INFLORESCENCE ODORS OF AMORPHOPHALLUS AND PSEUDODRACONTIUM (ARACEAE)

The inflorescence odours of 18 species of Amorphophallus and two speci es of Pseudodracontium were analysed by headspace techniques and compa red to the limited data on potential pollinators. The odours of specie s with 'gaseous' or carrion smells had a simple chemical composition, consisting mainly of dimethyl oligosulphides. The odours of other Amor phophallus species having different smells were also generally dominat ed by one or two compounds: e.g. trimethylamine in ii. brachyphyllus, isocaproic acid in A. elatus, 4-methoxyphenethyl alcohol in A. albispa thus, and isoamyl acetate with ethyl acetate in A. haematospadix. The production of odours containing dimethyl oligosulphides appears to be a common feature of sapromyophilous flowers that attract carrion insec ts. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.