Diacetyl as a Flower Scent

Abstract

A RECENT publication by Derx¹ recorded diacetyl as the cause of the butter-like scent of the flowers of Fagræa racemosa Jack. (Loganiaceæ); another case of the same phenomenon can now be recorded. This new observation was also made in the Botanic Garden at Bogor, Java. A flowering specimen of Polyalthia canangioides Boerl. var. angustifolia (Anonaceæ), a beautiful tree, exhaled a heavy odour of fresh butter. Some flowers were tested, with positive results, for the presence of diacetyl by the method described by Derx. The red, dichroitic, crystal needles of dimethylglyoximendash;nickel appeared within 30min., so it was concluded that in this case, too, the smell of the flowers is caused by diacetyl. Diacetyl has thus been found in flowers of plants belonging to different families.