Corpse Plant
When I hear the word flower, my first thought is of something pretty that smells good—but this one is weird looking and smells like a rotting corpse. The petals of this flower are leathery and orange- red with bumpy, ivory colored spots surrounding a large hollow center disc. The corpse flower, which is the largest single flower in the world, is a parasite of woody vines on the islands of Indonesia. It has no leaves or stems and just bursts out of the host vine like some alien monster. These plants are endangered because of habitat destruction and overharvesting.
Ghost Orchid
Ghost orchids are leafless epiphytes native to Florida and Cuba which photosynthesize through their roots. When they bloom it looks like they are floating in the air—that and their rarity is why seeing one is like seeing a ghost. The 5 inch odd flowers are white or whitish- green and can go years without ever appearing on the plant. Usually when they do bloom, there are only two blooms. They are not easily propagated and usually don't survive if taken from the wild—they were thought to be extinct for 12 years and only a few exist in the wild.
Green Jade Flower
This plant sports cascading clusters of claw shaped blue-green flowers. It is native to the rain forests of the Philippines and is endangered in the wild due to habitat destruction. It is pollinated by bats and it is quite comical to see the bats hanging upside down to feed from this beauty. Surprisingly, it is in the bean family and produces odd looking bean pods. I don't know about you, but this is the most beautiful bean plant I've ever seen!
Cape Sundew
The cape sundew features strap like leaves which are yellowish green in color and covered with red, glistening tentacles and pink flowers. This plant seems too small and delicate to hurt even a fly—but that is exactly what it does. It is a carnivorous plant that captures and digests bugs by the mucilaginous glands which create the sticky “dew†of the plant. When an insect lands on a leaf, the leaf curls around it. Many types of sundews all over the world are endangered due to habitat destruction; however, you can grow the cape sundew in captivity. I have grown them since I was a kid and they are fascinating to watch when they catch prey.
Black Bat Flower
Here is another rare flower that appears to have fallen from outer space. The large purplish-black flowers look like bats and have long tendrils, or whiskers, that can reach two feet long! They are native to the rain forests of Southeast Asia and are threatened by habitat destruction and their fussy environmental needs. Even though this plant is endangered in the wild, it is commonly for sale online and you can try your hand at growing it. I have grown it in my greenhouse and I can attest to its fussiness, but it is very rewarding when it blooms for you.
Pink Lady's Slipper
The pink lady's slipper is a delicate wildflower from the orchid family. Its pink pouch bears some resemblance to a slipper, hence the flower's name. This dainty beauty grows in shade under certain trees such as pines and oaks. Lady's slippers are endangered in some areas because the seeds grow very slowly and are dependent on a fungus for food; unlike most seeds, they do not contain their own food. They are also overharvested by people.
Titan Arum
The titan arum spends most of its time as a dormant tuber underground which intermittently puts up a single leaf. Rarely, instead of a leaf it puts up a flower, and what a flower—this plant boasts the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world reaching up to ten feet tall, and smelling like rotten meat. The inflorescence is sword shaped surrounded by a maroon frilled skirt like structure. Titan arums are only rarely found in the rain forests of Sumatra and threatened by habitat destruction.
Monkey Face Orchid
The first time I saw pictures of this small yellowish- orange orchid with its tiny monkey face, I didn't think it was real—I thought it was photo shopped. The monkey face peaks out from what appear to be three petals each ending in a long slender spur. Adding to the flowers charm is its scent which is like that of an orange. These orchids only grow in the cloud forests of Ecuador, Peru, and Columbia, although some collectors have grown it in captivity.
To find out more about rare and endangered plants, please visit these links:
- 10 of the Rarest Flowers in the World
- World's Most Rare Flowers
- The World's Rarest Flowers!!
- The Sampled Red List in Pictures
- The Future of Plant Collecting
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