15 rare plants of the world

The flora that inhabits the planet is so diverse that even today new species continue to be discovered more often than many imagine. As well as fascinating, there are strange and mysterious ones, but with scientific progress you can learn more about the old and new species that appear every day.

When we look for the definition of flora in the dictionary, it tells us that it is a group of plants from an area or belonging to a certain geological period . In a nutshell, this definition encompasses any plant, flower, or tree that exists or ever existed on the planet.

Throughout all life on Earth, flora has been constantly born, evolved and has become extinct. Even today, new species are being discovered all the time, some of which are added to the list of extinct plants for various reasons. However, the known species and subspecies are so varied that many come to surprise.

If you are interested in botany in general and want to know some of the rarest flowers in the world , we invite you to review the following list, where we will study the characteristics of several of the most particular, interesting and striking specimens of our flora so that you can get to know them better.:

1. Corpse Flower

Rafflesia Arnoldii is the scientific name of the Corpse Flower , considered by some to be one of the representatives of exotic flowers in the world. Its genus is parasitic and can be found in humid forests, mainly on the Asian continent, standing out among others for the intense and fetid smell it emanates.

2. African Baobao

The also known as Andansonia is not a flower, but a tree belonging to the Malvaceae family. It can grow up to 25 meters high , but the most surprising thing is its trunk, since its diameter can be up to 40 meters.

3. Bleeding tooth fungus

Another of the strange plants par excellence is the Hydnellum peckii, which is impressive at first sight, since an intense red liquid gushes out of it, which lives up to its common name. It is found within the fungi world and grows mostly in mountainous climates.

4. Venus Flytrap

If you are interested in beautiful and rare flowers and would like to have one in a pot (here you can find some options to buy), the Dionaea muscipula is a popular and interesting alternative. It is native to the southeastern USA and is characterized by feeding on live insects , mainly flies.

5. Dragonette

Dracunculus vulgaris is a perennial plant that can grow up to 1 meter in height and has an intense purple flower that makes it striking, but care must be taken as it is toxic and its berries are poisonous, being avoided even by livestock.

6. Mimosa sensitive

This interesting and interactive plant, known by the scientific name of Mimosa Pudica, has the main characteristic of reacting to touch by closing its leaves. It can grow in many climates and parts of the world and its flower heads reach 2 centimeters in diameter.

7. Jakkalskos

The Hydnora Africana, as its name suggests, is native to the African continent and is a type of parasitic flower. It grows below the ground, but its large, fleshy flower rises to the surface, which can be recognized both by its appearance and by the smell of feces that it exudes to attract pollinators.

8. Dragon Tree

Dracaena cinnabari is a tree that has adapted to the arid and dry environment in which it usually grows. It is endemic to Socotra Island and its height can reach almost 10 meters, although the most characteristic feature is its grouped ramifications that hold leaves in a vertical position.

9. Tatacean

Returning to the flower species , the Tacca chantrieri is a beautiful specimen that can be found mainly in Malaysia. It is medium in size and its flower has shades of gradient between purple, black and white, being very eye-catching on the characteristic green of the jungle.

10. Duckweed

The species Wolffia arrhiza is a type of aquatic plant belonging to the subfamily Lemnoideae. It is small, it has no stem and no roots. It can be found in temperate, tropical and subtropical zones, as well as being able to clone itself to reproduce.

11. Sundew

One of the pretty, greenish plants on this list is Drosera capensis, a carnivorous species that feeds on insects. It can be found practically anywhere in the world, with the exception of Antarctica and they grow in clusters.

12. Giant Hoop

The Amorphophallus titanum is considered by some to be the largest flower in the world , since there is knowledge of a specimen that grew up to 2.74 meters in height, although they may be taller. It can be found on Sumatra Island and is capable of attracting insects due to its fetid stench.

13. Doradilla

Selaginella lepidophylla is how this plant, native to the Chihuahuan desert in Mexico, is scientifically known. It is small, being able to grow up to 5 centimeters in height and adapted without problems to the arid and dry climate where it is usually found.

14. Doll Eyes

Another exotic plant is the Actaea pachypoda, It is native to the eastern USA and is classified as herbaceous perennial. It can grow up to 50 centimeters in height and bears a white fruit 1 centimeter in diameter, from which it receives its name.

15. Devil Fingers

The Clathrus archeri species is a fungus that usually has a red starfish- shaped flower, hence its characteristic name. It is inedible and gives off a smell of decaying meat to attract insects, which act to carry the plant’s spores.