Carolina Jessamine Gelsemium sempervirens
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 00:24 — estherucar
I heard in a lecture that Carolina Jessamine (a native plant) produces a nectar that is fatal to honeybees (non native insects). They are very attracted to the scent of the flowers and when they carry the nectar back home it can kill the entire colony. Can somebody please expand on this?
I'm not sure how toxic it is
I did find information that says that the leaves and flowers express gelsemine, an alkaloid that is deterrent and sometimes toxic to visitors. It is pollinated by bees and the gelsemine is primarily thought to be a deterrent to herbivores.