Abstract
The volatile fraction of Dactylanthus taylorii flower nectar from male and female plants has been shown to contain squalene as a major constituent. The inflorescence from male plants contained approximately twice the amount of squalene as that detected in the inflorescence of female plants. In addition, the nectar contained C 21 to C 31 hydrocarbons and in one of the male plants samples, ethyl and benzyl esters of hexadecanoic and C 18 to C 23 polyunsaturated fatty acids as other significant lipid components. The fragrance chemicals in the nectar comprised a relatively simple mixture of butenols, butanols and pentanols, benzyl and phenylethyl alcohols, nerol, geraniol and ethyl esters of benzoic, salicylic and cinnamic acids. The inflorescence from female plants contained approximately five times the amount of benzyl alcohol compared with the amount from the inflorescences of male plants. The importance of the nectar volatile compounds in bat pollination and browsing of Dactylanthus inflorescences by possums and ship rats is briefly discussed.
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