ABSTRACT
Analysis of the emission of nectar from 102 species in 82 genera and 38 families showed most intensive fluorescence in UV-light for Prunus persica, Allium porrum, Convolvulus arvensis, Daucus carota, Phaceiia viscida, and Robinia pseudoacaci (Thorp et al., 1975). The color of the emission varied from blue (nectar from mentioned species) to yellow (in Muilla maritima) or changed the color (in Fagopyrum peploides). The source of the blue-green fluorescence, besides phenols, may be terpenoids like in floral nectar droplets from Maxillaria anceps (Davies e t al., 2005). This fluorescence is considered as likely useful for pollinators to locate and recognize rewards and to distinguish between reward-bearing and rewardless flowers (Cruden, 1972; Peumans et al., 1997; Radice and Galati, 2003).
