron dos tipos de análisis estadísticos: análisis de varianza de un factor y análisis multivariados, de componentes principales y de conglomerados. Los análisis de varianza y multivariados permitieron distinguir las tres clases de mieles de acuerdo a las propiedades fisicoquímicas. Las variables que mejor explicaron esta diferenciación fueron pH, conductividad eléctrica, color, glucosa y relación glucosaagua. El análisis polínico demostró que la frecuencia de polen tradicionalmente utilizada para definir una miel monofloral (> 45%) no es válido para las mieles estudiadas. Por ello, el análisis polínico relacionado con las propiedades físico-quí-micas mencionadas permitiría una adecuada clasificación en estas mieles monoflorales.Palabras clave adicionales: análisis de polen, análisis multivariados, Centaurea solstitialis, Condalia microphylla, melisopalinología, origen botánico, Prosopis spp.

Based on the melissopalynology 38 honey samples collected in the central region of the Argentine province of Entre Ríos were classified by botanical and geographical origin. According to qualitative analysis, 20 honey samples were monofloral and 18 were multifloral. Dominant pollen types were Scutia buxifolia Reissek (Rhamnaceae) in six samples, Baccharis spp. (Asteraceae) in five, Lotus spp. (Fabaceae) in three, Eucalyptus spp. (Myrtaceae) and Eryngium spp. (Apiaceae) in two, Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam. (Apiaceae) and Trithrinax campestris (Burmeist.) Drude & Griseb. (Arecaceae) in one sample. One hundred and nineteen pollen types were identified belonging to 52 families; 75% of which were native species. The families best represented in number of species were Asteraceae and Fabaceae. Pollen types such as Scutia buxifolia, Trithrinax campestris, Schinus spp. (Anacardiaceae), Mimosoideae from Prosopis spp., Acacia spp., Mimosa ostenii Speg. ex Burkart, and M. strigillosa Torr. & A.Gray are considered the indicators for this geographical origin. The studied honeys were also characterized by a high frequency of Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, Astereae, Echium plantagineum L. and cultivated Papilionoideae forage species such as Melilotus albus Desr., Lotus spp. and Trifolium spp. Honeydew elements were scarce.

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Recent studies have shown that Acacia is polyphyletic and must be split into five genera. Proposal 1584 would retypify Acacia : the type of the Australian taxon A. penninervis would be conserved over the current lectotype (A. scorpioides ) of an African taxon. We disagree with the recommendation of the Spermatophyte Committee to endorse this proposal. Contrary to Article 14.12 of the ICBN, no detailed case against conservation was presented in Proposal 1584. We maintain that there are strong arguments against conservation, such as the large number of countries that would be affected, the economic importance of the extra‐Australian species, and the economic burden placed on developing countries. Acceptance of this proposal would also violate the guidelines for conservation which clearly state that the principle of priority should prevail when conservation for one part of the world would create disadvantageous change in another part of the world.