From plants that smell like death to those that are out to get you, here are 9 of the
strangest plants on Earth!!!
9.
The Corpse Flower Despite its name, the Corpse Flower is not
a flower that is dying, and actually, it's not a singular flower.
Rather, it's a combination of thousands of male and female flowers that grow together
to form this massive structure.
It's actually one of the largest flower structures in the world today.
As well as one of the rarest in the world!!
It grows in the tropical regions of Asia, for example Sumatra.
As for how it actually got the name, that would be due to its smell.
The Corpse Flower emits an odor that actually does smell like rotting flesh which is pretty
intense as you can imagine.
But only when it's in bloom.
That may seem like a weird trait to have, but it's actually essential to the plants
survival.
Tim Pollak, outdoor floriculturist at the Chicago Botanic Garden noted the following,
"The smell, color and even temperature of corpse flowers are meant to attract pollinators
and help ensure the continuation of the species."
Such insects who like this smell include dung beetles and flesh flies, who really do like
the smell of rotting flesh, and the plant grew to recognize that.
But it also goes even deeper to ensure that the insects come.
"Corpse flowers are also able to warm up to 98 degrees Fahrenheit (36.7 Celsius) to further
fool the insects," Pollak added.
"The insects think the flower may be food, fly inside, realize there is nothing to eat,
and fly off with pollen on their legs.
This process ensures the ongoing pollination of the species.
Once the flower has bloomed and pollination is complete, the flower collapses."
8.
Lithops One of the biggest threats to plants isn't
necessarily us humans for once, its herbivores that decide the plants look tasty and deserve
to be eaten.
To that end, the plant known as the Lithop learned to blend into its environment...by
looking like a rock.
This unique plant can be found in South Africa, and it's developed its body and its color
palette in order to blend into the rocks that reside in the area.
They're so good at this camouflage that they have even fooled humans who know what to look
for in terms of visuals.
There's more to it than just camouflage though, they're trying to survive the harsh deserts
in which they live in.
And so since plants don't easily survive in the desert, they want to make sure that they're
not prematurely ended by animals seeking to get the water from their insides!!
Lithops come in a variety of colors, and it's only during the winter that they're 'exposed'
for the plants that they truly are.
And now for number 7, but first, if you are new here be sure to subscribe before you leave
and click that notification bell!!
We have lots of new videos coming up!! 7.
Welwitschia mirabilis Just in terms of body style, the Welwitschia
mirabilis is a pretty odd specimen, mainly because it only has two leaves on it, and
both are attached to a very simple stem.
I almost said “well- wish-ya” when I read it fast!
Yet, the difference with the leaves of the Welwitschia mirabilis is that they keep growing.
Eventually, the leaves grow so large that they fold in on each other and resemble a
mane of hair from a human.
As for the stem, it may start out simple, but it can grow very large.
Not just in height mind you, but in width and thickness as well.
Height wise it can be up to over 6 feet tall, and over 24 feet in diameter.
However, just as odd as its features is how long the plant itself can last.
According to scientists, it can live anywhere from 400 to 1500 years.
No biggie!!
This makes it one of the longest-lasting plants in the world today.
One of the reasons for its long life is its endurance.
It's a desert plant, and actually can survive without rainwater for about 5 years.
Those who find the plant are in for a tasty treat, which got the plant its nickname of
"Onion of the Desert".
6.
Dragon Blood Tree In Yemen, there is a tree known as the Dragon
Blood Tree, and it is one that catches the eyes of many who see it.
First off, the canopy of the tree is very odd, as it has an "upturned, densely packed
crown having the shape of an uprightly held umbrella".
This is actually an evolution of the tree, because it lives in an area that is very small
in water.
Because of this, the tree bunches up, and thus grants itself a wide area of shadow in
order to reduce evaporation of water near its roots.
Then, when you get to the bark, you find its other unique feature, its "dragons blood",
or more accurately, the resin that resides within the tree itself.
Its color and texture reminds people of blood, and the coloring of the tree resembles that
of a dragon.
Hence, dragons blood.
Ironically, much like many of the myths about dragons blood, the resin from the tree is
actually used as a medicine by some.
Furthermore, the color and texture allow it to be used as a dye to those who would desire
such things.
Other features of the Dragon Blood Tree is that every 3-4 years it'll go and shed all
of its leaves at once so that new ones can grow.
The tree also grows berries that change in color multiple times until they are ripe.
5.
Purple Pitcher Plant There are many plants in the world that are
carnivorous, but what's unique is that many different species of them have different ways
to get their prey.
For example, the Purple Pitcher plant is one that uses its long bell and an intriguing
smell to lure flies and other insects into the body.
How it works is this, think of the bell of the plant like an actual pitcher.
At the bottom is a liquid-nectar made by the plant.
That liquid emits a smell, one that attracts all sorts of insects.
The insects will enter the plant, and touch the nectar hoping to eat it and get what it
wants.
But when it does, the insect is trapped, and thus it can't escape.
Ironically, the Purple Pitcher Plant, and others like it, don't kill the insect outright.
They actually allow it to struggle and live until it dies naturally or it drowns via rainwater
entering the plants bell.
Once the insect is the dead, the plant will release special enzymes in order to break
down its body and give the plant the nutrients that it wants.
There are many different versions of Purple Pitcher Plant, each with their own unique
look, but the results they go after are all the same.
4.
Buddha's Hand No, not the actual hand of Buddha from Hindu
faith, but rather, a plant that actually resembles the interpretations of said hand.
The Buddha's hand plant is also referred to as a "fingered citron", because the fruit
of the plant grows in sections that make it look like fingers.
With the exception that it has far more than five stocks on it.
However, much like a hand, the plant has the capability to be in a "closed hand" and "open
hand" formation, it just depends on how the plant grows at the time.
Its true origins are a bit unknown, but most trace it back to India or China, as that's
where the Citron fruits are known to reside the most.
Speaking of which, China, India, Japan, and Malaysia often use the Buddha's hand plant
to make perfume, as the fruit emits a rather pleasant smell.
It's also used as a food, a medicine, an ornament, and true to its name, a religious offering.
However, it must be in a "closed hand" formation, as that is what Buddha himself prefers.
3.
Strangler Fig When you hear the word "tree", the last thing
you likely think about is "parasite", and yet, with the Strangler Fig, that's exactly
the case.
This is a unique and strange tree that will actually engulf other trees with its roots
in order to suck the life out of them in their own way.
True to its strange nature, the Strangler Fig does not grow from the ground up.
It'll actually remain in the ground as a seed for a very long time, and then, it'll get
caught by a bird, or picked up, or kicked up, by something else and eventually land
in the canopy of a tree.
When it does, it'll start to grow its roots, by sending them down the tree, getting bigger
and bigger and more expansive with every foot that it goes.
It'll basically swarm the tree with its roots, and then also grow upward to get the sunlight
it craves.
Because it's covering the tree in this way, and preventing it from getting things like
water and sunlight, the host tree will die.
There are 12 different species of Strangler Fig in the world today.
2.
Bear's Head Tooth Mushroom The Bear's Head Tooth Mushroom is a fungus
that only grows on trees that are dying or dead, and that's just the start of its unique
features.
Its biology is that of being, white, fleshy, yet full of spines.
Not ones that can hurt you, mind you.
In fact, the Bear's Head Tooth Mushroom is an incredibly helpful plant despite being
attached to a dead tree.
For example, the Bear's Head Tooth Mushroom is 100% safe to eat, which is almost always
a risk with mushrooms.
What's more, all four species of this particular mushrooms are also safe to eat, again, a rarity
for mushrooms.
There is a lot of research going on right now for what the Bear's Head Tooth Mushroom
(and its brother species) will do for your body.
Because it's said that it can help your nerves grow, it can help fight off roundworm, and
it can even fight off cancer.
Or so they say, research is still ongoing.
1.
Venus Fly Trap Easily one of the most famous flowers in all
of the world, the Venus Fly Trap is one of the rarest flowers in the world in that it's
an actual carnivorous plant.
To be clear, there are other plants that have traps that are meant to catch flies, but the
Venus Fly Trap is one that openly goes and pretends to be a regular plant, and then,
once a fly or other insect trips the tiny hairs on the insides of its leaves, it'll
snap shut.
And then it'll very slowly devour the food it has caught.
However, not only is the Venus Fly Trap aware of its caught, it's actually conscious enough
to know whether it caught something worth digesting.
So for example, if a rock gets into the mouth of a Venus Fly Trap, it will close on it,
but then realize it can't be digested and open back up to spit the rock out.
When it does get something it likes, it'll take 10 days to digest it thoroughly.
As noted, the Venus Fly Trap is one of the most famous flowers on Earth, and as such,
it has played a role in various forms of pop-culture, including sci-fi shows, and even being turned
into a Pokemon.
Thanks for watching!
What did you think of these strange plants?
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