Hi All
 
Many of the plants of the Euphorbiacea produce reasonably large flows
of honey that is reasonably poisonous. In south africa the
E.triangularus, as well as some others known as the melkboom (milk
tree) and melktou (milk rope) and something called noors that looks
like it is from a sci fi movie can produce a honey that tastes very
nice, and then starts burning with increasing intensity in your
throat for about an hour afterwards. Repetitive consumption leads to
a toxic condition forming that is if I remember correctly the result
of membrane  destabilistion in the lungs and liver - is quite bad for
one.
 
Interestingly enough in Natal/Kwazulu the Zulu people are
particularily wary of the honey's produced by stingless bees that
forage on these plants as they are more toxic, and apparently at
times the bees will also defend their hives by placing the resin from
euphorbiacea on the attacker - resulting in unbearable itching for
hours after wards. The resin is a latex.
 
It is also interesting to note that an extract of a commong south
american euphorbia is used to make the poison Rotonone which is used
to make fish die in certain icthyological methods. It acts by
inhibiting oxygen uptake through the gills. In the Commores fisherman
began to use the stuff to fish and developed a number of degenerative
diseases.
 
However, in South Africa I know of some people who sell euphorb honey
 to Sangomas (Politically Correct word for a Xhosa witch
doctor/shaman) who prescribe it for people with certain cancers - esp
stomach cancers. I have heard some orthodox research was also carried
out in this regard as know some one who supplied a batch of such
honey to a research group - do not know what the results were though.
 
 
Anyhow, hope that was of interest.
 
Keep well
 
Garth
---
Garth Cambray       Kamdini Apiaries
15 Park Road        Apis melifera capensis
Grahamstown         800mm annual precipitation
6139
Eastern Cape
South Africa               Phone 27-0461-311663
 
On holiday for a few months     Rhodes University
Which means: working with bees 15 hours a day!
Interests: Fliis and bees
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this post in no way
reflect those of Rhodes University.