Why are some flowers fragrant and others odorless?

Answer 1

The scent produce by flowers is actually used to attract pollinators.

For scented plants, these are usually insects as most birds (there are a few exceptions) don't really have a sense of smell.

Flowers produce chemicals which emanate into the air, some scientists think it help attract pollinating insects and even food for some, but be aware much of the information is conjecture, there is very little information on this subject, at best it sounds reasonable.

The primary reason flowers have scent is to attract pollinators. These insects spread the flower's pollen and the flower can fulfill its purpose, which is reproduction. Usually these scents are also pleasant to a human's sense of smell but not always. Over the centuries, flowers have specialized their scent to attract certain insects and repel others. For example, the Rafflesia and the North American paw paw smell like rotting meat to attract flies, which will then spread the flower's pollen and aid in reproduction.

The essential oils, or aromatic compounds, found in flowers produce scent. These oils are a combination of chemical acids and alcohol. The amount and ratio of oil and alcohol gives flower their individual fragrances.

Answer 2

If I remember my botany it depends on whether the flower involved has:

*female-a sticky or hairy stigma (hairy=soft colour+sweet smell, sticky=bright colour+no smell)

-the size of the style (tube to the stigma) (big=strong smell, small=little to no smell)

*male-the shape of the anther (round=bright colour, oval=soft color)

-the size of the filament (tube leading to anther) (big=strong smell+bright, small=weak+soft)

-the amount of nectar in the sepal (alot=pungent odour, little=next to no smell)

Answer 3

Flowers have scents to attract insects and other animals to pollinate them.

Answer 4

They're scented so insects will be attracted to them, so that those insects will pollinate them, and they'll reproduce and survive.

Answer 5

To attract pollinators for pollination

Answer 6

what are the kind of odorless