melliferous

1. (botany) Of a plant or its parts: bearing any substance (such as nectar or pollen) which is collected by bees to produce honey.Examples: "[I]t vvas impoſſible to tell the Number of Palm-Trees, Olive-Trees, and Fig-trees [in Canaan]; beſides the Paſturage for raiſing innumerable Cattle; and vvas the great Market, for the Arabians and all the Countries about. And being Mountanous, could not but abound vvith Melliferous Plants of the beſt kind."; "Pliny [the Elder] ſays this flovver [the anemone] […] differs alſo from ranunclulus in not having a melliferous pore on the clavv of each petal."; "Thus, for the due fertilization of the common Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) it is necessary that the irritable stamens should be brought into contact with the pistil by the application of some stimulus to the base of the filament; but this would never take place were not insects attracted by the melliferous glands of the flower to insinuate themselves amongst the filaments, and thus while seeking their own food unknowingly fulfil the intentions of nature in another department."

2. (by extension) Producing honey.Examples: "The Hymenoptera belonging to the melliferous or honey-collecting division of the Aculeata, are known by the peculiar conformation of the hind feet, of which the first joint is compressed and extended into the form of a square plate, and provided on its inside with brush-like tufts; these organs are employed for the purpose of collecting and carrying the pollen of flowers, which is employed for the nourishment of the young."; "It is stated that honey has been found in the galleries of certain exotic species of Ants, but it is doubtful whether they have not stolen it from some other animals. However this may be, the most perfect melliferous animals are the Bees."; "[B]oth effective developmental beekeeping and population studies of honeybees are totally predicated on a knowledge of the natural distributions, relative population densities and carrying capacity of real or potential melliferous lands."Synonyms: mellificbroadly

3. (figurative) Honeyed, sweet.Examples: "melliferous music"; "[…] Chriſt Jeſus, […] vvith the cæleſtiall devv of his ſpirituall graces diſtilling from the throne of his mercy, (vvhich is perfumed vvith the ſvveet ſmelling incenſe of his meritorious ſacrifice) doeth ſvveeten vvith melliferous odours, the hearts, and ſoules and conſciences of his children, making them acceptable in the noſtrils of their heauenly Father."; "VVhat melliferous ſounds are theſe I hear, / Svviftly floating thro' the ambient air? / It is the note of pure ſeraphic fire, / Svveetly hailing our much honour'd Sire."Synonyms: dulcet, nectareal, nectarean, nectarine, nectarous, saccharine, sappy, sugaryfiguratively