Baseball Plant

This succulent plant, which is formed like a ball, is also known as the sea urchin plant (given the shape of its body). It used to be that the Great Karoo region of South Africa was the only place you could find it. As a result of:

  • the increasing number of individuals throughout the world who have decided to cultivate baseball plants around them
  • it has become associated with harvesting practices that are not sustainable.

In spite of this fact, it is still widely farmed in many parts of the world, despite the fact that in its natural habitat it is now classified as endangered and is very close to becoming extinct. Thankfully, a number of botanical gardens and nurseries have begun cultivating this plant, which means that it will no longer be necessary to harvest it from its natural habitat in order to ensure that it does not go extinct.

Corpse Flower

It is estimated that there are just 1,000 corpse flowers growing in the wild.

This represents a decline of more than 50 percent over the course of the last 150 years. The corpse flower is on the list of endangered plants, just like the baseball plant.

During its evening peak bloom, this plant emits a putrid odor that is reminiscent of decaying flesh, which is likely where the plant got its name from. Because of this, it is able to draw in pollinators from great distances, such as flies and carrion beetles.

Not only that, but it also holds the title of being the plant kingdom's largest unbranched inflorescence, which is a cluster of a vast number of smaller flowers. It has the potential to reach an astounding height of eight feet and a weight of up to 170 pounds.

 Dragon Arum

Keep your noses closed because we're about to talk about another nasty plant.

Our herbaceous perennial is native to the Mediterranean's rocky slopes and, like some of the flowers on this list, produces a particularly disagreeable aroma from its crimson blooms. Don't be fooled by its gorgeous flowers; this plant is notorious for its horrible odor, so much so that it's known locally as a carrion flower. It smells like rotting meat and has the coloring and hairs to resemble a decaying animal! Even from a long distance, this works wonders for attracting pollinators.

Unfortunately, this is also a vulnerable species whose habitat has been degraded. This has been a problem for collectors who want to keep the succulent in their house, as well as Zulus who utilize the plant to treat hysteria.

This is without a doubt one of the strangest-looking plants on the planet. It's also one of the most ferocious.

Hydnora Africana

The Dangerous Plant

It has the appearance of mushrooms till the blossom opens.

At this time, the plant has changed from a leafless brown-gray plant to something that resembles an animal rather than a plant—and it certainly acts like one! When the parasitic perennial opens up, warty, worm-shaped outgrowths offer beetles and other insects a trap from which they cannot escape (and serves as pollination for the flower). While this is also a stinky plant, the fruit is edible and enjoyed by a variety of creatures, including jackals, baboons, porcupines, moles, birds, and even people! When combined with cream, it apparently produces a wonderful dessert (and can also treat conditions like diarrhea, dysentery, and acne).

Giant Water Lily

Rapid Growth

Giant Water Lily, also known as Amazon Water Lily, Royal Water Lily, and Amazon Water Platter, gives this plant honor with its massive floating lily pads. It is the largest member of the water lily family, with pads up to eight feet wide. This is due to the plant's rapid growth, which can reach 20 cm per day. Unlike many of these other plants, it has pink blossoms with a lovely sweet pineapple aroma. It's also a little nicer. It contains blooms that open and close, keeping beetles overnight before releasing them the next day to finish the pollination process.