## 3 Results and Discussion
### Correlation of Melissopalynological and Chemical Data  
To identify relationships between the melissopalynological analysis and volatile composition data of honey samples, CCA was applied on the matrix linked the relative amounts of the 17 volatile compounds (previously used in section \"Chemical variability of Corsican \"spring\" honeys\") and the relative frequency (explanatory variables) of eight nectariferous taxa (**T7-T9**, **T11**, **T13**, **T14**, **T18** and **T22**).  
The correlations between the volatile composition and melissopalynolgical data were show in Figure 2. The first CCA axis was negatively related _Trifolium_ sp. **T9**, _Prunus_ form **T11**, _Echium_ sp. **T13** and _Citrus_ sp. **T18** to methyl-benzene **C2**, 2,2,4,6,6-pentametylheptane **C12**, three lilac aldehydes (**C25**, **C27** and **C28**), two _p_-menth-1-en-9-al isomers (**C31** and **C32**), methyl antranilate **C38** and _cis-p_-mentha-1(7),8-dien-1-hydroperoxide **C39**. The second axis negatively related _Trifolium_ sp. **T9** and _Asphodelus_**T22** to methyl-benzene **C2**, 3-furaldehyde **C5**, Benzaldehyde **C9**, 2,2,4,6,6-pentametylheptane **C12**, phenylacetaldehyde **C14** and methyl syringae **C42**.  
The sample distribution showed the occurrence of two main groups, group I (17 samples: 1-17) and group II (24 samples: 18-41), which correspond to the groups defined in \"Determination of geographical and botanical origins of Corsican \"spring\" honeys\" Group I was characterized not only by the significant presence of lilac aldehyde isomers (**C25**, **C27** and **C28**), _p_-menth-1-en-9-al isomers (**C31** and **C32**) and methyl anthranilate **C38**, but also by the high abundance of taxa: _Citrus_ sp. **T18**, _Echium_ sp. **T13** and _Prunus_ form **T11** (group I: 6.3%, 9.5% and 3.8% _versus_ group II: 0.1%, 4.9% and 0.8%, respectively). According to the literature [15,16,30-33], all these compounds had been considered as characteristic components of citrus honey. From these results, it appeared that the other nectariferous taxa _Echium_ sp. and _Prunus_ form displayed a polleniferous role in these honey samples.  
Group II included 24 samples that had great diversity. According to the sample distribution, we could distinguish 20 honey samples (18-34, 37, 40 and 41), which had higher values of phenylacetaldehyde **C14** and methyl syringae **C38** (21.4% and 0.7%, respectively). These honeys were also characterized by numerous herbaceous taxa with potential for nectar contribution, such as _Lotus_ sp. **T7**, _Salix_ sp. **T8**, _Apiaceae_**T14** and _Asphodelus_**T22** (3.5%, 4.4%, 3.2% and 0.6% _versus_ I: 2.0%, 4.6%, 0.4% and 0.03%, respectively). As previously reported in literature data [19], the nectar contribution of _Asphodelus_**T22** in these honey samples was characterized by the presence of methyl syringae **C38**. In the same way, phenylacetaldehyde **C14** was reported as main volatile compound of _Salix_ honeys [35] and _Asphodelus_ honey [18]. For the other nectariferous species _Lotus_ sp. **T7** and _Apiaceae_**T14**, no chemical markers of nectar contribution was reported in previous studies.