Variation in the chemical composition of cone volatiles within the African cycad genus Encephalartos

► Diverse volatiles characterise Encephalartos odours with similarities among species. ► There is interspecific variation in odours of 19 Encephalartos taxa. ► The compounds (3E)-1,3-octadiene and (3E,5Z)-1,3,5-octatriene occur in most species. ► Variations in odour profile of Encephalartos taxa suggest adaptive response. ► Geography, phylogeny nor pollination can fully explain the interspecific variations.