Melianthus major  L.   Melianthaceae (Melianthus Family)   South Africa   Melianthus     Honey Flower

                                            May Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Strong scented glabrous shrub to 10 ft. or more, widely creeping roots; lvs. odd-pinnate, 1 ft. or more long, dull green above, paler beneath; stipules connate into 1 intra-axillary piece, attached to lower part of petiole,2 in. or more long; lfts. 9-11, deeply serrate, to 6 in. long, petiole with cuneate wings between lfts.; racemes densely fld., 1 ft. or more long; bracts ovate acuminate; fls. red-brown, 1 in. long; caps. papery, 1-1.25 in. long, glabrous; disk with nectar-bearing glands

Habitat:  A half dozen S. African shrubs, grown for ornament in warm regions. 

Name:  Greek, Melian-thus, honey flower.  (Bailey 642).  Latin, major, larger.  (Jaeger 148).     

General:  Rare in the study area with only one plant known and this on an upper bluff about .5 miles northerly of Big Canyon.  The original plant was discovered in 1987, by 1996 when the next photos were taken, there were several plants covering many times more area than the original plant.  (my comments).      The entire plant is toxic, especially the root.  It contains toxic bufadienolides (cardiac glycosides) that produce, in humans and animals, increased salivation, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, cyanosis of the mucous membranes, rapid weak pulse and extreme exhaustion.  The plants are extremely toxic, requiring only a small amount to produce poisoning.  The plant has black nectar and is attractive to bees.  The honey is quite black and is considered toxic.  (Fuller 192,193).        The leaves are used to heal septic and necrotic wounds; the rootbark is used to treat snakebite. (Information on identification plaque at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town, South Africa).         African trees or shrubs, of 3 genera and about 20 species.  (Bailey 642).

Text Ref:  Bailey 642.

Photo Ref:  March-April 87 # 20; Jan-Mar 96 # 14,15; May 96 # 5A.

Identity: by John Johnson.

First Found:  April 1987.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 354.

No plant specimen.

Last edit 4/15/06.  

 

                                       March Photo                                                                          March Photo