>The terminology of the phrase is bold is not correct. It's true that honey bees collect nectar from inter- and extra-floral nectaries on cotton (from nectar producing structures inside and outside the flowers), but nectaries do not produce honeydew, they produce nectar.
This is from Savannah Bee Company:
"Honeydew is a sugary liquid that is produced by aphids when they feed on plant sap or phloem. The aphid's tap into the plants sugary phloem (liquid inside the plants vascular system) with a long, straw-like proboscis. Honeydew is actually the sugary waste product produced by the aphid after feeding on plant phloem. It falls to the forest floor or onto leaves near by. Certain types of moths, bees and birds will then gather the honeydew. Honeybees use it to create honeydew honey, which is much darker in color and stronger in flavor than honey from nectar. It is less sweet and much more aromatic than typical honey and it commands a high price in certain parts of the world. In the US, we rarely see honeydew honey. However it is much more abundant in Europe."
Yes I agree the slain southern phrase might not be the correct scientific name honeydew.😊 Your article does not mention the known ability of cotton to produce nectar externally. Here is another that I found which states nectar is produced from external and not just of the bloom. I will not use the term Honey Dew lol...
THE PEACE BEE FARMER
PEACE BEE FARM MASTER BEEKEEPER RICHARD UNDERHILL OF CONWAY, ARKANSAS MUSES ON LIFE WITH THE BEES AND OTHER THINGS.
Cotton is in bloom across the Arkansas Delta. Cotton, grown for fiber, is also an important source of nectar for the production of honey. Honey bees forage cotton on both its internal and external nectaries. Honey bees collect nectar secreted inside the pale yellow flowers on the first day of their bloom. After one day, the flowers change colors, becoming dark pink. The honey bees learn that the change of flower colors means they must move to the external nectaries. The honey bees then collect nectar from the green-colored bracts, leaf-like flower parts on the base of the flower. They also find nectar secreted from the under-side of the leaves. Cotton is a member of the mallow family which includes cultivated hibiscus plants, hollyhock, and okra. Swamp mallow, particularly attractive to bumble bees, is found along the banks of irrigation ditches and bodies of water.