Pollination ecology and floral scent chemistry of <i>Philodendron fragrantissimum</i> (Araceae)

In French Guiana, Philodendron fragrantissimum (Hook.) G.Don was specifically pollinated by a single species of night-active cyclocephaline scarab, Cyclocephala simulatrix Höhne. Its inflorescences exhibited short-lasting anthesis (~30 h) and characteristic floral traits such as thermogenesis, edible/nutritious tissues, profuse scent emission. Our insect exclusion experiments indicate that entomophilous cross-pollination is obligatory for P. fragrantissimum, with olfactory signalling playing pivotal role in pollinator attraction. Three volatile organic compounds – methyl benzoate, (Z)-jasmone, dehydrojasmone dominate the pistillate phase (84–99%), but their relative proportions were different according to headspace sampling method used, dynamic or static. Local pollination services provided both female male C. are effective, evidenced high visitation rate (>70%) resulted 55% maturing into infructescences. Moreover, highly efficient, since 2–3 beetles sufficed pollinate an average 94% flowers.