Did you know?
Flowers produce scents via specialised glands located in their sepals, petals, labellum and body. The scents themselves are typically complex mixtures of low molecular weight and volatile compounds that, combined with the plant’s shape and colour, are specially tailored to attract pollinating insects. The volatile compounds emitted from the flower act as multirange attractants, with their odour intensifying in relation to their proximity – this ability is especially important to plants that are largely pollinated by nocturnal insects. Interestingly, the scent of a flower varies in odour and intensity depending on the insect it wishes to attract, as well as its maturity. Plants that are commonly pollinated by bees and flies tend to have sweet scents, while those pollinated by beetles and larger insects produce the opposite, favouring musty odours.