Hi, Joe and Allen,
Certain honeys of Asia Minor had (and still have) a reputation for toxicity
to humans, but the alleged source plants, Azalea pontica and Rhododendron
ponticum, may be getting a bum rap. Some authorities (e.g. Tournefort),
with apparent reason, blame the poisonous effect on contamination with
nectar from Nerium oleander, which belongs to a family of plants well-known
to include toxic members, and which produce poisonous honey in areas in
which the accused plants don't bloom. Who knows?
Reportedly some of this toxic honey is deliberately taken for its effects,
like other drugs.
Walter Weller
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