10 most unusual plants in the world and their photos

The flora of the planet Earth is sometimes striking in its diversity and exoticism. The outlandish appearance of some of them excites the imagination. In this article, we will tell you what unusual plants you can find in different parts of the world.

10 unusual plants

Rafflesia Arnoldi

Rafflesia Arnoldi can rightfully be called the largest flower of all. Its size is almost 1 m in diameter, and its weight is about 10 kg. The fleshy blood-red petals with whitish spots are eye-catching, but you won't be able to get close to it because of the ... smell! The pronounced smell of decomposing protein helps pollinate the plant. Rafflesia reproduces in an unusual way. Since this plant has no leaves or rhizomes, the flower seeds cling to the surrounding vegetation. That is, they choose their own master and develop at the expense of him. You can admire rafflesia on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

Hirantodendron

This plant has a second unofficial name. Five bright scarlet petals of an elongated shape are similar to the fingers of a hand. This picture looks a little creepy, so another name for hirantodendron is the hand of the devil. This is probably why the ancient inhabitants used the flowers of this tree in the administration of mysterious rituals. The plant is quite large, its height is about 30 m, and the trunk in girth can reach 2 m. By the way, the strange-tasting fruits of Hirantodendron were used for medicinal purposes.

Dragon tree

These unusual plants can be seen in the tropics of Africa. Scientists put forward a version that a tree can live from 6 to 9 millennia! But it is not possible to check this, since there are no rings on the cut of the tree. If you slightly damage the wood of the tree, then a red liquid - resin - will literally seep out of the wound. The ancient inhabitants of these places revered and worshiped the tree. Currently, there are many who want to see exotic beauty with their own eyes. Such an opportunity is presented to visitors to the island of Tenerife, because there the dragon tree is the official symbol.

Venus flytrap

This beautiful, but at the same time frightening plant can be found on the coast of America. The flower bud looks like an open mouth. And it's not in vain! The carnivorous plant secretes a special substance that attracts insects. The sticky barrel sticks the victim tightly. The flycatcher will take time for the flower to digest the caught fly, about 10 days. After the hunt is repeated again. This process is quite interesting to observe, so some amateur gardeners purchase a Venus flytrap for their collection.

Baobab

Baobab grows in the African shroud. It is truly enormous in size, and the gigantic trunk is a storehouse of all vital substances. It is the main plant of the shroud. The inhabitants of Africa use the bark of the baobab tree for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. In the rainy season, the tree inside becomes empty from excessive moisture. The trunk of an old baobab tree can hold more than a dozen people. In the fall, the tree blooms, but only for one night.

Lithops

These are really unusual plants, which cannot be called a plant at first glance. Translated from Greek, the name of this plant sounds roughly like "like a stone." The flower loves an arid climate, but in principle, it can grow at home on a windowsill. Before the plant blooms, the appearance is distinctly stone-like. Later, a bright yellow flower seems to break out of the stone.The lifespan of a lithops is about 1 year. Then a new pair of "stones" grows.

Victoria amazon

Victoria can be considered the largest water lily on Earth. It grows in the Amazon basin. The flower received the first part of its name in honor of the Queen of England. In the diameter of the burdock leaves, the water lilies are approximately 2 meters. If the load is equally distributed over the entire surface of the sheet, then the water lily can withstand a 50 - kilogram load. Water lily bloom lasts only 2 days, and even then at night. But the sight is worth it. Large flowers change delicate color, shimmering from pale pink to fuchsia.

Amorphophallus titanic

This exotic plant originally grew in the virgin forests of Sumatra, but, as is often the case, the arrival of people completely destroyed it. Therefore, at the moment, the plant is more often found in greenhouses and botanical gardens than in the wild. The pleated bowl of the flower has a multi-colored color, ranging from a rich lime shade to a maroon color. But the external beauty of the flower is deceiving, the amorphophallus aroma is extremely unpleasant. Its dimensions in width and length are about the same, about 2 meters. With an average life span of a plant equal to about 30-40 years, it blooms 2-4 times at most.

Velvichia is amazing

This plant has been known to botany since the 19th century. Namibia is called the birthplace of the Welchivia. It grows in close proximity to water. Greatness cannot be called a beauty. But it attracts attention with its unusual properties. With a huge lifespan, almost 2000 years, 2 large leaves of the plant never dry up or change. In Namibia, the plant is under state protection.

Nepentes

Nepentes grows in the tropics of Asia. Most often found on the island of Borneo. The liana-like plant is remarkable for its flowers - they resemble jugs. Interestingly, nepentes is also a carnivorous plant. It attracts insects with its aroma. Falling to the bottom of the jug, the victim cannot get out.

Conclusion

Not everyone unusual plants presented in this article. The plant kingdom of our planet never ceases to amaze us. You don't have to travel to enjoy the exoticism of these plants. It is enough to visit the greenhouses and botanical gardens located in your city. In Moscow, for example, this is a pharmaceutical garden, where various exhibitions of exotic plants are constantly held.