When you think of flowers, you probably picture pretty bouquets and lush, tastefully scented gardens. Unfortunately, not every flower can evoke such pleasant images. In fact, the Hydnora africana might be the most offensive flower out there.
Its mere existence might disgust you, and what it resembles is not entirely safe for work. Yet its overwhelming negative traits might be outdone by the lovely little secret it harbors.
Hydnora africana looks just like female genitalia, and has the distinct odor of human feces.
If you give this flower to a loved one, they will never speak to you again.
If that wasn’t bad enough, it’s also a parasitic plant.
The Hydnora africana feeds off of nutrients from nearby plants. It continues to prosper by trapping beetles attracted to its awful scent. It then collects their pollen, and releases them once it’s had its fill.
The Hydnora africana is native to Africa.
However, people have successfully grown a few in the U.S. Lucky for us, right?
So why is this ugly plant considered a flower? Well, the inside of the Hydnora africana, also known as “jackal food,” contains a flower-like element.
That’s the only thing that allows this monstrosity to be categorized as a flower.
Despite all of its negative qualities, this flower produces a helpful fruit.
Each fruit produces tens of thousands of seeds, and it takes over two years to fully ripen. The fruit is said to carry medicinal properties.
(via UNB Facts)
I suppose this bug-kidnapping, horrid-looking, putrid-smelling “flower” isn’t so bad. Once you get past all the negatives, it’s just another plant that produces fruit — a fruit that I vow to never, ever try.
