On the Scent of Orchids
1993; American Chemical Society; Linguagem: Inglês
10.1021/bk-1993-0525.ch018
ISSN1947-5918
Autores Tópico(s)Molecular spectroscopy and chirality
ResumoThe orchid family is most likely the largest and at the same time the youngest family of flowering plants. Over 25,000 species, subdivided into some 750 genera, are known to exist, and no other plant family seems to offer such a wide variety of shapes, colors and, above all, scents. The present paper tries to illustrate with a series of selected examples that the enormous diversity in the scent composition of orchid flowers may be considered as a reflection of the equally extreme diversity in pollination principles found within this family. Discussed are also experimental aspects to be considered for the trapping and investigation of such flower scents. Finally, special emphasis is given to the identification and synthesis of new or unusual natural products, which are not only of olfactory but possibly also of semiochemical interest.
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