Hey Guys ! In this Blog you will know from plants that smell like cadaver to those that are pretty dangerous ! Here are 8 of the amazing plants on our Earth ;)
8. The Corpse Flower [ Amorphophallus titanum ] Although 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;Indonesia . As for how it actually got the name, that would be due to its smell. The Corpse Flower emits an odour that actually does smell like rotting flesh which is very much 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 dungbeetles 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 36.7 °C ( 98.06 °F ) 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 on going insect pollination of the species. Once the flower has bloomed and pollination is complete, the flower collapses."
7. Lithops One of the biggest threats to plants isn't necessarily humans, its Herbivores that decide the plants as tasty and deserve to be eaten. To that end, the plant known as the Lithop which learned to blend into its environment by looking like a rock ( Living 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 toget 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.
6. Dragon Blood Tree [ Dracaena cinnabari ] 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, aDragons Blood. Ironically, much like many of the myths about dragons blood, the resin from the tree is actually used as a medicine by some. Further more, the color and texture allow itto 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. 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. 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 (Yes you read it right !) 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".
4. Buddha's Hand [ Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis ] No, No , not the actual hand of Buddha, but rather, a plant that actually resembles the 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. Although 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 that 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 If you are thinking that is a "parasite" so..... 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 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 [ Hericium coralloides ] It 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 isan incredibly helpful plant despite being attached to a dead tree. For example, the Bear's Head Tooth Mushroomis 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 nervesgrow, it can help fight off roundworm, and it can even fight off cancer. Or so they say, research is still on going.
1. Venus Fly Trap [ Dionaea muscipula ] One of the most famous flowers in all of the world, the Venus Fly Trap is one ofthe 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 or movies .
Personally My Favourite is 1. Venus fly trap! I liked rest of the plants in this list no problem but venus fly trap has been my favourite ever since I knewed it . So........ What's your favourite amongst these ? Let me know in the comments !
By the way these are not only the weird and amazing plants there are many many more I just mentioned a few .
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