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Author Topic: Can White Snakeroot - Ageratina altissima - produce poisonous honey?  (Read 3407 times)

Offline nighthawk

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Howdy,

Here, in New York City, the fall wildflowers are in full bloom.  One good thing about my garden being overgrown, this year, is that there is plenty of goldenrod, asters and White Snakeroot for the kids to forage on.

I am wondering about the White Snakeeroot (Ageratina altissima aka Eupatorium rugosum), though.  I know that the leaves are very poisonous and can kill animals that eat the leaves, as well as poison the milk produced by animals that eat the leaves. 

I'm wondering if anyone knows if the nectar and/or pollen of White Snakeroot is also poisonous...either to the foragers, the larvae that will be fed the nectar and/or pollen or the honey the bees will produce using the nectar.

Today, I saw mostly honeybees that were laden with big pollen baskets.  But, I don't know if they'll also be foraging for nectar on those flowers, too.

Any ideas or experience with this?  Any info would be greatly appreciated.  White Snakeroot is very, very common in parklands, shore areas,  open lots, and gardens throughout the area.

Thanks so much!

Jess
Jess

Offline AllenF

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Re: Can White Snakeroot - Ageratina altissima - produce poisonous honey?
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2012, 04:19:26 pm »
http://www.pollenlibrary.com/Specie/Ageratina+altissima/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_American_nectar_sources_for_honey_bees

They are a minor source of honey and I have not found where the poison is found in the honey.