Question

But those who ate this honeyed plant, the Lotus,

Answer 1

The men who ate the lotus plant did not want to continue on the journey. They did not want to do anything except eat more lotus. The lotus made them forget about their home.

Answer 2

The flower if drank, made those not want to go home to their families, but they want to. The flower makes them do things they dont want to, this is like alcohol or drugs. People take them and they may do things they dont want to, they have to control.