World's 13 Weirdest Flowers

Flowers like these are sure bizarre but that doesn't mean that they aren't beautiful and amazing like the bizarre monkey faced flower!

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6. The Bleeding Heart

Cousin to the poppy and just as mystical, The Bleeding Heart earned its name due to the commercially recognized heart-shape. Fun fact, this shape is not the shape of our functioning human hearts and rather gets its shape from a woman’s tush. That’s right. You’ve been giving your valentines a box of chalky buttox. The Bleeding Heart is hot pink in color and suspended from a thin stem like an ornate brooch when given symbolizes caring and appreciation. As the flower blooms the outer petals open revealing the inner white part of the flower dubiously referred to as “the lady in the bath”.

5. The Devil’s Hand

The Devil’s Hand is a vibrant flower in hellish crimson that can grow upwards of thirty five to ninety feet tall. Native to Mexico, The Devil’s Hand, scientifically known as Chiranthodendron Pentadactylon, was held in high esteem by the Ancient Aztec society. According to their culture the claw-like flowers had religious significance. The Aztecs worshipped over 1,000 gods and believed in thirteen heavens and nine hells. They believed that the gods controlled all life and it was necessary to keep the gods happy in order to see the sun each morning. The Devil’s Hand was logically held on high by a culture who made daily offerings of human blood through ritualistic human sacrifice. The Devil’s Hand has also been known as the Monkey’s Hand, the Hand-Flower, and the Monkey’s Paw. I wouldn’t recommend making a wish on these dark talismans any time soon.

4. Black Bat Flower

Tacca Chantrieri, or the black bat flower, grows in hot, wet, tropical climates in Southeast Asia. They desire high levels of humidity, need lots of water, and prefer darkness even during the day. These creatures of the night seek out shade and will wither under too much sun. With these vampiric characteristics combined with the Halloweeny aesthetic, superstition surrounds this mysterious plant. Gazing upon the plant will incite the evil eye to stalk you bringing misfortune or may even result in the sudden death of a close family member. Myths, of course, but maybe go with a different choice for the floral arrangement. It doesn’t seem worth the risk to have this hairy black monster flower around.

3. The Monkey Orchid

Native to south-easter Ecuador and Peru, these orchids grow at elevations of 1000 to 2000 meters so few humans are able to witness the splendor of the Monkey Orchid. Terribly difficult to cultivate, these flowers are very rare to see in captivity. This flower is a horticulturist’s wet dream with their rarity, striking looks, and scent similar to that of a ripe and succulent orange. Curious about how these little red numbers got their name? Just look at them! Doesn’t take a very clever scientist to call ‘em as he sees ‘em. Scientifically named Dracula simia, the name draws inspiration from the fang like spurs of the sepals and the aforementioned adorable monkey face.

2. Psychotria Elata

Psychotria Elata is found in the rain forests of South and Central American countries, specifically Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama, and Columbia. Preferring the hot and wet climate, Psychotria Elata or Hooker’s Lips have a period of blooming where the petals resemble the ruby red lipstick slathered lips of a lady of the evening. Unlike the streetwalkers that seem to multiply in my part of the world, these Hookers are grossly endangered due to deforestation and their likelihood of being plucked and presented as a suggestive gift. Not only psychedelic in appearance, the genus Psychotria is dubbed thusly due to the production of psychedelic chemicals like dimethyltryptamine commonly known as DMT. A kiss of those lips would be a hell of a trip!

1. The Corpse Flower

Looking like set dressing from E.T. or Jumanji, the Corpse Flower measures more than one hundred centimeters in diameter and can weigh up to ten kilograms or twenty two pounds. Scientifically known as Rafflesia, this gigantic gaping speckled mass grows in southeastern Asia in Indonesia, Malaysia, thailand, and the Philippines in sweltering conditions. The Corpse Flower gets its colloquial name from its rancid smell that’s often compared to the stench of rotting flesh. The putrid smell draws the attention of carrion flies, known for swarming decaying bodies and spreading disease. The Corpse Flower in all its slimy, sinky, and surreally sized glory piques the interest of scientists all over the world who have been baffled by the properties of the plant since its discovery in 1995.