A list of strange flora, with pictures and information. Prepare to think again if you thought plants were boring!
In Here, we’ve gone over the plant kingdom extensively. A comprehensive guide to botany and the plant kingdom; different types of flowers; components of a flower; and other information may be found on other pages.
But we have some bad news for you if you were hoping to see it all that the plant kingdom has to offer.
Some odd species, far removed from your typical daisy or geranium, may be found in the dark depths of tropical rainforests, in harsh deserts, or even hiding in plain sight near to home.
We look at a few of these unusual plants on this page. Plants that look like insects, plants that eat insects, plants with flowers higher than a human, and plants that shift are just a few of the creatures featured in this collection.
List Of Weird Plants From Around The World
Read on to learn about a variety of Weird plants that will shift your perspective on the plant kingdom…
Page Index
- Black Bat Flower
- Bucket Orchid
- Corpse Lily
- Doll’s Eyes Plant / White Baneberry
- Dragon’s Blood Tree
- Ghost Orchid
- Ghost Plant / Indian Pipe / Corpse Plant
- Hot Lips
- King-In-His-Carriage
- Living Stone Plants / Pebble Plants
- Sandbox Tree
- Sensitive Plant
- Titan Arum / Corpse Flower
- Venus Flytrap
- Welwitschia Mirabilis
- Further Reading
Black Bat Flower
The plant kingdom, particularly the black bat flower, is lacking in black flowers. The unusual black/dark purple inflorescence of this alien-looking plant, as well as the bat-like shape of its bracts, have earned it the name.
In Southeast Asia’s tropical forests, this strange plant may be found.
Bucket Orchids
Genus Coryanthes
Buckets orchids are shaped that way for a reason, not just for show. The cooperation of orchid bees with the complex structure of plants in the genus Coryanthes is responsible. Thousands of years of partnership between plants and insects have resulted in the development of both.
Male bees use a fragrant substance made by the bucket orchid to attract female bees. The male bee frequently falls into the flower’s bucket and must go through an obstacle course inside the body of the flower in order to escape, so the bloom doesn’t give this gift away for free.
Pollen is adherent to the bee’s body while it attempts to break free. The love-struck bug will visit other plants (and, hopefully, attract a female bee with its attractive fragrance) once it manages to escape.
South America, Central America, and Mexico are all home to bucket orchids.
Corpse Lily
Rafflesia Arnoldii
The world’s largest single bloom, a stunning crimson bloom with a diameter of more than 3.3ft (1m), is created by the corpse lily Rafflesia Arnoldii.
Despite its beauty, this natural event may not be one you want to attend; the flower emits a powerful and extremely unpleasant odor. The smell, which is reminiscent of putrid meat, explains the Southeast Asian species’ moniker.
In the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo, the corpse lily may be found.
Doll’s Eyes Plant / White Baneberry
Actaea pachypoda
Its alternative name, ‘doll’s eyes plant,’ comes from the fruit of the white baneberry, which is why it is called that. The plant’s white berries, which are supported by red stalks, look like little eyeballs.
In the United States and Canada, this strange plant may be found in woodlands. Late in the summer through the fall, its macabre-looking berries appear. Don’t pick them because all parts of the plant are poisonous.
Dragon’s Blood Tree
Dracaena cinnabari
Only the Socotra archipelago, which is part of Yemen and lies in the Arabian Sea off the Horn of Africa, contains the dragon’s blood tree.
The mushroom-shaped trees are well-known. A dense network of branches supports an outer layer of tough leaves in its hemispherical canopy, which is supported by a sturdy framework.
At the foot of the tree, water runs off the waxy leaves and collects in a puddle. The precious liquid is unable to evaporate due to the canopy’s heavy shadow.
The sap secreted by the dragon’s blood tree is bright red in color and is known as “dragon’s blood,” which is one of the reasons it has been included on this list of weird plants. The resin has been highly valued since antiquity, and it is utilized both medicinally and as a color.
Ghost Orchid
Dendrophylax lindenii
The spookily-named ghost orchid grows deep in the muck and mire of Florida and Cuba. The white blossom resembles that it is floating in mid-air because it lacks leaves and has a slender stalk.
In the wild, the ghost orchid is rare and difficult to maintain. The species is on the verge of extinction.
Ghost Plant / Indian Pipe / Corpse Plant
Monotropa uniflora
The ghost plant, sometimes known as the Indian pipe, is a plant species that has a fungus-like appearance. The Ericaceae family, which includes heathers, belongs to this species.
The ghost plant, unlike most plants, does not contain chlorophyll, which gives plants their green color. As a result, it is unable to photosynthesize its own food. The species, on the other hand, is parasitic and relies on fungus for sustenance.
The ghost plant can thrive in the densest, darkest woods because it does not need sunlight. In Asia, North America, and the northern parts of South America, this unusual plant may be found in temperate woods.
Hot Lips
Palicourea elata / Psychotria Elata
In Central and South America’s rainforests, the hot lips shrub may be found. The bracts of this plant, which resemble a pair of bright red lips, are what give it its name. Eventually, between the ‘lips,’ the plant’s blooms emerge.
In Central America, hot lips plants are popular as Valentine’s Day presents. Medicinal properties are also thought to be present in the plant.
King-In-His-Carriage
Drakaea glyptodon
A species of hammer orchid, the king-in-his-carriage is only found in Western Australia and is a restricted species. The king-in-his-carriage, like all hammer orchids, employs deception to persuade wasps to pollinate its blooms.
Thynnid wasps are the unassuming victims. The flyingless female is carried into the air by the winged male, who is itself unusual, before mating.
The blossom of the king-in-his-carriage looks like a female wasp, and both in appearance and fragrance, it resembles a female wasp. Pollen is placed on the wasp’s body as it attempts to flee with the bloom.
The deceitful flower may then receive free pollination from the unlucky wasp’s attempts to seduce numerous ‘fake females. The wasp gets nothing in return for his efforts, so this is not a mutually beneficial relationship.
Living Stone Plants / Pebble Plants
Genus Lithops
In the deserts of southern Africa, living stone plants (also known as pebble plants) may be found. They have two fat, juicy leaves that are a precious resource in this hostile desert environment.
Despite the fact that these peculiar plants grow on the ground within reach of thirsty creatures, their leaves, which appear to be rocks, evade being consumed.
Sandbox Tree
Hura Crepitans
Plants have developed a slew of strategies to disseminate their seeds. Several plants rely on animals to transport their seeds, while others rely on the wind.
The sandbox tree, on the other hand, is more self-sufficient. Its seed disperse more than 330ft (100m) from the parent tree when its pumpkin-shaped fruit explodes with a tremendous bang.
Due to the sharp thorns on its trunk, this strange plant is also known as the “monkey no-climb.”
Tropical areas of North and South America are home to the sandbox tree.
Sensitive Plant
Mimosa pudica
Plants may travel, but it usually takes hours or even days for them to do so. The sensitive plant Mimosa pudica, on the other hand, reacts differently. It’s one of a few plants capable of moving quickly enough for the human eye to perceive its actions.
The sensitive plant’s leaves fold inward when they are touched, protecting themselves from danger. Within three seconds, the whole leaf can vanish, leaving a prickly, unappealing stem behind. Once the danger has passed, it takes around 20 minutes for the leaf to unfold itself.
In order to discourage grazing animals or retain moisture by protecting the surface of leaves from the wind, the plant’s mobility may have developed.
Central and South America are home to the sensitive plant, which may now be found in the United States, Asia, and Africa.
Titan Arum / Corpse Flower
Amorphophallus titanium
The Titan arum, or corpse flower, has the record for the world’s largest unbranched inflorescence while the corpse lily may create the world’s biggest single bloom.
The spadix (the spike to which the individual flowers are attached) is up to 9ft (2.7m) tall, while the spathe (the leaves that surround the inflorescence) has a circumference of more than 10ft (3m).
Only in western Sumatra’s rainforests can you find this incredible plant. It heats up and emits a odor that is similar to rotting flesh when in bloom, which attracts pollinating insects to its blooms.
Venus Flytrap
Dionaea muscipula
The Venus flytrap, a kind that can be found exclusively in a tiny area on the East Coast of North and South Carolina, is one of the most well-known weird flora.
These plants’ unique hinged ‘jaws’ are really modified leaves. Trigger hairs on the inside surface of the leaves sense when a little insect or arachnid has entered the trap, and they trigger a response.
The plant waits until the insect brushes against the trigger hairs one more time before closing its jaws, thus the trap isn’t sprung immediately.
The Venus flytrap does not waste energy closing its jaws around inanimate objects such as leaves because of its ability to ‘count. The Venus flytrap is a truly remarkable plant because of its capacity to count as well as its lightning-fast reflexes.
Welwitschia Mirabilis
Welwitschia mirabilis
The dry, difficult deserts of southern Africa are home to Welwitschia. It is little more than a short stem with two long leaves that continue to grow continuously and may reach a combined width of over 26 feet (8 meters).
Dew collected by the plant’s lengthy leaves is channeled into trenches and above the plant’s roots via grooves. Flies and other insects pollinate the plant, which produces cones.
The age of individual Welwitschia plants is over 2,000 years.
Hydnora
Hydnora is a genus of flowering plants in the family Hydnoraceae. They are parasitic plants that grow underground and lack chlorophyll, so they are unable to produce their own food through photosynthesis. Instead, they attach themselves to the roots of other plants and derive nutrients from them. They are native to southern Africa and can be found in arid and semi-arid regions. The plants have a distinctive, unpleasant odor and are sometimes used in traditional medicine.
Purple pitcher plant
The purple pitcher plant, also known as the northern pitcher plant or Sarracenia purpurea, is a carnivorous plant native to the wetlands of North America. It gets its name from the deep purple or red color of its pitcher-shaped leaves, which it uses to trap and digest insects.
The plant produces a sweet-smelling nectar to attract insects, and when an insect lands on the plant, it falls into the pitcher and is unable to climb back out due to the plant’s slippery walls. The plant then secretes digestive enzymes to break down the insect and absorb its nutrients. Despite its carnivorous habits, the purple pitcher plant is still vulnerable to being eaten by larger animals, such as birds and mammals.
Strangler fig
A strangler fig is a type of fig tree that grows on other plants, such as trees, by wrapping its roots around the host plant and gradually strangling it. This type of plant is found in tropical and subtropical regions, and is known for its unique growth habit and ability to thrive in a variety of environments.
Some species of strangler fig are epiphytic, meaning they grow on other plants but do not harm them, while others are hemiepiphytic, meaning they begin their lives as epiphytes but eventually send roots down to the ground and take over the host plant. These trees are important members of the forest ecosystem, providing habitat for a variety of animals and helping to recycle nutrients in the soil.
Parachute flower
The parachute flower, also known as the delicate spiderflower or the parachute spiderwort, is a type of flowering plant in the Commelinaceae family. It is native to Central and South America and is known for its delicate, spider-like flowers. The plant grows to a height of about 20-30 cm and has thin, slender stems with small, oval-shaped leaves.
The flowers are typically white or pink in color and have long, thin petals that hang down from the plant, resembling a parachute. The plant is often used as a decorative plant in gardens and is prized for its attractive flowers.
Suicide palm (Tahina Spectabilis)
Tahina spectabilis is a species of palm tree that is native to Madagascar. It is known for its massive inflorescence, which can grow up to 10 feet in diameter and weigh up to a ton. The tree is considered to be critically endangered, with only a few hundred individuals remaining in the wild.
It is also known as the “suicide palm” because of the high mortality rate among the trees during the flowering process. The tree produces a single inflorescence that flowers once in its lifetime, after which the entire tree dies. Because of this, the tree is also known as the “Hulmulo,” which means “to die” in Malagasy.
The scale tree
The ancient vascular plant genus Lepidodendron belongs to the family Lepidodendraceae, which is a group of Lycopodiopsida (scale trees or arborescent lycophytes). The flora of the coal forest included them. The trunks were frequently over 1 m (3.3 ft) in diameter, and they occasionally reached heights of 50 meters (160 feet).
During the Carboniferous Period (358.9 to 298.9 million years ago), they thrived. The genus was more closely related to modern quillworts than to modern club mosses, and was sometimes incorrectly referred to as “giant club mosses.” Lepidodendron is used for both the whole plant and specifically the stems and leaves inside the paleobotany form classification system.
Water caltrop
The water caltrop is a type of aquatic plant that is native to many parts of the world, including Asia, Europe, and North America. It is also known by the scientific name Trapa natans and is a member of the Trapaceae family. The water caltrop is a floating plant that has a number of small, spiky fruits that grow on its stem.
These fruits are triangular in shape and are covered in sharp spines, which give the plant its distinctive appearance. The plant is typically found in still or slow-moving bodies of water, such as ponds, lakes, and rivers. It is known for its ability to tolerate a wide range of water conditions and is often used as a decorative plant in water gardens.
Death apple tree
The Manchineel is a tree that is native to the Caribbean and the coastal regions of Central and South America. It is known for its highly toxic fruit, which has been known to cause severe skin irritation, blistering, and even blindness if ingested. The tree is also known for its milky white sap, which can cause similar effects if it comes into contact with the skin.
The Manchineel is also sometimes called the “beach apple” or the “death apple” due to its dangerous nature. It is important to avoid coming into contact with this tree and its fruit, as they can be extremely harmful to humans.
Dancing plant
There are several plants that are known for their movements, which can sometimes resemble dancing. One example is the sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica), which is a tropical species native to South America. When touched or disturbed, the leaves of this plant fold up and droop, making it appear as if the plant is wilting. This is a defensive mechanism that the plant uses to protect itself from herbivores.
Another example is the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula), which is a carnivorous plant native to the southeastern United States. When an insect lands on the plant’s leaves, the leaves snap shut to trap the insect, which can give the impression of movement or “dancing.” There may be other plants that are known for their movements, but these are two examples that come to mind.
Strychnos electri
It’s lovely, deadly, and a scientific first. It has been fossilized in amber for almost 30 million years, if that isn’t enough. 30 years ago, in an amber mine in the Dominican Republic, Strychnos electri, the first ever fossilized member of a plant family called asterids, was discovered.
The two specimen flowers, which belong to a family that includes potatoes, tomatoes, tobacco, petunias, coffee, and the providers of two famous poisons: strychnine and curare, were encased in solidified resin for somewhere between 15 and 30 million years.
Grandidier’s baobab
Adansonia grandidieri is a species of baobab tree that is native to Madagascar. It is named after the French botanist Alfred Grandidier, who is known for his work on the flora and fauna of Madagascar. The tree is also known as the “Grandidier’s baobab” or the “reniala,” which means “the one who never leaves” in Malagasy.
It is the largest and longest-living species of baobab, and can grow to over 80 feet in height with a trunk diameter of up to 36 feet. The tree is considered to be critically endangered, with only a few hundred individuals remaining in the wild.
Flypaper Plant
Alternative to Mosquito Repellent: Flypaper Plant (Pinguicula gigantea). They’re called opportunists, for goodness’ sake! Butterworts, often known as flypaper plants, will take anything that touches their leaves and begin digesting it right away. A sticky mucilage, or glue, is used in the flypaper trap.
Porcupine tomato
Solanum pyracanthos, also known as the “devil’s thorn” or the “porcupine tomato,” is a species of flowering plant in the Solanaceae family. It is native to Australia and is known for its spiny, hairy foliage and its small, yellow-orange fruit. The plant is toxic to humans and animals, and it is often considered to be a pest in agricultural areas.
The plant can grow to over 10 feet in height, and it is known for its ability to tolerate drought and other harsh conditions. Despite its toxic nature, the plant has been used by some Indigenous Australian communities for its medicinal properties. However, it is not recommended to handle or consume this plant without proper knowledge and training.
Victoria water lily
The Victoria water lily, also known by its scientific name Victoria amazonica, is a species of flowering plant that is native to the Amazon River Basin in South America. It is known for its large, circular leaves, which can grow up to 9 feet in diameter, and its fragrant, white flowers, which bloom at night and are pollinated by beetles. The Victoria water lily is a popular plant in aquaria and water gardens, and is considered to be one of the largest and most impressive aquatic plants in the world.
Dead horse arum lily
Rootless duckweed, also known as frond duckweed or common duckweed, is a type of aquatic plant in the family Lemnaceae. It is named for its small, floating leaves that lack root systems. The plant reproduces rapidly and can form dense mats on the surface of still or slow-moving bodies of water.
Rootless duckweed is common in many parts of the world and is considered a nuisance by some because of its ability to outcompete other aquatic plants and reduce oxygen levels in the water. However, it is also an important food source for waterfowl and other animals, and can be used as a natural water purifier.
Rootless duckweed
Rootless duckweed, also known as floating duckweed, is a type of aquatic plant that is native to many parts of the world. It is a type of floating monocotyledonous plant that is often found in still or slow-moving bodies of water, such as ponds, lakes, and marshes.
Rootless duckweed is a very small plant, with individual plants measuring only a few millimeters in size. Despite its small size, rootless duckweed is an important plant in many aquatic ecosystems, providing food and habitat for a variety of animals, including fish, amphibians, and insects.
Golf ball (Pittosporum tenuifolium)
Pittosporum tenuifolium, commonly known as kohuhu or black matipo, is a small evergreen tree native to New Zealand. It is a popular garden plant due to its attractive foliage and ability to tolerate a range of growing conditions. The tree has glossy, dark green leaves and small, fragrant flowers that are typically white or yellow. It is often used as a hedge or as a specimen plant in gardens.
Japanese umbrella pine (Sciadopitys verticillata)
Sciadopitys verticillata is a species of evergreen coniferous tree native to Japan. It is commonly known as the Japanese umbrella pine, due to the distinctive shape of its branches. The tree is known for its slow growth rate and long lifespan, and is often used in gardens and parks for its ornamental value. It is also used in bonsai cultivation.
Jellyfish tree (Medusagyne)
The jellyfish tree, Medusagyne oppositifolia, is a Seychelles endemic that grows on the island of Mahé. It belongs to the Ochnaceae family, which contains tropical trees and shrubs. It is the only member of the genus Medusagyne
Monkey face orchid (Dracula simia)
Dracula simia, commonly known as the monkey orchid, is a species of orchid native to Ecuador. It is known for its unique flower, which resembles the face of a monkey, with white petals that form the shape of a monkey’s head and brown spots that resemble the animal’s eyes and nose.
The monkey orchid is an epiphytic plant, meaning that it grows on other plants or trees instead of in the ground. It is not widely cultivated and is considered to be rare and endangered in its native habitat.
Swaddled babies Orchid (Anguloa uniflora)
Anguloa uniflora, also known as the tulip orchid or the single-flowered Anguloa, is a species of orchid native to the Andean region of South America. It is known for its large, fragrant flowers that resemble tulips, hence its common name. The flowers are typically white or pink with purple markings and can be quite large, up to 8 inches in diameter. The plant itself is a terrestrial orchid, meaning it grows in soil, and can reach heights of up to 2 feet. It is considered to be a relatively easy species to grow and is popular among orchid enthusiasts.
The cobra lily (Darlingtonia californica)
Darlingtonia californica, commonly known as the California pitcher plant or cobra lily, is a carnivorous plant native to Northern California and Oregon. It is a member of the family Sarraceniaceae, which also includes the Venus flytrap and the pitcher plants of the Eastern United States.
Naked man orchid (Orchis italica)
The naked man orchid, also known as Orchis italica, is a species of orchid native to the Mediterranean region. It gets its common name from the shape of its flowers, which resemble a naked man. The flowers are typically pink or purple and bloom in the spring. The plant is a perennial and can reach heights of up to 2 feet. It is considered to be endangered in some parts of its range due to habitat loss and over-collection.