Bitter-tasting nectar and floral odors optimize outcrossing for plants

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Flower visitor Selasphorus rufus (left) flower components nicotine (N) a repellent present in the nectar and benzyl acetone (BA) a volatile attractant released by petals (right). Both components optimize the plants production of outcrossed seeds. Ima ...
Flower visitor Selasphorus rufus (left); flower components nicotine (N), a repellent present in the nectar, and benzyl acetone (BA), a volatile attractant released by petals (right). Both components optimize the plant’s production of outcrossed seeds. Image: Danny Kessler, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology
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Animals "personally" bring their gametes together – seeking out sexual partners, mating, fertilizing, and reproducing. Plants, however, are sessile organisms and require the help of a third party, the pollinator, which can be a bird, mouse or insect that transport pollen to receptive stigmas frequently over large distances. The colors and shapes of flowers as well as their volatile signals and nectar attract and reward the pollinators for their efforts.


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