Which Plants Produce Nectar That Makes Honey Toxic For Humans?
It is known that the nectar gathered from different blossoms gives honey a distinct taste, and can also affect the color, thickness and fragrance of the honey. For example, Tupelo honey is light in color, with a very aromatic with a distinct flavor (popular with mead makers) and it is widely known for its sweetness. If bee hives are placed alongside oil seed rape flowers, this can cause the resulting honey to crystallize quickly. Heather produces dark, aromatic and relatively gelatinous honey. Raspberry and blueberry blossom honey has aromas and flavors reminiscent of the fruit (and also makes good mead). These kinds of flavors and qualities are popular with, and familiar to buyers.
Honey was used in ancient medicine. However, it is actually possible for bees to gather nectar and pollen from flowers that results in honey which is toxic for humans, or to or at least is unpleasant or bitter tasting. In fact, the earliest form of known, in a sense, 'chemical warfare' dates back to Turkey in 65 BC, in which the Roman army were tempted with honey made from nectar collected by honey bees from Rhododendron ponticum. Consuming the honey, also known as 'mad honey' can result in severe symptoms which can be fatal.
Plants known to create honey toxic or unpleasant for humans
Below is a list of plants taken from the research paper: The ecological significance of toxic nectar - Lynn S. Adler (OIKOS 91: 409 – 420. Copenhagen 2000).
(Please note, some of these plants may be present in your country, or not, but this website receives visits from many different countries).
| Plant Species & Family | Effect On Honey | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Aguaria spp. (Ericaceae) Andromeda spp (Ericaceae) Kalmia spp. (Ericaceae) Rhododendron flavum (Ericaceae) Rhododendron ponticum (Ericaceae) Paullinia australis (Sapindaceae) |
Honey toxic to humans |
Eckert (1946) Mussen (1979) |
| Azalea pontica (Ericaceae) Kalmia latifolia (Ericaceae) |
Honey toxic to humans |
Kebler (1896) |
| Euphorbia spp. (Euphorbiaceae) Arbutus unedo (Ericaceae) |
Honey bitter to humans, induced nausea |
Pryce-Jones (1942) |
| Ledum Palustre (Ericaceae) |
Honey toxic to humans |
Kozlova (1957) |
| Senecio jacobaea (Asteraceae) |
Honey bitter to humans |
Deinzer et al. (1977) |
Plants toxic for bees
Some plants actually produce nectar that it toxic or detrimental to bees that gather it. For example, it is known that some species of lime trees can be harmful, especially to bumble bees. Why some plants may poison pollinators is a subject of debate.
Read more about plants toxic for bees.
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