World's strangest flowers

The corpse flower

The largest flower in the world, the rafflesia arnoldi, grows only in
Sumatra. It weighs 7 kg (15 pounds) and measures one metre (three
feet) across. Its petals grow to metre (1.6 feet) long and 2,5 cm (1
inch) thick.

It has no leaves or roots it lives on a vine in the rainforest. This

plant remains hidden in the vine. It develops a head like a cabbage
then it flowers. The flower only stays for about five (5) days.

It is also called "corpse flower" and really stinks. The smell attracts
flies to pollinate. The flies crawl down into the flower. They brush
against the pollen they take this pollen to another flower.
The Eastern Skunk Cabbage

This flower smells like its name. It grows in the wetlands of the USA.
It smells like a skunk this attracts flies.
The plant has of a mottled maroon leaf like a hood. It bears tiny
flowers. This plant can make its own heat just like an animal. It can
make itself warmer than the air this allows the flower to melt
through snow and ice. The heat may also help to spread the scent.
The warmth of the plant may offer shelter to flies in winter. The heat
may also make flies think the smell is from a dead animal.
When the plant dies, it does not dry up. It turns into a black slime
that goes back into the ground.

Hydnora Africana:

This grows in the desert of Southern Africa. It looks like the head of a
large snake peeking up from the ground. The Hydnora africana lives
off another plant, Euphorbia. The flower is said to be as hard as wood.
It can take this plant up to a year to flower.
This plant grows very slowly underground. The flower is fleshy and
salmon-coloured. The flower smells of faeces it is not very appealing
to humans. Dung beetles love the smell they also play a very
important part in the blooming of the plant.
When the flower comes out of the ground, the petals are attached at
the top and the sides by sticky fibers. The beetles push through the
fibers, but then find themselves in a sticky situation. Inside the flower
are small downward facing hairs - these help trap the beetles inside of
the flower. During their stay, the beetles feed and distribute pollen

throughout the plant.

When the bud fully opens, the beetles are free

again.
After the flower is pollinated, it slowly develops into a fruit. This fruit
can be eaten - each one contains about 20,000 seeds!
Amorphophallus titanum

This flower reaches up to 10 feet in height and 3-4 feet across. It is

the tallest flower in the world. It also smells like a dying corpse this
attracts flies for pollination.
The flower grows in the rainforest of western Sumatra. It is a bit shy.
It can take up to six years for the flower to open and show itself in full
bloom. The flower has a large spike around this is a thick collar that
is purple on the inside and green and white on the outside.

Inside this big flower there are some delicate cream and pink flowers.
When these little buds need to be pollinated, the flower gives out its
rotten smell.
The Black Bat Flower

This slower has black whiskers up to 28 inches long these stick out
from a delicate, maroon-black blossom. The flower can reach up to 1
foot across and stands three feet tall. The whiskers nearly brush the
ground. It looks like a black bat - hence it's nickname, The Black Bat
Flower.
The plant grows in Southeast Asia - the flower grows from large
beautiful green leaves. It likes shady, moist environments. If it does
not get enough shade and good air, the flower will slowly wither.
Dracunculus Vulgaris
This flower has a long black spike coming from the centre of two
delicate purple leaves. It is said to be one of the most beautiful

European ariods. The black spike grows to over 4 feet tall, with its
cape reaching over 3 feet. Although it looks lovely eye, your nose may
not like it. This flower smells like rotten mea.

All sound a bit familiar? Well this flower, also known as the Voodoo
Lily, is the cousin to the skunk cabbage. Both have large spikes whose
bases hold tiny flowers. When they need to be pollinated, the spike
emits a smell to attract insects.

The Voodoo Flower is much easier to grow. The flower self-seeds, so it

grows more widely. Its home is in the Balkans in south-east Europe
it also grows in Greece, Turkey and America.
A word to the wise this flower is very highly poisonous and animals
tend to steer clear of it.