I would think, and this is just speculation on my part, that if an orchid emmits an odor to attract insects it would be to advertise the general location of the flower. With the exception ofcourse of orchids that realse their perfumes at night, in which case the pollinator would only have smell to help find the flower. So colors, UV 'pathways' would be the orchid's way of flaging down the pollinator so it can get to the flower.
Anyone know if there is a correlation between orchids that release strong odors, and time of day/night that pollinators appear? maybe orchids that release really strong odors depend on night pollinators (bats, moths, etc..) While orchids that depend on diurnal pollinators like bees and hummingbirds rely more colors????
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All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
-J.R.R. Tolkien, LOTR, Fellowship of the Ring
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