toxicity of Boophone disticha pollen ?

Ken kjblack@pacbell.net
Sun, 04 May 2008 21:51:14 PDT
I have several times now developed both a headache and sore eyes after attempting to pollinate my Boophone disticha blooms.  More recently, pain in the lower right side of my back (liver?  or just muscular?) lasting almost a day after spending 10-15 minutes in very close proximity (1-2 feet) while pollinating the individual florets.  Today, I decided to wear safety goggles and took breaths away from the flower, holding and exhaling each time I drew near the flower to accomplish my pollination task.  Happily, I did not suffer the same ill affects this time around.  Has anybody else shared this experience?  Does the pollen share some of the same toxic qualities for which the bulb and leaves are known?
   
  Ken
  San Diego
  USDA Zone 10   


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