Carob Tree (Ceratonia siliqua) Botanical Characteristics
Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is one of the most characteristic trees of the Mediterranean maquis, which belongs to the legume family (Fabaceae). It is easily distinguished from other fruit trees by its thick and cracking trunk, leathery hard and shiny leaves, small flowers without a crown blooming on the trunk and old branches, and a long, flat pod.
Read MoreHow Does Carob Flowering and Pollination Happen?
Carob is known as the only tree among Mediterranean trees whose main flowering period coincides with autumn. During this period from September to November, small, fragrant flowers bloom on the trunk and old branches; It is pollinated by insects such as bees, flies, hornets and night-flying moths, and partly by wind.
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Male, Female and Hermaphrodite Carob Trees
Some carob trees do not bear any fruit, while others fill them with pods every year. The main reason for this is that carob is largely a dioecious species: male, female and hermaphrodite flowers are mostly found on separate trees. The male tree does not produce pods, but it provides pollen for female trees to bear fruit.
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Carob and Beekeeping
In the Mediterranean, most of the flowers bloom in spring; after the summer drought, autumn is often a scarce period for bees. Carob is one of the rare trees that makes its main flowering during this period, in autumn. This feature makes carob a valuable autumn resource for beekeepers and bees silent partners in yield for carob producers.
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