Chapter 1
The World's Fair spark
Chapter 2
Political battles and flower wars
Chapter 3
More than just pretty petals
Chapter 4
Hidden dangers and toxic beauties
YOUR GOAL
Master of Secrets of US state flowers
Ch 4 · Hidden dangers and toxic beauties
schopenhauer Carolina Jessamine
Gold petals climbing on the southern wall, But that sweet-tasting nectar is a trap for us all.
schopenhauer The beautiful white dogwood flower is actually made of fake petals designed to protect the true flower.
schopenhauer West Virginia's rhododendron produces a nectar that can turn honey into a poisonous hallucinogenic substance.
BETA
schopenhauer Match state flowers to historical events to discover the stories behind America's official symbols.
Fun Fact
Mad honey: West Virginia's rhododendron produces toxins that can make honey hallucinogenic and poisonous to humans.
Glossary
toxin (noun)
A poisonous substance produced by a living organism that is capable of causing disease or harm. South Carolina adopted the yellow jessamine, which contains this deadly toxin, as its state flower in 1924.
A poisonous substance produced by a living organism that is capable of causing disease or harm. South Carolina adopted the yellow jessamine, which contains this deadly toxin, as its state flower in 1924.
Quiz
What are the large white 'petals' of North Carolina's flowering dogwood botanically classified as?
Quiz
What toxic chemical compound is found inside the seeds of Delaware's state flower, the peach blossom?
Quiz
What toxin in Connecticut's mountain laurel makes every part of the plant poisonous?
Quiz
What is the name of the toxic honey produced when bees harvest nectar from West Virginia's rhododendron?
Quiz
Which state adopted the highly toxic mountain laurel as its official floral emblem in 1907?
Quiz
In 1895, how many peach trees did Delaware boast when it adopted the peach blossom?
Quiz
In what year did North Carolina officially adopt the flowering dogwood as its state flower?
Quiz
Which toxin found in West Virginia's rhododendron causes the symptoms of mad honey poisoning?