FLORAL SCENT VARIATION IN THE PYROLA-ROTUNDIFOLIA COMPLEX IN SCANDINAVIA AND WESTERN GREENLAND

The variation in floral scent composition within and among populations of four taxa belonging to the Pyrola rotundifolia complex was analyzed using Principal Component Analysis. Two major groups were recognized, P. norvegica and P. grandiflora on the one side and P. rotundifolia s. str. on the other. Benzaldehyde dominated the scent of the first group and methoxy benzenes and phenyl propanoids that of the second group. A large variation in the floral scent chemistry was found both within some of the studied populations as well as among them. The floral scent composition of P. rotundifolia ssp. maritima was no more different from P. rotundifolia ssp. rotundifolia, than the differences between populations of P. rotundifolia ssp. rotundifolia. The findings are in partial agreement with the current delimitation of the taxa in the P. rotundifolia complex.