I casually wrote: "maybe they just miss the point: food is not simply chemistry, it's biology."

Apropos that, I read this morning:

It may seem rather out of place that a physical chemist should address
a gathering of biologists on the relationships which exist between bees
and flowers, and on the problems related to nectar and pollen which
still need attention. I therefore wish to emphasize that my purpose
is not to instruct but to remind you of a number of interesting facts
in the bee-flower relationship which require explanation.

The chemical analysis of pollen shows that its composition varies
within wide limits amongst different species of plants ; the protein
ranges from 7.9 to 40.0 per cent ; the fat from 1.5 to 23.6 per cent ;
the ash from 2-8 to 10.6 per cent ; and the sugars from 0.8 to 11.1 per cent.

We have already shown that bees select the flowers which are
secreting the nectar of highest sugar content within their range, and
in a similar way they select the most attractive pollens-although
we do not know the determining factors which lead to this selection.

Vansell records that cotton pollen was
abundant and easily accessible in the San Joaquin Valley in September
1938, but the bees devoted their attention almost entirely to the limited
supply of green pollen of the blue curls (Trichostema lunceolaturn) found
in the same neighbourhood. Similarly, the pollen on sunflower blossoms
was neglected in favour of that found on spikeweed (Centromdk
pungens). As the amounts of fats, protein, ash, etc., varies so markedly
in the pollen of different plants it is possible that bees find it necessary
to blend their pollen loads in order to obtain a balanced diet.

There are a number of peculiar honeys, the origin of which cannot
be traced with certainty; for example, a green honey is sometimes
obtained in Illinois, and a beautiful pink honey is obtained near Stirling
and in parts of Galloway. The pink honey is stated to be derived from
wild geranium, but the following 'pollen analysis' by Yate Allen shows
that, it is entirely free of pollen grains from this plant, so that its origin
is still unknown.

We have presented a number of facts which are involved in the study
of the bee flower relationship, and many of these still await a satisfactory
explanation. It is probable that a botanist or a bio-chemist would
have treated the subject in a very different way.

Excerpted from the 46 page treatise:

Pryce‐Jones, John. "SOME PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH NECTAR, POLLEN AND HONEY." Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London. Vol. 155. No. 2. Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 1944.

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