Have you ever seen flowers that look like something else? For example, a small alien, a bird or a stone. Well, it's time to get acquainted with the amazing creations of nature that forgot that they are ordinary plants. We present you a collection of the most unusual and amazing flowers in the world with names, photos and descriptions.
30. Dancing Girls (Impatiens Bequaertii)
These little beauties are named for their appearance. They resemble tiny ladies in white or light pink dresses. These orchids belong to the genus Impatiens, and have the interesting property of rooting wherever they touch the soil. This makes the “dancing girls” great houseplants if you can find them.
29. Swaddled baby, Anguloa uniflora
A cute little orchid at a certain period of flowering resembles a miniature baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. Or a tulip, hence another name - "orchid-tulip".
28. Dragon's shell, snapdragon achene (Antirrhinum)
Many gardeners love snapdragons for their spectacular appearance. However, when snapdragons have faded, they look like a scattering of miniature skulls.
In ancient times, people believed that the "dragon shell" had mystical powers, and if you planted snapdragon in your garden, it would protect your home from curses and evil.
27. Monkey orchid, Dracula saulii
There are at least two species of orchids that look like monkeys. One is Dracula saulii, a tiny, fluffy white orchid with a monkey face, discovered as recently as 2006 in Peru, and the other is Dracula simia, an orchid found in the highlands of Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru.
Both of them belong to the genus Dracula, which has 123 species. Not a single plant of this species sucks blood, and they got their name for their shape, reminiscent of the face of a small dragon, and their predominantly dark coloring.
26. Passion flower, Passiflora incarnata
Spanish missionaries, who first saw this beautiful flower, called it passion flower because of the similarity of its appearance with elements of the story of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
- The triple stigma symbolizes the three nails with which Jesus was nailed to the cross.
- The thread-like fringes of the receptacle resemble a bloody crown of thorns.
- Five anthers of an unusual flower are the five wounds of Christ.
- Sharp leaves are the spear of Longinus.
- Antennae - whip, etc.
25. Leucospermum catherinae
This funny flower looks more like a carnival toy than a creation of nature. Few plants can compare in brightness of color with this African miracle.
The most favorable time for leucospermum to bloom is after a drought or fire, when rodents and insects that would hinder its growth have been destroyed.
24. Star flower, Stapelia grandiflora
The graceful, crimson or dark purple petals of this plant look very unusual and even cute. However, the nasty smell of the Star Flower makes it unsuitable as a gift to your beloved girl.
This is because the pollinators of Stapelia grandiflora are flies, and what could be a better bait for flies than the sweet smell of rotting meat?
23. Ginger Beehive (Zingiber spectabile)
One of the strangest flowers in the world looks like a large pine cone. Its little "cups" or "honeycombs" (actually bracts) collect water and emit a ginger scent. And when the ginger hive flowers bloom, 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 two-row chain. This funny flower is so rare and strange that it does not even have a nickname.
21. Devil's Hand, Chiranthodendron pentadactylon
This is not just a flower, but a whole tree on which red petals form in the form of long clawed fingers, reminiscent of the hand of a non-human creature.
20. Crab claw, Heliconia rostrata
This charming plant gets its name from its red and yellow bracts, which resemble a crab claw.
19. Desert pea, Swainsona formosa
What you see here is a product of harsh evolutionary selection - a bright and fragile-looking flower that survives and thrives in a dry, arid climate.
Desert peas are one of Australia's most famous wildflowers, but they cannot be picked without written permission from the Australian government.
18. Drumsticks, Craspedia globosa
Funny little balls, as if woven from sunlight, look great in live and dried bouquets. They can be grown not only in a greenhouse, but also on a balcony.
17. Bumblebee Orchid, Ophrys apifera
We don't know what this "bumblebee" is so happy about, because this flower has no reason to be happy. It is considered one of the endangered species.
16. Fire lily, Gloriosa superba
If you are going to grow this plant to decorate your home or garden, make sure it is kept 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's Head, Hydnora Africana
This monstrous looking flower is native to South Africa and smells just like it looks.
However, despite its shortcomings, Hydnora africana has extremely tasty berries. They are not only tasty, but also healthy, locals treat cardiovascular diseases with them.
14. Welwitschia mirabilis
The main thing is to survive! This motto could be inscribed on the coat of arms of the Velvichia, if it were to turn into a medieval knight. This the flower is a record holder for survival. The plant is found only in Angola and Namibia, some of the hottest and driest places on Earth.
13. Amorphophallus titanum
This giant flower can grow up to 3 meters tall. It also boasts one of the most disgusting smells in the plant kingdom, making it a poor choice for the home.
12. Nepenthes attenboroughii
Some call this species the "pitcher plant" and others the "monkey pitcher plant." The reason for this comparison is the resemblance to a pitcher plant created by Mother Nature.
However, the sweet syrup inside the plant is extremely dangerous to small birds, insects and rodents, as it traps and dissolves creatures that come too close.
11. Angel's Trumpet, Brugmansia
Native to South American forests, it is beautiful, aromatic 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 this beautiful looking plant being used by criminals and drug addicts who use it to make a narcotic drink.
10. Parrot's beak, also known as spotted lotus (Lotus berthelotii)
Once you see this plant, you will understand why it is unofficially called "Parrot's Beak". It seems that many of these brightly colored birds are hiding in the grass, or for some reason took off their beaks and forgot to put them back on.
One of the rarest flowers in the world (in the wild) was once a true gem in the Canary Islands. Its bright red or yellowish-red flowers contrast nicely with the silvery-green, needle-like foliage.
It used to be pollinated by sunbirds, but they are almost extinct (except in Africa), and all efforts by scientists to return the "Parrot's Beak" to its natural habitat have been in vain. In the wild, it is found in single specimens, and is listed in the Red Book.
However, this flower is quite successfully grown in flower beds, flower gardens, and even at home.
9. Tacca chantrieri
If Batman wanted to decorate his costume with some kind of fancy flower, the tacca chantrier would be the perfect choice.
This unusual flowering plant is found in Thailand, India, Malaysia and East Asia. It has unique maroon-black bracts in the shape of bat or butterfly wings, as well as long thread-like tendrils.
8. The Happy Alien Flower, Calceolaria uniflora
«Hello, earthlings! I have arrived in peace", one of the most unusual flowers on the planet might say, if it had the opportunity.
Calceolaria uniflora looks like an alien with a happy face and an empty white tray in its hands. This unusual shape attracts not only people, but also small birds, such as hummingbirds. They like to eat the white part of the flower, and at the same time help it with pollination.
7. Moth Orchid (Habenaria Radiata)
The shape of this graceful flower, native to Asia, resembles a delicate white butterfly or a small bird. The flowers of the moth orchid are only 4 cm wide.
6. Hot Lips, Psychotria Elata
These gorgeous red, luscious lips belong to a flower found in the tropical forests of Central and South American countries such as Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and Ecuador.
The plant apparently “chose” such an interesting shape of bracts to attract pollinators, including hummingbirds and butterflies.
5. Flying duck, sea otter orchid (Caleana major)
The amazing Australian flower actually resembles a miniature duck in flight. The shape of this orchid helps it attract pollinators.
And the pollination process occurs in a cunning way. It is carried out 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.
Attracted by this smell, the males land on the calania and find themselves trapped. While the insect desperately flounders, it gets covered in pollen, after which the flower releases its victim. However, sawflies are not very smart, and the process of “sat, grabbed, twitched, released” is repeated on the next plant. And again. And again. And…
4. Elephant yam, Amorphophallus paeoniifolius
This unpleasant-looking plant also has an unusually foul smell, reminiscent of rotting meat. Just like one of the most disgusting smelling objects on Earth. However, pollinating insects like this smell, and for the elephant yam, this is the main thing.
Amorphophallus paeonifolia is edible (if you pinch your nose). In some countries of Southeast Asia, its tubers, which can grow 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 with its lower part. In appearance, it resembles a naked man.
Interestingly, the flowers of Orchis italica are hermaphrodites, meaning they have both male and female organs.
2. Living stone, lithops (Lithops species)
Some plants use toxins to avoid being eaten. Some use thorns. Lithops survives by disguising itself as a rock.
If you're planning on collecting rocks in southern Africa, you'll likely pick up a couple of these bivalves. There are dozens of species of lithops, each with a particular type of rock to hide among.
These fun plants can be grown indoors and will reward you with yellow or white daisy-like flowers.
1. Darth Vader's Flower, Aristolochia Salvadorensis
Even before the world saw the first Star Wars trilogy, this flower knew something. Imagine the Dark Lord decorating his helmet with it, sighing for his lost youth and love. Or decorating his son's room, which he carefully prepared on the Death Star, with slightly sinister-looking Dutchman's pipe.
But enough fantasy, back to the facts. The appearance of the Salvadoran birthwort is due to adaptations that ensure its survival. The helmet-like shape and purple color of the flowers, combined with the powerful aroma of rotting flesh, attract pollinating insects.
Lured by the scent and sight of the flower, insects fly through the glowing "eyes" of Darth Vader. The inside of the birthwort is covered in sticky hairs that trap the unfortunate guests long enough to coat them in pollen. The plant then releases its victims to fly off and pollinate more flowers.
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