Tazetta fragrance + flower fragrance in general
J.E. Shields (Fri, 26 Dec 2003 15:42:35 PST)

Hi all,

I'm enjoying the discussion of fragrances, and especially Mark McDonough's
dissertation. I must admit that it is however all a bit "academic' to me;
I've been anosmic for the past 10 to 15 years. (This is probably due to a
combination of over 65 years of allergies plus ca. 40 years as a bench
chemist.)

I try to view things like flower odors from a perspective of evolutionary
biology. Jane may have found a few stenches indescribable, but I'd guess
they all have their counterparts in the animal kingdom. Foul smelling
flowers are usually pollinated by carrion or dung eating insects.

The sweet fragrances have apparently developed to attract other types of
pollinators. White, night blooming flowers have such fragrances, to draw
their pollinators, usually moths, till they are close enough to see the
pale flowers by the light of moon or stars.

Someone has already reminded us that bird-pollinated flowers are usually
red in color but lack odors. Most birds do not use their sense of smell to
find food.

If a flower odor is hard to describe, you probably have just not
encountered its model in the animal kingdom yet.

Best wishes,
Jim Shields
in central Indiana. where the sun was shinning today and the snow has
almost disappeared

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Jim Shields USDA Zone 5 Shields Gardens, Ltd.
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