Have you ever come across flowers that look like something else? For example, a small alien, bird or stone. Well, it's time to get acquainted with the amazing creations of nature, which have forgotten that they are ordinary plants.
We present you a photo of the most unusual flowers in the world with scientific names and nicknames.
30. Dancing Girls (Impatiens Bequaertii)
These little beauties are named after their appearance. They resemble tiny ladies in white or light pink dresses. These orchids belong to the genus touchy, and have the interesting property of taking root wherever they touch the soil. This makes dancing girls great houseplants if you can find them.
29. Swaddled baby, Anguloa uniflora
A cute little orchid, during a certain period of flowering, resembles a miniature baby wrapped in diapers. Or a tulip, hence another name - "tulip orchid".
28. Dragon shell, snapdragon achene (Antirrhinum)
Many gardeners love snapdragons for their spectacular look. However, the already faded snapdragon looks like a scattering of miniature skulls.
In ancient times, people believed that the "dragon shell" has mystical power, and if you plant a snapdragon in your garden, it will protect the house from curses and evil.
27. Monkey Orchid, Dracula saulii
There are at least two types of orchids that are similar to monkeys. One is Dracula saulii, a tiny fluffy white orchid with a monkey face, discovered most recently in Peru (2006), the other is Dracula simia, an orchid found in the highlands of Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.
Both of them belong to the Dracula genus, which has 123 species. Not a single plant of this species sucks blood, and they got the name for their shape, reminiscent of the face of a little dragon and predominantly dark colors.
26. Passionflower, Passiflora incarnata
The Spanish missionaries, who first saw this beautiful flower, called it passionflower because of the similarity of its appearance with elements of the story about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
- The triple stigma symbolizes the three nails with which Jesus was nailed to the cross.
- The filamentous fringes of the receptacle are similar to a bloody crown of thorns.
- Five anthers of an unusual flower - five wounds of Christ.
- The sharp leaves are the spear of Longinus.
- Antennae - a whip, etc.
25. Leucospermum Catherine (Leucospermum catherinae)
This funny flower looks more like a carnival toy than a creation of nature. Few plants can match the brightness of this African wonder.
The most favorable time for leucospermum to bloom is after a drought or fire, when rodents and insects that will hinder its growth have been destroyed.
24. Star flower, Stapelia grandiflora
The graceful, crimson or deep purple petals of this plant look very unusual and even cute. However, the nasty smell of the Star Flower makes it unsuitable for a gift to your girlfriend.
This is because the pollinators of the large-flowered staple are flies, and what could be better bait for flies than the sweet smell of rotting meat?
23. Zingiber spectabile
One of the strangest flowers in the world looks like a big bump. Its little "cups" or "honeycombs" (actually bracts) collect water and give off a ginger aroma. And when flowers bloom on the ginger hive, they resemble little white bees.
22. Pleurothallis truncata
A unique orchid from the tropics of Ecuador has a bright orange inflorescence in the form of a double-row chain. This funny flower is so rare and strange that it doesn't even have a nickname.
21. Hand of the Devil, Chiranthodendron pentadactylon
This is not just a flower, but a whole tree, on which red petals are formed in the form of long clawed fingers, resembling the hand of a non-human being.
20. Crab claw, rostral heliconia (Heliconia rostrata)
The charming plant gets its name from its red-yellow bracts, similar to a crab claw.
19. Desert peas, Swainsona formosa
This is the product of harsh evolutionary selection - a bright and fragile-looking flower that survives and thrives in dry, arid climates.
The desert pea is one of the most famous wildflowers in Australia. But it cannot be disrupted without the express written consent of the Australian government.
18. Drumsticks, craspedia globosa
Funny little balls, as if woven from sunlight, look great in live and dry bouquets. They can be grown not only in the greenhouse, but also on the balcony.
17. Bumblebee orchid, bee ophrys (Ophrys apifera)
We do not know why this "bumblebee" is so happy, because this flower has no reasons for fun. It is considered one of the endangered species.
16. Fire lily, glorious gloriosa (Gloriosa superba)
If you are going to grow this plant to decorate your home or garden, make sure it is out of reach of your pets and children because it is poisonous. Ironically, this rare flower is considered an invasive weed in many regions of the Earth.
15. Snake head, African Hydnora (Hydnora Africana)
This monstrous looking flower is native to South Africa. Its smell matches the appearance.
However, despite its disadvantages, African Hydnora has extremely tasty berries. They are not only tasty, but also healthy; local residents treat them with diseases of the cardiovascular system.
14. Welwitschia mirabilis
The main thing is to survive! Such a motto could be inscribed on the coat of arms of Welwitschia, if she turned into a medieval knight. The plant is found only in Angola and Namibia - some of the hottest and driest places on Earth.
13. Amorphophallus titanum (Amorphophallus titanum)
This giant flower can grow up to three meters in height.It also boasts one of the most disgusting odors in the plant kingdom, making it a poor choice for home use.
12. Nepenthes attenboroughii
Some call this species the "pitcher plant" and others the "monkey pitcher." The reason for this comparison is the resemblance to a jug created by Mother Nature.
However, the sweet syrup inside the plant is extremely dangerous for small birds, insects and rodents, as it retains and dissolves creatures that come too close.
11. Trumpet of an angel, Brugmansia
The native of South American forests is beautiful, fragrant and extremely poisonous. It is the source of three deadly toxins: atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine, which are essentially psychotropic drugs.
There are many stories of how this gorgeous looking plant was used by criminals and drug addicts who use it to make a narcotic drink.
10. Parrot beak, aka spotted lotus (Lotus berthelotii)
As soon as you see this plant, you will understand why its informal name is "Parrot's beak". It seems that many of these bright birds are hiding in the grass, or for some reason have taken off their beaks and forgot to put them on.
One of the rarest flowers in the world (in the wild) was once a true gem of the Canary Islands. Its bright red or yellowish red flowers contrast nicely with the silvery green needle-like foliage.
Previously, it was pollinated by sunbirds, but they almost died out (with the exception of Africa), and all efforts of scientists to return the "Parrot's Beak" to its natural habitat were in vain. In the wild, it is found in single copies, and is listed in the Red Book.
However, this flower is quite successfully grown in flower beds, flower beds, and even at home.
9. Takka-bat, takka chantrieri
If Batman wanted to decorate his costume with some fancy flower, then takka chantry would be the perfect option.
This unusual flowering plant is found in Thailand, India, Malaysia and East Asia. It has unique burgundy-black bracts in the form of bat or butterfly wings, as well as long filamentous antennae.
8. Flower "lucky alien", Calceolaria uniflora (Calceolaria uniflora)
«Hello earthlings! I flew in peace", - could say one of the most unusual colors of the planet, if he had such an opportunity.
Calceolaria uniflora looks like an alien with a happy face and an empty white tray in his hands. This unusual shape attracts not only humans, but also small birds such as hummingbirds. They love to eat the white part of the flower, and at the same time help him in pollination.
7. Moth Orchid (Habenaria Radiata)
The shape of this graceful flower, native to Asia, resembles a delicate white butterfly or small bird. The flowers of the moth orchid are only 4 cm wide.
6. Hot lips, psychotria sublime (Psychotria Elata)
These gorgeous red, luscious lips belong to a flower found in the rainforests of Central and South America such as Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and Ecuador.
The plant appears to have “picked up” such an interesting form of bracts to attract pollinators, including hummingbirds and butterflies.
5. Flying Duck, Calania Orchid (Caleana major)
The amazing Australian flower really resembles a miniature duck in flight. The shape of this orchid helps it attract pollinators.
And the pollination process takes place in a cunning way. It is performed by sawfly insects, similar to wasps. Inside the "duck's head" a special substance is produced - an attractant, the composition of which is similar to the pheromones of female sawflies.
Males, attracted by this smell, sit down on the roach, and find themselves in a trap. While the insect is desperately floundering, it becomes covered with pollen, after which the flower releases its victim into the wild. However, the sawflies are not very smart, and the process of "sitting down, grabbing, twitching, letting go" is repeated on the next plant. And again. And again. AND…
4. Elephant yam, amorphophallus pion-leaved (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius)
This unpleasant-looking plant also has an extremely foul smell, reminiscent of the stench of rotting meat. Just like one of the most vile-smelling objects on earth... However, pollinating insects like this amber, and for elephant yam this is the main thing.
Amorphophallus pion-leaved is edible (if you hold your nose tightly). In some countries of Southeast Asia, its tubers growing up to 16 kg are grown as a delicacy, in China, elephant yam is a medicinal plant, and in the Philippines, it is fed to pigs.
3. Italian orchis (Orchis Italica)
A real macho among the most unusual flowers in the world immediately stands out for its lower part. In appearance, he resembles a naked man.
Interestingly, the flowers of orchis italica are hermaphrodites, that is, they have both male and female organs.
2. Living stone, lithops (Lithops species)
Some plants use toxins to avoid eating them. Some use thorns. Lithops survives by pretending to be a stone.
If you are planning to collect rocks in southern Africa, you will most likely pick up a couple of these bivalve plants. There are dozens of species of lithops, each of which prefers a particular type of rock to hide among them.
These fun plants can also be grown at home and will reward you with a yellow or white chamomile flower.
1. Flower of Darth Vader, Salvadoran Kirkazon (Aristolochia Salvadorensis)
Even before the world saw the first Star Wars trilogy, this flower knew something. Imagine how the Dark Lord adorns his helmet with it, and sighs for the departed youth and love. Or decorates with slightly ominous-looking kirkazons the son's room, which he carefully prepared on the Death Star.
But enough fantasies, back to the facts. The appearance of the Salvadoran Kirkazon is due to adaptations that ensure its survival. The helmet-like shape and purple color of the flowers, combined with the powerful scent of rotting flesh, attract pollinating insects.
Insects seduced by the smell and sight of the flower fly through the glowing "eyes" of Darth Vader. The inside of the kirkazon is covered with sticky hairs that trap unfortunate guests long enough to cover them with pollen. The plant then releases its victims so that they fly and pollinate more flowers.