Why Are Plants so Smelly? They Just Make Scents!

Learn how plants use physical and chemical cues to communicate and interact with other organisms in their environment. Participants will match volatile scent compounds to the plants that produce them, extract pigments from flower petals, and touch leaves covered in sticky glandular trichomes or sharp spines. Changes in understanding of the science of smell, and the influence of personal experiences on what we "like and dislike" will be assessed by asking participants questions about fragrance and food preferences before and after the activity.