In fact, beyond the plants that we know best, there is a whole world of very strange species that, at first glance, may seem like something out of a fantasy or science fiction movie due to their shapes and colors.
Learn about the 10 most unusual plants that inhabit your planet, according to .
1.Tacca chantrieri
This curious plant stands out for its black and violet pigmentation. Tacca chantrieri extends throughout the Malaysian and Pacific areas and is very difficult to find. It lives mainly in areas where a humid environment predominates.
1.Tacca chantrieri
2. Venus flytrap
Dionaea muscipula is one of the most famous carnivorous plants in the world. It hunts its prey when they are alive and come into contact with one of its sensitive edges, located around the blade.
The victim must remain in or re-contact the area within a 20-second time frame. Otherwise, it is not activated. This is due to a security system developed by the dionaea to make sure that the prey is there and is not going to waste energy.
flytrap
3. Wolffia arrhiza
It is the smallest plant on the planet: it weighs 0.5 grams and its diameter ranges between 8.8 and 1.3 millimeters, making a dozen of them fit comfortably on the head of a pin. It is aquatic, native to Malaysia and Australia. They are 40% protein, which puts them on the same level as soy, and that is why it is used as food.
Wolffia arrhiza
4. Actaea pachipoda
It is a North American floral plant that reaches 50 cm in height. Its white flowers are produced in tiny clusters. In addition, this species produces the drupe, a fruit similar to an eyeball, which is why it is also called doll’s eye.
Although it seems harmless, its fruits are poisonous. It has been classified as toxic to humans, although in some cultures it is used as an antidote to the venom of some snakes.
Actaea pachipoda
5. Hydnellum peckii
Popularly known as “blood tooth fungus”, it is an inedible fungus that produces spores on the surface of its vertical spines. It was discovered in 1913 and has since been found in areas of North America, Iran and Korea.
Its appearance changes depending on the evolutionary phase it is in. At birth, it is a grayish velvety mass. When it grows, it changes color and texture and begins to secrete fluid, losing it at the end of its life.
Hydnellum peckii
6. Drosera capensis
Another of the most curious species of carnivorous plants. The Drosera capensis feeds on insects, using its striking and sticky tentacles as a trap. The prey comes into contact with these and surrounds it, until it is enveloped and prevents its escape.
Its leaves only last one day. They open in the morning and close and fall at dusk to make way for the new ones. Additionally, this plant produces small seeds.
Drosera capensis
7. Cereus grandiflorus
It is called the “queen of the night” and is found in South and Central America. These exotic flowers live in very dry areas and are located on top of rocks. Its name is due to the fact that the flower only lasts 6 hours, without the possibility of being born again.
cereus-grandiflorus
8. Dracunculus vulgaris
It is popularly known as “witches’ herb” for its beaked and elongated shape, as well as for the purple color of its leaf.
It is a perennial plant that reaches an approximate size of 1 meter in height. Its stem is underground, which allows it to collect a greater amount of nutrients. The petiole (the corner that joins the stem and its leaf) is especially long, reaching about 20cm on average.
dracunculus-vulgaris
9. Clathrus archeri
Its appearance is reminiscent of a starfish. The Clathrus archeri plant is a truly surprising species of Australian origin. One of its curiosities is that at birth it is egg-shaped, with a soft, gelatinous consistency. Later, when it opens, it lets out several red stems with black spots, giving the appearance of a star or the legs of a crab.
Its smell is very unpleasant, like the previous one, and this species only appears in the summer and autumn seasons.
Clathrus archeri
10. African Hydnora
It is a plant that stands out for the absence of chlorophyll (green pigments characteristic of plants). Native to the African continent, Hydnora grows underground. Its only visible part is its fleshy flower, which opens its petals to allow insects to enter for a short period of time. Like Bunga Bangkai, it emits a putrid odor to attract parasites.
hydnora-africana