Phoenix Flower
The Phoenix Flower is prized for its bright petals, of course.
It has no leaves, so it has real trouble making chlorophyll. Because of this, each flower dies, shortly after sunset.
However, the seeds it leaves behind have an incredible germination speed, and so, shortly after sunrise, a new, full-size plant grows in the exact same spot as before.
It has no leaves, so it has real trouble making chlorophyll. Because of this, each flower dies, shortly after sunset.
However, the seeds it leaves behind have an incredible germination speed, and so, shortly after sunrise, a new, full-size plant grows in the exact same spot as before.
Invisible Daffodil
This flower was discovered in 1871 by an explorer called Stanley Rourke, deep in the mountains of Peru.
Unfortunately he was unable to bring a sample back, and none have since been discovered. There is no further data or information.
Before his death, Rourke also discovered the Transparent Daffodil, the Glass Posy, and the African Chameleon Flower.
Double Daisy
White daisies usually grow on the bright, sunny sides of mountains. Black daisies grow on the darker, wetter sides of mountains.
The Double Daisy is a very rare flower that grows only on the very tops of tall mountains, soaking up both the sun and rain. It turns pale on one side, and dark on the other.
These daises are worth lots of money, so some flower dealers make fake ones by cutting white and black daisies in half, and combining the two. However, they never usually do the stems, so check there for authenticity.
Gloomy Sponge
The Double Daisy is a very rare flower that grows only on the very tops of tall mountains, soaking up both the sun and rain. It turns pale on one side, and dark on the other.
These daises are worth lots of money, so some flower dealers make fake ones by cutting white and black daisies in half, and combining the two. However, they never usually do the stems, so check there for authenticity.
Gloomy Sponge
In the deepest caves and the darkest caverns, these are usually one or two of these completely black-coloured flowers.
They have tiny petals (as there's no need for them) and numerous leaves (to pick up every drop of light they can).
They can survive on mere drops of light for months at a time. Botanists estimate that they receive this from fireflies.
No-one knows what would happen if these flowers were placed outside, in direct sunlight.
Drooping Hightrap
They have tiny petals (as there's no need for them) and numerous leaves (to pick up every drop of light they can).
They can survive on mere drops of light for months at a time. Botanists estimate that they receive this from fireflies.
No-one knows what would happen if these flowers were placed outside, in direct sunlight.
Drooping Hightrap
This plant looks like a tree, and is as tall as a tree – but it's actually a flower, and as such, its huge petals close up at night.
This behaviour may resemble that of various carnivorous plants, but in fact, no digestion occurs. Consequently, small animals often use the nightly cage as a sort of airborne shelter.
In fact, when the petals open up in the morning, there's no knowing what's going to fall out.
Roman Candle
This behaviour may resemble that of various carnivorous plants, but in fact, no digestion occurs. Consequently, small animals often use the nightly cage as a sort of airborne shelter.
In fact, when the petals open up in the morning, there's no knowing what's going to fall out.
Roman Candle
This multicoloured plant produces an innumerable amount of seeds – but each of them has an infinitely minuscule chance of actually taking root.
Its bright, garish petals attract the maximum amount of insects, of all different species, to which the plant's sticky seeds attach themselves. The creatures spread the seeds far and wide, giving them the highest possible chance of germinating.
Nowegian Royal
Its bright, garish petals attract the maximum amount of insects, of all different species, to which the plant's sticky seeds attach themselves. The creatures spread the seeds far and wide, giving them the highest possible chance of germinating.
Nowegian Royal
Due to an anomaly in the local soil nutrients, this flower only grows in the Norwegian royal gardens.
As such, it is celebrated throughout the country in art, poetry, and song, as the most beautiful flower in the world.
Despite this, the Norwegian Royal is generally considered to be rather ugly, and possibly even a weed rather than a flower.
Alpine Howler
As such, it is celebrated throughout the country in art, poetry, and song, as the most beautiful flower in the world.
Despite this, the Norwegian Royal is generally considered to be rather ugly, and possibly even a weed rather than a flower.
Alpine Howler
These flowers have a finger-sized hole, or funnel, in their centre. When the wind blows, it rushes through this gap, causing a sound not unlike the howling of a wolf.
Rabbits and other small animals have been known to settle down close by to patches of Alpine Howlers, in the hope that the noise will deter the would-be predators.
Salisbury Pinhead
Rabbits and other small animals have been known to settle down close by to patches of Alpine Howlers, in the hope that the noise will deter the would-be predators.
Salisbury Pinhead
The Salisbury Pinhead is the smallest flower in the world, and is in fact even smaller than an actual pinhead. Its real size is more like the point of a needle.
The flower has been known about for some time – but for years it remained out of the official textbooks because botanists couldn't agree on whether or not it was actually there.
Thousand Needle
The flower has been known about for some time – but for years it remained out of the official textbooks because botanists couldn't agree on whether or not it was actually there.
Thousand Needle
The large petals of the Thousand Needle are colourful, soft, and attractive. In addition, the plant exudes a pleasant, sweet smell. This leads to many people trying to pick it from the ground, for decorative purposes.
However, when this happens, the would-be picker's fingers are invariably cut by one of the numerous, tiny barbs along the stem.
The plant gains many of its essential nutrients from the blood of human fingers.
Sleeping Beauty
However, when this happens, the would-be picker's fingers are invariably cut by one of the numerous, tiny barbs along the stem.
The plant gains many of its essential nutrients from the blood of human fingers.
Sleeping Beauty
The Sleeping Beauty flower hibernates for years at a time.
During its slumber, to protect against herbivores, its petals fill with a deadly poison. Soon after its awakening, the poison disappears again.
In this latter, awakened state, the flower has a pleasant taste. It is especially perfect for teas.
Unfortunately there is no visible different between the two states.
Blue Rose
During its slumber, to protect against herbivores, its petals fill with a deadly poison. Soon after its awakening, the poison disappears again.
In this latter, awakened state, the flower has a pleasant taste. It is especially perfect for teas.
Unfortunately there is no visible different between the two states.
Blue Rose
It has only ever been seen once, and once only. The renowned Ashley Fieldcroft came across it on one of his explorations – but when he returned later with photography equipment, it was gone.
They searched everywhere, of course, but the Blue Rose hasn't been seen since.
In the intervening years, it has become the most mythical, and the most sought-after plant on the planet. It is said that whoever finds it will instantly become a millionaire.
Oriental Sunbeam
They searched everywhere, of course, but the Blue Rose hasn't been seen since.
In the intervening years, it has become the most mythical, and the most sought-after plant on the planet. It is said that whoever finds it will instantly become a millionaire.
Oriental Sunbeam
The large, red-coloured petals and leaves of the Oriental Sunbeam retain the sun's heat extraordinarily well. They are therefore pleasantly warm to the touch.
For this reason, they have been used for centuries in the cooking and cuisine of their native East-Asian habitat.
Chicory Chef
For this reason, they have been used for centuries in the cooking and cuisine of their native East-Asian habitat.
Chicory Chef
At the centre of this flower, there are several strange appendages. They look a little like antennae, but their use is in fact closer to a tongue.
Using these extensions, the flower “tastes” the air, extracting particles of dust – its only source of nutrition.
To achieve this, the tongues have to be very sensitive. In fact, they are so sensitive, that if you drop a single sugar crystal onto the flower, it will experience a taste overload, causing it to shrivel up and die.
Lying Pansy
Using these extensions, the flower “tastes” the air, extracting particles of dust – its only source of nutrition.
To achieve this, the tongues have to be very sensitive. In fact, they are so sensitive, that if you drop a single sugar crystal onto the flower, it will experience a taste overload, causing it to shrivel up and die.
Lying Pansy
This is an extremely crafty flower. It emits a sweet yellow substance that is as sticky as glue, luring insects in and trapping them on the petals.
However, unlike similar plants, it doesn't then digest the insect. Instead, it waits for a larger predator, such as a toad or bird, to try and steal its captive bug.
As this larger animal attempts to remove the insect from the glue, the flower's petals open up – and swallow them both whole.
Hypnothea
However, unlike similar plants, it doesn't then digest the insect. Instead, it waits for a larger predator, such as a toad or bird, to try and steal its captive bug.
As this larger animal attempts to remove the insect from the glue, the flower's petals open up – and swallow them both whole.
Hypnothea
This large, bizarre-looking flower employs a unique pollination tactic.
Its circle of blue fronds gently twists and wiggle, whenever a large animal passes by. These targets can include anything from foxes and wolves, to deer, or wildebeest.
As the creature stares, entranced, the flower's central section extends, and attaches several “blobs” of pollen to its body. Later, elsewhere, other plants will extract the pollen using the same method.
Beatrice's Fountain
Its circle of blue fronds gently twists and wiggle, whenever a large animal passes by. These targets can include anything from foxes and wolves, to deer, or wildebeest.
As the creature stares, entranced, the flower's central section extends, and attaches several “blobs” of pollen to its body. Later, elsewhere, other plants will extract the pollen using the same method.
Beatrice's Fountain
This flower's cup-like petals catch plenty of rainwater – but this is difficult to transfer to the soil, and therefore to the roots.
The “Beatrice's Fountain” solves this by collecting the water, and spraying it gently onto the ground using a perforated, nozzle-like growth. It's possibly the only plant that waters itself!
The name comes from Denmark's Queen Beatrice, who was first to use these flowers as a decorative feature in her vast, extensive gardens.
Indian Umbrella
The “Beatrice's Fountain” solves this by collecting the water, and spraying it gently onto the ground using a perforated, nozzle-like growth. It's possibly the only plant that waters itself!
The name comes from Denmark's Queen Beatrice, who was first to use these flowers as a decorative feature in her vast, extensive gardens.
Indian Umbrella
The Indian Umbrella starts off small, sheltering mice and snails from the monsoon. The urine from these creatures makes its way through the soil, to the plant's roots, helping it to grow larger.
As it grows, it begins to shelter bigger animals, including wolves, or even bears!
These bigger plants are often harvested, and sold to tourists in local marketplaces. They are surprisingly effective, even several months after they've been plucked.
Rabbit's Cradle
As it grows, it begins to shelter bigger animals, including wolves, or even bears!
These bigger plants are often harvested, and sold to tourists in local marketplaces. They are surprisingly effective, even several months after they've been plucked.
Rabbit's Cradle
In the depths of winter, and the sun goes down, it's difficult for animals to resist crawling inside this warm, soft, relaxing flower. Birds are also known to lay their eggs here.
Unfortunately for these trusting creatures, by morning, the Rabbit's Cradle will have closed completely. By the time it opens again, up to a week later, it will once again be completely empty.
The animal or egg will have disappeared forever.
False Owl
Unfortunately for these trusting creatures, by morning, the Rabbit's Cradle will have closed completely. By the time it opens again, up to a week later, it will once again be completely empty.
The animal or egg will have disappeared forever.
False Owl
The stems of these plants are particularly delicious to mice and voles.
To ward off these creatures, the flower grows an arrangement of leaves and seeds that resembles the appearance of an owl.
They are often grown in gardens and farms, to function as miniature scarecrows.
Dragon Lure
To ward off these creatures, the flower grows an arrangement of leaves and seeds that resembles the appearance of an owl.
They are often grown in gardens and farms, to function as miniature scarecrows.
Dragon Lure
This plant produces vast quantities of a very strong, concentrated nectar, which is beloved by a specific species of red dragonfly.
Because of this, it is permanently covered with a thick cloud of these insects, who feed to their heart's content.
Looking at photographs of these flowers, it appears that the red spikes – the dragonfly tails – are part of the plant. In fact, no-one has ever been able to glimpse what the flower actually looks like.
Bermuda Firebomb
Because of this, it is permanently covered with a thick cloud of these insects, who feed to their heart's content.
Looking at photographs of these flowers, it appears that the red spikes – the dragonfly tails – are part of the plant. In fact, no-one has ever been able to glimpse what the flower actually looks like.
Bermuda Firebomb
The red growths on this extremely rare plant are the hottest chilis known to man.
It is said that its roots feast on the salty tears of any animal stupid enough to actually eat it.
The chilis are available in several Bermudan restaurants, but in all cases, ordering them requires the signing of a liability waiver.
Balloon Flower
It is said that its roots feast on the salty tears of any animal stupid enough to actually eat it.
The chilis are available in several Bermudan restaurants, but in all cases, ordering them requires the signing of a liability waiver.
Balloon Flower
The orange fronds on this plant are actually hollow. A self-produced gas fills them up like balloons, and the flower takes off into the air.
As it drifts in the wind, its long tail drops dozens of seeds all over the land.
Zeppelin or glider flight is normally banned in areas where these flowers are known to grow, following the Hindenburg disaster of 1937.
Origami Blossom
As it drifts in the wind, its long tail drops dozens of seeds all over the land.
Zeppelin or glider flight is normally banned in areas where these flowers are known to grow, following the Hindenburg disaster of 1937.
Origami Blossom
The petals of the Origami Blossom are many times lighter than a feather. They grow to full size, before detaching from their plant, and blowing away in the breeze.
At this point, the flying petals look very similar to butterflies. They are known to confuse several species of frog, which rely on these butterflies for food.
This has led to bitter arguments between wildlife conservationists, who want to protect the frogs, and botanists, who want to protect the flowers.
Foxglove Tower
Any foxglove which grows over twenty feet becomes known as a “Foxglove Tower”. They are technically the same species, but are rare enough for them to merit special attention.
Current statistics indicate that one in every hundred thousand foxgloves grows into a Foxglove Tower. There are usually only one or two in the world at any one time.
As of yet, a specific cause or trigger remains unidentified.
At this point, the flying petals look very similar to butterflies. They are known to confuse several species of frog, which rely on these butterflies for food.
This has led to bitter arguments between wildlife conservationists, who want to protect the frogs, and botanists, who want to protect the flowers.
Foxglove Tower
Any foxglove which grows over twenty feet becomes known as a “Foxglove Tower”. They are technically the same species, but are rare enough for them to merit special attention.Current statistics indicate that one in every hundred thousand foxgloves grows into a Foxglove Tower. There are usually only one or two in the world at any one time.
As of yet, a specific cause or trigger remains unidentified.