Image
Honey Flower, (Melianthus comosus)

A sign identified the plant
(1 of 3) (5302 views)

./HoneyFlowerArboretumSantaCruz20100311_122910_2556BCX.jpg

The sign read:

Patrick Elvander external link Taxonomy Trail
Honey Flower or
Herb-Touch-Me-Not
Melianthus comosus
Melianthus Family (Melianthaceae)
Note the abundant black nectar that
attracts birds and insects in S. Africa.
Unpleasant foliage fragrance some say
resembles B vitamins or rancid peanut
butter. Said to be used in South Africa
to treat snake bites (Calgary Zoo, 2007)
Honey Flower (Melianthus comosus)   •  Also called Kruidjie-roer-my-nie (African)   •  Also called Herb-Touch-Me-Not (English)   •  A flowering plant of South Africa   •  Arboretum, Santa Cruz, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 4 April 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:29:10 Thursday 11 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #122910_2556BCX
Add a comment or report a mistake

Large serrated leaves
(2 of 3) (3111 views)

./HoneyFlowerArboretumSantaCruz20100311_123024_2558BCX.jpg

The large green serrated leaves were clustered towards the tips of the branches. Melianthus is the Greek word Meli (honey) and anthos (flower). Comosus means "with a tuft of hair or leaves."

Honey Flower (Melianthus comosus)   •  Also called Kruidjie-roer-my-nie (African)   •  Also called Herb-Touch-Me-Not (English)   •  A flowering plant of South Africa   •  Arboretum, Santa Cruz, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 4 April 2010)   •  (Photo taken 12:30:24 Thursday 11 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #123024_2558BCX
Add a comment or report a mistake

The flowers were tube shaped
(3 of 3) (3144 views)

./HoneyFlowerArboretumSantaCruz20100311_133018_2557BCX.jpg

Tube-shaped warm-colored flowers were claimed to produce an "abundance of nectar" to attract Sunbirds, Cape White Eyes, bees and butterflies. The "herb-touch-me-not" name referred to a contact smell so potent it could mask human odors in traps.

Honey Flower (Melianthus comosus)   •  Also called Kruidjie-roer-my-nie (African)   •  Also called Herb-Touch-Me-Not (English)   •  A flowering plant of South Africa   •  Arboretum, Santa Cruz, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 4 April 2010)   •  (Photo taken 13:30:18 Thursday 11 March 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #133018_2557BCX
Add a comment or report a mistake
Subscribe to our mailing list for a Sunday summary of the week's stories.
* indicates required
Email Format
home • contact • topic guide • top 25 • photos • video • writing • blogs • upload • terms • privacy