Rare And Unusual Flowers Around The World

June 10th, 2022 Posted by Gift Flowers

There are hundreds of thousands of flowering plant species discovered to exist on earth and there are even many more that are yet to be documented by scientists. Yet, each of these flowers is special and unique in its own way. Some are popular for decoration, some are great for gifting your friends and loved ones and others can even be beneficial to your health.

The types of flowers and their uses are practically limitless. Hence, picking out the rarest ones might be an uphill task. Read on to discover six of the rarest flowers on earth that you probably never knew existed. These flowers are uniquely fascinating, each in its own way.

Top 6 Rarest Flowers In The World

• Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum)

Amorphophallus titanum is popularly referred to as the corpse flower as a result of the corpse-like odour it releases when it blooms. This odour serves to attract carrion-eaters which inadvertently help pollinate it. Amorphophallus titanum is bodiless, stemless, rootless and leafless. The corpse flower dies about a week after blooming.

The corpse flower can grow up to 10 feet in height and is sometimes referred to as the largest flowering structure in the world. They are mostly found in the rainforests of Western Sumatra, Indonesia and are regarded as “endangered” species.

• Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii)

Usually found growing in Florida, Cuba and the Bahamas, the “ghost” orchid is named so because of the shape of its petals. The plant is an endangered species that has no leaves and does not photosynthesize.

It requires high temperature and high humidity to grow which is one of the reasons why it is so rare. Dendrophylax lindenii is also epiphytic as it requires specific host trees to grow.

• Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus)

An almost totally extinct species, Chocolate Cosmos is dark brown in colour and gets its name from its fragrance which, as you probably guessed, is similar to chocolate. Cosmos atrosanguineus is native to Mexico and reaches about 50cm in height.

This flower is grown in gardens not only for its brownish-red blooms but also for its great scent. It is a perfect delight for chocolate lovers and people obsessed with flowers.

• Stinking Corpse Lily (Rafflesia arnoldii)

This plant is known for blooming the largest single flower in the world. Like the corpse flower, it emits the odour of rotting flesh during pollination. Rafflesia arnoldii originates from Indonesia and is regarded as an endangered species. It is also visibly leafless, stemless, and rootless and does not photosynthesize. Although, the reddish-brown colouration of the Stinking Corpse Lily is a pleasant sight to behold.

• Jade Vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys)

Growing exclusively in the rainforests of the Philippines is this beautiful claw-shaped flower whose colour varies from blue to light green. Strongylodon macrobotrys are sometimes also referred to as the emerald vine or turquoise jade vine.

Fascinating about the jade vine is its beautiful stems which run up to 20 metres in length. Jade Vine is edible and eaten as a vegetable in stone parts of the world and mostly in its home habitat – the Philippines.

• Lady’s Slipper Orchid

As the name suggests, the lady’s slipper orchid has the shape of a lady’s slipper. The slipper-shaped lip serves as a slippery trap for insects forcing them to pollinate the plant unknowingly. It is found in some parts of North America, the UK and even Asia. There are about two dozen different species of the lady’s slipper orchid and each of the species has been tagged “endangered” and “protected”.