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Date: | Wed, 18 May 1994 09:53:00 -0700 |
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Senecio jacobaea, called tansy ragwort here, has been accidentaly
introduced into several places in North America, including the Fraser
Valley near Vancouver. Several years ago I worked for an entomologist
attempting to introduce biological control insects (cinnabar moths
didn't work because ground beetles cleaned up too well on their ground
level pupae, but 2 species of specific seed eating flies are doing not a
bad job since).
The 93 edition Hive and honey bee (p 1195) lists S. jacobaea as
poisonous to bees or brood, but doesn't give a reference for details.
I've read that the alkaloids in tansy ragwort seeds (contaminating some
grain crop, maybe Africa??) were enough to cause health problems in
human consumers. (dairy cattle consuming tansy ragwort (in hay where
they don't avoid it) have their liver harmed).
Malcolm, there may be some information on alkaloid content of tansy
ragwort honey available through your Agriculture ministry.
Knapweed (Centaurea sp which has invaded about 100,000 acres of
rangeland in B.C) sometimes is the source of large crops of a lovely
looking golden honey which has not a bad flavour which in a few seconds
turns to a very bitter taste which sticks in your mouth. Apparently the
bitterness dissappears after a few months storage. It isn't listed as
one of the poisonous plants.
cheers
Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist
B.C. Ministry of Agriculture
1201 103 Ave
Dawson Creek B.C.
V1G 4J2 CANADA Tel (604) 784-2225 fax (604) 784-2299
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