2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
The delicacy of the flowers, the perfection of the shapes, the fancy color of the petals inspire and fascinate. But even more people are attracted by the smells of the plant world. It is unlikely that anyone wondered, admiring the flower, why they smell that way and not otherwise. What is the basis of floral fragrances? Let's try to figure it out
To make the flowers of plants turn into the beauty that we enjoy today, insects have worked very hard to stimulate plants to create a special substance called "nectar", which would attract insects with its aroma, forcing them to pollinate in response to a sweet treat. After all, relying only on the wind and self-pollination is a very risky business. The wind will not want to walk through the flower thickets, and plants will remain without offspring. And with nectar and pollen, the flowers have become a very tasty refuge for numerous insects, where you have a table for dinner, and a roof over your head, under which you can lay eggs without fear to continue your own kind, and a source of building material, for example, for honeycombs …
Nectar is the food of gods, insects, birds …
Pollen serves as a natural food pantry for insects. After all, it contains all the substances necessary for insects to maintain life and procreation (proteins and fats, carbohydrates and enzymes, and even such delights as vitamins).
Water is dangerous for pollen, which is why flowers have learned various everyday tricks. Bending the cetopod, they seem to bow their flower head in obedience to the natural elements, when rain streams are about to pour from heaven or morning dew sprinkles the grass. Such a picture is clearly demonstrated by the flowers of Bells and Water Lilies, protecting and preserving pollen, closing their petals tightly.
To become a source of nectar, the flowers had to acquire "nectaries" - special glands, which produce an aqueous solution of different types of sugars, the concentration of which depends on the type of plant and the place that the plant has chosen for its life. Leaders in concentration include Sophora Japanese (80%), Linden (72%), Horse chestnut (about 75%) and many other plants.
Each pollinator has different tastes for the consistency of nectar. If bees like the golden mean, then serve watery nectar to miniature hummingbirds. And, of course, nectar is famous not for "sugars" alone. It contains proteins, fats, amino acids and other "gentleman's" set of substances, without which life would have completely different external forms. Fatter food lovers choose flowers of Creeping Buttercup or Bearberry. Those who need proteins attack Buckwheat or Common Heather. In general, the many-sided plant world has prepared a treat for any insect according to its personal taste. For example, the Vanilla orchid is a delicacy exclusively for black bees, which are found only in America, and therefore in Madagascar you have to manually pollinate the flowers in order to get the valuable spice of the same name.
Where do the aromas come from
Plants show enviable ingenuity, hiding their aromas not only in bright petals, but also puzzling nectaries, sterile and anther stamens. Essential oils are sometimes produced by special glands. A variety of ingredients can be the source of floral aromas:
* Amines - organic substances (ammonia derivatives) give the so-called aminoid odor. We meet him at the familiar plants: bright rowan, thorny hawthorn, sour berries Barberry and Dogwood, attracting flies and beetles.
* Essential oils - or primary alcohols. For example, the scent of Rose is due to "geraniol"; spring Lily of the valley - "linalool"; slender Hyacinth - "brown alcohol"; and the incomparable Jasmine smells of several alcohols at once. It is not for nothing that such aromas are called intoxicating.
Interestingly, the pure flower nectar from which bees produce honey is odorless. But he is able to absorb the smells of different parts of the flower, which attract pollinators, and are also transmitted "inherited" to honey.
For whom do flowers smell?
The scent exuded by the flowers is needed by the pollinating partners on mutually beneficial terms. Therefore, they agree on the terms of their cooperation, choosing a time convenient for everyone. If pollinators are nocturnal, then the flowers begin to exude a stronger aroma towards evening and at night, being not only a delicacy for insects, but also a kind of beacons for orientation in space.
For flies that love the smell of falling, nature has created flowers, from which a person tries to run away as soon as possible. Among such plants, the famous giant Rafflesia is in the lead.
Such a strong collaboration between plants and insects can be envied. Evening is approaching, and the air is filled with the fragrance of medicinal soap, multi-colored Petunia, Lyubka two-leaved …, preparing to meet with nocturnal butterflies. And for daytime insects, fruit trees exude aromas, as well as the field Lucerne and Clover and many others.
If you think about it, we enjoy the smells of flowers, we imitate floral scents that are not intended for us at all, but for numerous pollinators, these buzzing and fluttering workers of nature.
Recommended:
Say A Word For Dandelion
I don't know why a cute yellow dandelion so annoyed one of my friends, but she declared war on him in earnest and chases him around her decent-sized summer cottage with a pipette in her hands. The pipette is loaded with some kind of chemical, which she sprinkles under every dandelion root that comes her way. Apparently, she does not know one magical property of dandelion, which I learned about too late
What Spoils The Interior: 10 Important Nuances
Regular cleaning, beautifully arranged accessories, pleasant furniture tones … - all this may not be enough to make the interior attractive and cozy. What's the matter? Perhaps minor mistakes have been made that spoil the overall impression of the house
Planting Garlic In The Fall: Important Nuances
If you have a piece of land, but there are no plans for it yet, use it profitably - plant garlic! This culture takes up little space, but it is valued almost worth its weight in gold. What is needed in order for the planting of winter garlic to be successful?
Say A Word About The Benefits Of Burdock
This seemingly inconspicuous plant with spiny balls clinging to everything turns out to be a real treasure. Although many do not even notice it. Well, at most, use its wide leaves as a covering material for seedlings, so that the latter does not die from the heat in the sun
A Few Important Things To Do Before Vacation
Going on a long-awaited vacation, most people are in a state of euphoria. Because of her, it is just that you can forget about the important things that need to be done before the trip, so that later you can relax without unnecessary fuss
