Today, there are about 375,000 plant species in the world, and new species are being discovered daily. Plants have a wide variety of sizes, shapes, colors and even smells. Everyone is familiar with common plants: ferns, orchids, violets, but most of the plants on this list you have probably never met.
Even if the classification of these plants is rather relative and not everyone will agree with it, the plants are still definitely strange. So, 10 strange plantswhich will most likely make you think twice. You may be interested in the article 10 most expensive flowers.
10. Dionaea Muscipula
Better known as the Venus flytrap, Dionea is one of 670 carnivorous plants discovered by researchers. The plant is able to attract insects and spiders, and as soon as the victim, once inside the plant, touches the tiny hairs, the leaves immediately close. If the prey manages to escape, the trap usually reopens after 12 hours. If the insect is unable to escape, further attempts to escape will only cause the plant to inhale even more and begin the process of digestion.
You've probably seen this plant in stores or even in someone's home, placing it at the bottom of the list despite the odd diet (but let's face it, the carnivore plant is really weird). The stems are often no more than 10 cm long, and may be slightly less than 2.5 cm. In the spring, the plant produces thin white flowers. Due to forest fires, they become vulnerable, which can lead to the threat of extinction. The flycatcher has been transplanted in many places, but originally grew in the swamps of North Carolina. You might think that the venus flytrap is a tropical plant, but, in fact, it blooms in winter.
9 Wolffia Angusta
Wolfia (wulfia), which is sometimes called "water flour", belongs to the genus of the smallest plants on Earth. Of the 38 wolfia species, nine are the smallest plants ever discovered. Wolffia angusta so small that a dozen single plants can easily fit on a pinhead. If you find 2 plants in full bloom, you can place them in a small handwritten "o". Wolffia grows on the surface of the water, which explains the name, since at first glance the plant can be easily mistaken for cornmeal floating in water.
These plants do not have roots and grow in depressions on the surface of the water. They are often grouped and even combined with other similar plants that also grow in water. Wolffia is native to Asia, where it is part of the diet of many people.. It is said to have the same amount of protein as soy, which makes up about 40% of the nutritional value. However, plants are eaten, the size of which does not exceed 6 mm.
8 Lithops Julii
Lithops Julius is a strange plant that you will find in southern Africa. It grows in very hot and dry conditions, and if you know a little Greek, you can guess why. The name of the plant, lithops, comes from the word "Lithos", which means "a rock" and "ops", in translation "Looks like". Lithops Julius is also called a pebble plant, as well as a living stone. Indeed, every part of the plant resembles a stone. For example, most plants are green or yellow in color. But the colors of lithops are cream, gray, brown (sometimes with a red tint).
These colors allow the plant to camouflage itself. But in general, the lithops looks rather dull. Although the plant itself is not very pretty, it blooms. Flowers are very similar to daisies - long white petals and a light yellow center. These flowers usually bloom in autumn. So if you want to have a strange plant with a minimum of flowers at home, you can choose to buy lithops and grow it. These plants will do great with enough light and ventilation and minimal water.
7. Welwitschia Mirabilis
Most living beings need water and food. However, the lack of water may explain the appearance of this plant - a dry rare species definitely matches the shape. The plant grows only 2 leaves during its lifespan, which is approximately 1000-2000 years, but the leaves often split during growth, growing up to 33 cm, giving the appearance of a large number. With such a lifespan, the plant began to be called "living fossil».
Velvichia was first discovered in 1859 by Friedrich Velvich, which explains the origin of the name. These plants tend to grow well in Angola and Namibia. However, they are not widely distributed in Namibia due to the fact that the locals dig and collect them. Minefields in Angola keep them safe. The largest velvichia plant reaches 365 cm in height and 400 cm in width.
6. Victoria Amazonica
You probably know that lilies and water lilies are not huge plants. They are the size of a human hand, or a little more. Unlike water lilies, Amazonian Victoria can accommodate a human hand, as well as the remaining 60 kg of a human body. That's right - they look like platforms on the water. The plant is the largest water lily ever discovered. The root itself is more than 793 cm long, and the leaves and flowers reach 300 cm in diameter. This plant not only differs in size, but also changes colors. When Victoria blooms the first night, the flower is pure white. The next day it is pink. Despite the beauty, the plant is completely covered with thorns, except for the flower, roots and the leaf itself.
The homeland of the plant is the Amazon River basin., it was first introduced into Europe in 1837 by John Lindley. She was named "giant water dish”, but the scientific name was given in honor of Queen Victoria. The plant was so popular that competitions were even held to see who could correctly pluck it first. In 1849 the Duke of Devonshire emerged victorious.
5. Hydnora Africana
South African native hydnora africanus - a parasitic plant that can forever change your opinion about the smell of flowers. It is probably the best known plant for its disgusting smell, which is often compared to the smell of feces. The smell is disgusting, but necessary for the plant's survival, as it attracts dung beetles, scavenger beetles, and other pollinators. The plant catches insects and releases them as soon as it reopens. Gidnora not only smells bad, but also has no aesthetic properties.
This is a dull brown-gray plant that has no leaves and looks lifeless. The plant grows underground, but only part of it can be seen - a fleshy flower that grows outside. Gidnora was first discovered and transplanted to California in 1973 by Sherwin Karlqvist. The idea seems crazy, but the plant is actually edible. The fleshy pulp of the flower is edible, as are the seeds. But who would actually come close to taste it, let alone sniff it?
4. Nepenthes
Nepenthes grows in Indochina, Australia, and throughout the Malay Archipelago. It thrives in high humidity areas with moderate rainfall and plenty of light. Name "monkey cup” is quite appropriate, as many have observed monkeys drinking from bowls of the plant. Nepenthes was first described in 1658 as a plant about 90 cm in size with long 18 cm leaves that hold a hollow flower. The hollow flower is often filled with a liquid that the plant produces itself. The liquid is sometimes drunk by mammals, but its real purpose is to drown its prey. There is a so-calledlid» over the top of the flower with liquid. There are tall flowers that hang from the vine and low flowers that are closer to the ground.
Now, if you thought that the Venus flytrap was dangerous to insects, then you have not heard anything about the Nepenthes plant.This plant eats spiders, insects, scorpions, centipedes, and sometimes lizards, frogs and even snails. Although not very common, it does happen. If you want to have a Nepenthes at home, you can buy seeds and grow it in a greenhouse, but keep in mind that you will have to feed the plant with insects by hand (mainly crickets).
3. Dracunculus vulgaris
A fetid lily or dragon grass, Dracunculus vulgaris takes its name from its shape. The plant has a long black or dark purple pedicel, which is surrounded by a spathe. The flower stalk is often called the dragon that hides under the veil. The plant is most commonly found in the Balkans, including Crete, Greece and the Aegean islands. However, researchers have been able to obtain it in the US from states such as Tennessee, Oregon, and California. They were also taken to Puerto Rico.
Dracunculus got one of the nicknames because of the smell, which is compared to the smell of rotting flesh. The smell attracts pollinators so that the plant can grow. The good news is that the smell is temporary and will eventually fade. The stinking lily is a very hardy plant that grows every year. Plants can have more than 40 flowers at the same time.
2. Rafflesia arnoldii
Rafflesia Arnoldi is another plant on the list that is not famous for its beauty or elegance, but for its size. It belongs to the 10 rarest flowers in the world. Like the common dracunculus, the smell of rafflesia is very similar to the smell of rotting meat, and this is necessary to attract certain insects that pollinate the plant for further growth. The plant was named after Sir Raffles Stamford, who founded the colony of Singapore. You will find the plant in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra, as well as in the Indonesian archipelago. To add to the uniqueness, one can add that the Arnoldi rafflesia is considered the plant with the largest flower, which can weigh up to 11 kg and reach a size of up to 100 cm.
You won't be able to find it in the rainforest. The growth process takes several months, and the flower itself blooms for several days.. At the same time, many believe that the plant is on the verge of extinction. While the flower itself is very interesting, the scent is sure to keep you at bay. The plant has 5 very thick petals that are usually bright orange or red.
1. Amorphophallus Titanium
If you know a little Latin or just English, then you probably know what exactly the word phallus means; but let's look at it as a whole. "Amorphos" means "deformed», «phallus"means"penis", and "titanium"means"big". Yes, in translation it is a large deformed penis. If the scientific name doesn't convince you, its other name "corpse flower».
The name comes from the fact that the plant smells the same as rotting dead flesh. Amorphophallus titanic is a plant native to the rainforests of Sumatra, although it has been transplanted and grown all over the world. The plant reaches 300 cm in height and is very similar to calla, but with a pedicel growing through the middle. Although the smell is unpleasant to humans, it serves to attract carrion beetles, dung beetles, and flies.
