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Eight of the World's Most Unusual Plants

“Weird” is a relative term. What seems weird to one person might seem normal to another. But there are some species of plants that most people would agree are a bit unusual.

Take the Rafflesia arnoldii, for example. It develops the world‘s largest bloom, which can grow over three feet across. The plant smells like rotting flesh, and has no leaves, stems, or roots. Instead, it lives as a parasite on the Tetrastigma (grape) vine, which grows only in undisturbed rainforests.

Welwitschia mirabilis has only two leaves, which grow and grow until they resemble an alien life form. The stem gets thicker rather than higher, and the plant can grow to be twenty-four feet wide.
Dracunculus vulgaris is another rotting flesh-scented plant, which projects a slender, black appendage from its flower.

Amorphophallus (which literally means "shapeless penis") has an enormous erect spadix, from which it gets its name.

Wollemia nobilis has strange bark that looks like bubbles of chocolate, multiple trunks, and ferny-looking leaves growing in spirals. One of the truly astonishing characteristic of the Wollemia is that every plant growing in the wild has identical DNA.

Hydnora africana has a putrid-smelling blossom that attracts herds of carrion beetles.
Drakaea glyptodon has the color and smell of raw meat, and is pollinated by male wasps.

Wolffia angusta has the world‘s smallest flower; a dozen of these plants would easily fit on the head of a pin.  

Whenever I’m confronted with weird and wonderful species from the natural kingdom, whether plants or animals, I’m reminded of how truly symbiotic and complex life here on earth really is. And, just how little we actually know about this interconnected dance.  

Why do these strange plants exist? What is their purpose? No one knows, and yet, there they are – undoubtedly serving some “invisible” function that our limited human knowledge can’t decipher. 

Scientists often want to believe that things can be broken down into tiny fragments in order to be “figured out.” But just one look at the pharmaceutical industry’s complete and utter failure at figuring out a single cure using this kind of narrow-minded thinking, and you realize that nature knows better than any man ever will.

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Comment on This Article Community Comments (19)
 
 
Posted On Nov 13, 2007
Welll it is well known just how erotic the plant kingdom can be,....  but it is less known perhaps just how raunchy it can be as well.

Fascinating and truly amazing beautiful plants. ... Nature never ceases to amaze and captivate.

 
shiva
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shiva  
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Lila3399
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Lila3399  
 
Posted On Nov 29, 2007

I find it interesting that plants develop mechanisms, as do insects and animals, to protect themselves, such as the rotting flesh smell of some of these plants.  There  is inherent intelligence in flowers that I believe far surpasses that of humans.  To me, flowers are the most perfect creation in God's world, hence they are called flowers - God's energy "flowing."  When I see a flower, and look at it very, very closely, I am just in awe of its beauty and perfection.  It is said that every person's vibratory energy, on it's highest level, vibrates to that of a certain flower.  I believe mine is the Iris.  Many times those of high attainment are associated with certain flowers, like Jesus with the Peace Lily, Buddha with the Lotus, etc.  Everything in this material world is an outpicturing and manifestation of man's thoughts and emotions.  Man, as we are today, is so unaware of how his thoughts and emotions create the nature world.  I think if we all knew and internalized that, we would strive harder to keep our thoughts and emotions pure and loving.  We Are One.



Pat Ormsby
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
Pat Ormsby  
 
Posted On Nov 29, 2007

As I understand it, the rotting smell was an attribute of primitive flowers, which worked by attracting in carrion eaters, such as flies, to do the pollinating work.  Later, specialized flower pollinators evolved and the flowers along with them.  Their beauty and fragrance would be to their advantage in the current world--who is going to invite a giant rotting carcass mimic to live in their backyard?

I laughed and laughed and laughed at the above photos--how I love nature and its innovative tricks!



shiva
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 10/2006
shiva  
 
Posted On Nov 30, 2007

Lila3399 - - Great post. You speak a great Truth. ..... I recall the words of John Muir, the founder of the Sierra Club and a major impetus behind the creation of the National Parks system in the U.S. - - Muir once wrote in speaking of his treks out into the sierra wilderness of California;

"I realised that by 'going out', ... I was really 'going in'."


 
 
 
Posted On Nov 13, 2007
Interesting topic, but not exactly sure how it may apply to health?

How about a post from Doc Guessa, resident Vital Votes Encyclopedia Botanica Faculty Chair, on his top ten curing plants instead?

Uncle Russ

 
Russ Bianchi
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Russ Bianchi  
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Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
 
Posted On Nov 14, 2007
OK, I continue to WONDER what this has to do with health or nutrition or "lightening up"...

;-)

Uncle Russ


EQ
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 3/2007
EQ  
 
Posted On Nov 14, 2007
Well, we did learn some interesting stuff which is certainly good for brain health.  ;-)


Aaltrude
Moderator User Moderator User Joined On 4/2007
Aaltrude  
 
Posted On Nov 14, 2007
Good one Russ - you are getting the old brain cells working and after all that does help to ward off alzheimers!!!


Patty D
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2007
Patty D  
 
Posted On Nov 14, 2007
Hey Russ, a little off topic but I GUESS you haven't noticed that our good Herb Doc's name is spelled GUSSA :)


Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
 
Posted On Nov 14, 2007

I'm dyslexic Patty, sorry Doc, did not know there was no 'e' in your good name.

Spell Check can only go so far.

Uncle Russ



Jen47
Novice User Novice User Joined On 5/2007
Jen47  
 
Posted On Jan 09, 2008

True, these "airbreathing" plants are amazing but think of those weird items living around volcanic vents inthe ocean and in the total dark and almost freezing waters of the ocean.  (Wonder what their purpose is and if they hold "cures" we should know about)  It's a weird weird world but who can live without it?


 
 
 
Posted On Nov 13, 2007
I thought it was interesting that 6 of the 8 were carnivorous plants.

Mary

 
mmc88121
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MikeGPrice
Novice User Novice User Joined On 3/2007
MikeGPrice  
 
Posted On Nov 28, 2007

Hi Mary, Actually none of these 8 plants are carnivorous, they are merely attracting pollinators.


 
 
 
Posted On Nov 29, 2007

Just a thought regarding what this has to do with health or nutrition. In homeopathy like cures like..........I wonder if any of these flesh rotting scented plants could prove to be a remedy for a flesh eating bacteria.   You never know : )


 
Susie O
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 6/2006
Susie O  
 
 
 
Posted On Nov 15, 2007
How interesting: I saw Wolffia just a few hours ago in my Plant Diversity and Evolution class. Last week I saw a relative of the Welwitschia ( Gnetales) .  What were the chances of coming across them twice on the same day? They are indeed beautiful!

 
Cinnabar
Apprentice User Apprentice User, Joined On 11/2007
Cinnabar  
 
 
 
 
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