THE SCENT OF FLOWERS AS A MEANS OF ATTRACTING ANIMALS. 203 



Garlics (Tulipa sylvestris, Allium Sibiricum, Ghamcemoly, &c.), of the Buckwheat 

 (Polygonum Fagopyrum,), and of many others. The sweet scent of the Clover 

 which occurs in species other than the common meadow Clover (Trifolium 

 pratense) and in other Papilionaceae (e.g. Trifolium, resupinatum, Lathyrus 

 odoratus) is only a form of honey-scent. 



The last group consists of scents produced from ethereal oils destitute of oxygen 

 called terpenes; the scents corresponding to them may therefore be called terpenoids. 

 The materials which give rise to these scents are found sometimes in special 

 receptacles imbedded in the plant-tissues, sometimes in the enlarged end-cells of the 

 so-called glandular or capitate hairs — for the most part in the region of the stem 

 and foliage, more rarely in the flowers. The best-known terpenoid scent occurring 

 in flowers is that of the Orange-flower, produced by Oil of Neroli, which is obtained 

 by distillation of the flowers of Citrus Aurantium; in those of Gardenias 

 (Gardenia), of Pittosporum, Tobira, of the Siberian Pyrus baccata, and somewhat 

 modified in the flowers of some Magnolias (e.g. Magnolia obovata and Yulan); also 

 the Citron scent from Oil of Citron which occurs in the flowers of some species of 

 Thyme (Thymus citriodorus, montanus, &c.), more especially in those of Fraxinella 

 (Dictamnus Fraxinella), and the scent of Lavender which is produced from the 

 Oil of Lavender present not only in the foliage but also in the flowers of 

 Lavandula. 



It has already been incidentally mentioned that two kinds of scent are often 

 liberated simultaneously from the same flower, and that the scent of honey, in 

 particular, frequently combines with some other. The identification of the scent is 

 rendered much more difficult under these circumstances, especially as sometimes 

 one, sometimes the other scent predominates according to the time of day. Not 

 unfrequently one hears wholly different opinions about the scent of a flower. One 

 observer thinks it to be vanilla, perhaps, another a violet scent. Both may be 

 right, since two kinds of scent may be actually liberated from the same flower, 

 whilst individuals are frequently unequally susceptible to all odours. 



The difficulties of identifying the flower scent are also increased by the fact that 

 a certain amount of imagination is almost unavoidable. Taste and sight may also 

 be at fault. On looking at a Carnation one is immediately reminded of the smell of 

 cloves before the scent has actually reached the nose. It is therefore advisable 

 that the flowers should not be seen while their scent is being identified, and that to 

 examine them one should get a friend to hold them before one's nose after one's 

 eyes are shut. 



It is noticeable that similar and closely-allied species of plants often have 

 different scents. Many examples have already been given, amongst others that 

 Gymnadenia conopsea has the smell of cloves, and the very similar Gymnadenia 

 odoratissima a vanilla scent. Of species of the genus Dap)hne, Daphne alpina has 

 a vanilla scent. Daphne striata a lilac scent. Daphne Philippi a scent of violets, and 

 Daphne Blagayana a clove scent. The closely -allied Orchis fragrans and corio- 

 phora can be at once distinguished by the smell of their flowers. The scents^ 



