Did you know that the tallest trees are over 100 meters high? Have you heard anything about plants that are able to "kill" and "eat" animals? In this article, you will learn a lot of amazing, interesting and even shocking from the life of plants.
1. Velvichia is amazing (Welwitschia mirabilis).
Photo source:
This desert dwarf tree can be up to 2,000 years old. From the short hemp-shaped trunk of the plant, two huge leaves extend in both directions, which, as they grow, break longitudinally into ribbons, and the tips dry out. The age of these giant leaves is the same as the age of the tree. The leaves grow constantly from the base, and the tips die off. In some cases, the length of the leaves can reach 8 meters, and the width is 1.8 meters.
The genus Amorphophallus, as well as the genus Rafflesia, is famous for its "delicate aroma" of decaying flesh. The smell coming from the flower is terrible. Few are able to admire amorphophallus without a gas mask. The flower of most representatives of this genus is huge in size (Especially in the species shown in the photo Amorphophallus titanum) and can reach a height of 2.5 meters with a diameter of 1.5 meters. In many eastern countries, the tubers of this plant are used in the preparation of various culinary dishes and medicines.
(Opuntia bigelovii)
Photo sources:
Opuntia Bigelow is probably one of the most amazing species of the Opuntia genus of the Cactus family. The photo above was taken in California's Joshua – Tree National Park. In the photo, the entire desert landscape is covered to the horizon with amazing fluffy cacti, up to two meters high. The landscape looks fantastic in the rays of the setting sun. The person who is here has the impression that he, as part of a space expedition, landed on another planet covered with unknown life forms.
5. Giant Carnegia (Carnegiea gigantea)
Photo sources:
Carnegia giant (Saguaro) is another amazing plant of the Cactus family. The most amazing feature of this cactus is its gigantic size. Individual plants are about 14 meters high and over 3 meters in diameter! At the same time, the age of individual cacti reaches 150 years.
(Nepenthes)
Photo sources:
Most of the plants from this genus can be called without exaggeration "predators" that get the necessary missing nutrients By "digesting" the caught insects. The plant has modified leaves that resemble jugs in shape. The inner surface of the jug is lined with cells that evolve nectar, which serves to attract insects, as well as "hair cells" that make the release of an insect "in the net" impossible. The surface of the "neck" of the jug is very slippery, so there is practically no chance of an insect walking along the neck not to slide down. The insect falls into the water (in some species, the jug can contain up to 2 liters of water) and drowns. Further, enzymes are produced that completely "digest" the insect. Sometimes not only insects are trapped, but even mice, rats, birds.
The Venus flytrap is an even more amazing "killer plant" that takes more active steps to kill its prey. Modified leaves - "jaws" of this plant encroach on the life not only of insects, but also on life.
You can "enjoy" the rest of the amazing "combat feats" of Venus flytrap in the video.
(Ficus benghalensis)
Photo source:
At first glance, it may seem that the photo above shows a forest. In fact, it is one single tree. Ficus Bengal forms powerful branches to support which shoots grow, which, dropping down to the ground, take root, forming powerful columns-trunks.
9. Sequoia evergreen (Sequoia sempervirens)
Photo source:
Evergreen sequoia is the tallest tree on our planet. Our temperate forests are grass compared to the forest of these mighty giants. Many trees are over 110 meters high and over 3500 years old! Previously, houses were hollowed out in the trunks of sequoia and even tunnels were cut through which they passed car roads... In windy weather, many visitors to the forest of giants feel uneasy from the noisy "grinding" and swaying of the mighty redwood trunks. Grows in California.
Being inquisitive, man has always been interested in various records in the world of plants. It is important for him to know which flower and which plant is the largest, which is poisonous, and which is the most unusual.
Largest flower
Among the flowers, there are record holders for growth. The largest of the single flowers is Rafflesia Arnoldi. He is able to grow more than ninety centimeters. At the same time, its weight is about eleven kilograms. Rafflesia is native to the rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia, Borneo, the Philippines and Malaysia.The longest sushi plant is the liana palm rattan. Its length varies from three hundred to three hundred and fifty meters.
In America, in the park "Sequoia" grows a huge sequoia, bearing the name "General Sherman". The height of the tree is more than eighty-three meters with a trunk diameter of thirty-one meters. Victoria Amazonian is another huge tropical herbaceous plant of the Water Lily order. The leaves of this giant water lily are two meters in diameter.
The most poisonous plants
Not all plants are harmless. Among them there are poisonous ones that can harm human health. For example, poison ivy, poison oak and lacquer wood secrete a volatile toxin that can cause severe allergies. 
Diktamnus or Yasenets are plants that are dangerous to humans. Contained in them essential oils can cause a long-healing chemical burn. A plant such as hogweed can cause photochemical burns. If its juice gets on human skin, nothing will happen, but as soon as sunlight hits this place, the skin will be affected by a chemical burn.
Crow's eye berries and rhizomes are highly poisonous. The plant contains a substance that causes convulsions, vomiting, sometimes leading to paralysis of the respiratory systems. Convulsions, coma and paralysis respiratory tract poisoning with plants such as datura and henbane can result.
The most poisonous plant in the world is the Cicuta plant. Its aroma is similar to that of a carrot and the taste is reminiscent of a radish. One hundred grams of its rhizome can kill a cow. It contains cicutoxin, which leads to respiratory arrest and seizures. This is not the whole list of the most poisonous plants on the planet.
Unusual herb
Unusual are called medicinal herbs... One of these herbs is tarragon. Its second name is "Queen of Herbs". It is a very useful crop used as a medicine, as a spice and as an ornamental plant. Another unusual herb is wormwood, which is also widely used in medicine. It is impossible not to name St. John's wort, Eleutherococcus prickly, lemon balm, oregano, sage, etc. 
Alpine species of variegated living carpets are unusual herbs in appearance. They grow in sod. The most popular carpet plant is the Alpine goose. Another very unusual carpet growing grass was discovered on the shores of Lake Chany. It is unusual not only in red, but also in that it looks like a worm in some way.
Amazing home plants
Pseudolithos looks especially extreme among domestic plants. It will surprise anyone with its appearance. His homeland is Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The translation of the name is “false stone”. The plant looks like a thick, egg-shaped, bumpy trunk without leaves. The color and shape are reminiscent of stone. Pseudolithos blooms in clusters of bright flowers.Marvelous indoor plant growing without soil is Tillandsia. To grow it indoors, you need to get a saw cut or bark of a coniferous tree, on which auxiliary roots will be fixed.
One of the most interesting indoor plants is Lithops. In its shape, the plant resembles a hoof no more than seven centimeters high. Interestingly, most of this plant is underground. Every spring they bloom in large, bright flowers.
Bonsai looks original. Its second name is "Potted Tree". Bonsai is essentially a home-grown bonsai. This is just a small list of amazing houseplants.
The most unusual plant in the world
It is difficult to decide which plant is the most unusual, since there are too many amazing representatives of vegetation on the planet. It is quite possible that the most unusual plant - Velvichia is amazing. It can do without water for about five years, being content with moisture from the atmosphere. 
Velvichia lives from four hundred to two thousand years. Outwardly, the plant looks like two huge leaves, from two to eight meters long. These leaves continue to grow throughout life, gradually tearing longitudinally into ribbons, while the tips dry out. The plant grows in areas of Namibia where the air humidity is high due to frequent fogs.
Subscribe to our channel in Yandex.Zen
There exists on our planet great amount all kinds of plants, seeing which one can only wonder how nature could come up with something similar. An incredible number of species and subspecies of plants, many of which are striking in their qualities - from survival and adaptability, to colors and sizes. In this ranking of the most unusual plants, we show the full scope of natural creativity.
14
Romanesco is one of the cultivated varieties of cabbage, belonging to the same varietal group as cauliflower. According to some reports, it is a hybrid of cauliflower and broccoli. This type of cabbage has long been grown in the vicinity of Rome. According to some reports, it was first mentioned in historical documents in Italy in the sixteenth century. The vegetable appeared on international markets in the 90s of the XX century. Compared to cauliflower and broccoli, Romanesco is more delicate in texture and has a milder creamy nutty taste, without a bitter note.
13
Obese euphorbia is a perennial succulent plant family Euphorbia, resembling a stone or green-brown soccer ball, without thorns or leaves, but sometimes forms "branches" or suckers in the form of strange looking sets of spheres. It can grow up to 20-30 cm in height and up to 9-10 cm in diameter. Euphorbia is a bisexual plant, it has male flowers on one plant, and female flowers on the other. For fruit setting, cross-pollination is required and is usually done.
The fruit looks like a slightly triangular trichock, up to 7 mm in diameter, containing one seed in each nest. When ripe, it explodes and scatters small, round, speckled gray seeds 2 millimeters in diameter, pedicels fall off after scattering seeds. It grows at an altitude of 300-900 meters above sea level in a small region of Kendreu, in the Big Karoo, in rocky and hilly terrain , in full sun or partial shade. Plants are very well hidden among the rocks, their colors blend in with the environment so well that they are sometimes difficult to see.
12
Takka is a plant of the Takkov family, growing in a wide variety of environmental conditions and numbering 10 species. They settle in open and strongly shaded places, in savannas, in thickets of bushes and in rain forests. Young parts of plants, as a rule, are covered with the smallest hairs that disappear as they mature. The sizes of plants are usually small, from 40 to 100 centimeters, but some species sometimes reach a height of 3 meters. Although takka is becoming more and more widespread as a houseplant, it should be borne in mind that it is not easy to successfully maintain takka in rooms due to the plant's special requirements for keeping conditions. The Takka family is represented by one genus Takka, numbering about 10 plant species.
- Tacca pinnate grows in tropical Asia, Australia, in the tropics of Africa. Leaves up to 40-60 cm wide, 70 cm long and up to 3 meters long. A flower with two large bedspreads, reaching 20 cm in width, the color was light green.
- Takka Shantrye grows in tropical forests South-East Asia... An evergreen tropical herbaceous plant that grows 90-120 cm in height. Flowers are framed by maroon, almost black, bracts, similar to the wingspan bat or butterflies with long, filamentous antennae.
- Takka whole-leaved grows in India. The leaves are wide, glossy, up to 35 cm wide, up to 70 cm long. A flower with two large veils, reaching 20 cm wide, the color is white, purple streaks are scattered over the white tone. The flowers are black, purple or deep purple, located under the bedspreads.
11
Venus flytrap is a species of carnivorous plants from the monotypic genus Dionea of the Rosyankovye family. It is a small herb with a rosette of 4-7 leaves that grow from a short underground stem. Leaves are three to seven centimeters in size, depending on the season, long trap leaves usually form after flowering. It feeds on insects and spiders. It grows in a humid temperate climate on the Atlantic coast of the United States. It is a species cultivated in ornamental horticulture. Can be grown as a houseplant. It grows in nitrogen-deficient soils such as swamps. Lack of nitrogen is the reason for the appearance of traps: insects serve as a source of nitrogen necessary for the synthesis of proteins. The Venus flytrap belongs to a small group of plants capable of fast movements.
After the prey is trapped and the edges of the leaves close together, forming a “stomach” in which the digestion process takes place. Digestion is catalyzed by enzymes that are secreted by glands in the lobes. Digestion takes approximately 10 days, after which only an empty chitinous membrane remains from the prey. After that, the trap opens and is ready to catch new prey. During the life of the trap, three insects on average fall into it.
10
The dragon tree is a plant of the Dracaena genus that grows in the tropics and subtropics of Africa and the islands of Southeast Asia. Grown as an ornamental plant. An old Indian legend tells that a long time ago in the Arabian Sea on the island of Socotra, there lived a bloodthirsty dragon who attacked elephants and drank their blood. But one day one old and strong elephant fell on the dragon and crushed it. Their blood mixed and moistened the earth around. At this place, trees have grown, called dracaena, which means “female dragon”. The indigenous population of the Canary Islands considered the tree sacred, and its resin was used for medicinal purposes. Resin was found in prehistoric burial caves and was used for embalming at the time.
Bunches of very sharp leaves grow on its thick branches. A thick branched trunk up to 20 meters in height, up to 4 m in diameter at the base, has a secondary growth in thickness. Each branch of the branch ends with a dense bundle of densely spaced grayish-green, leathery, linear-xiphoid leaves 45-60 centimeters long and 2-4 centimeters wide in the middle of the plate, somewhat tapering towards the base and pointed towards the apex, with prominent veins. The flowers are large, bisexual, with a corolla-shaped separate-leaved perianth, in bunches of 4-8 pieces. Some trees live up to 7-9 thousand years.
9
The genus Hydnor includes 5 species that grow in the tropical regions of Africa, Arabia and Madagascar, it is not very common, so just walking in the desert you will not find it. This plant looks more like a mushroom until its unusual flower opens up. In fact, the flower is named after the hydnor mushroom, which means mushroom in Greek. The flowers of gidnorovy are rather large, solitary, almost sessile, bisexual, petalless. And what we usually see on the surface of the soil is called a flower.
These features of color and structure, as well as the putrid smell of flowers, serve to attract beetles that feed on carrion. Beetles, climbing into flowers, crawl in them, especially in their lower part, where the reproductive organs are located, contributing to their pollination. Often, female beetles not only find food in flowers, but also lay eggs there.
Inhabitants of Africa - willingly use the fruits of gidnora for food, as well as some animals. In Madagascar, the hydnora fruit is considered one of the best local fruits. Thus, humans are the very carriers of the seeds of Hydnora. In Madagascar, locals use the flowers and roots of hydnora to treat heart disease.
8
The baobab is a tree species from the Adansonia genus of the Malvaceae family, characteristic of the dry savannahs of tropical Africa. The lifespan of baobabs is controversial - they do not have growth rings, which can be used to reliably calculate their age. Calculations carried out by radiocarbon analysis show more than 5,500 years for a tree with a diameter of 4.5 meters, although more conservative estimates indicate that baobabs live for about 1,000 years.
In winter and during dry periods, the tree begins to consume its moisture reserves, decreasing in volume, and shedding foliage. From October to December, the baobab blooms. The flowers of the baobab are large - up to 20 cm in diameter, white with five petals and purple stamens, on hanging pedicels. They open in the late afternoon and live only one night, attracting the scent of bats pollinating them. In the morning, the flowers wither, acquiring an unpleasant putrid smell, and fall off.
Followed by the development of oblong edible fruits that resemble cucumbers or melons, covered with a thick shaggy skin. Inside, the fruits are filled with sour powdery pulp with black seeds. The baobab dies off in a peculiar way: it seems to crumble and gradually settle, leaving behind only a pile of fiber. However, baobabs are extremely tenacious. They quickly regenerate the stripped bark; continue to bloom and bear fruit. A tree that has been felled or felled can take root.
7
Victoria Amazonian is a large herbaceous tropical plant family Water lily, the largest water lily in the world and one of the world's most popular greenhouse plants. Victoria of the Amazon was named after Queen Victoria of England. Victoria amazonian is common in the Amazon basin in Brazil and Bolivia, it is also found in the rivers of Guyana flowing into the Caribbean Sea.
The huge leaves of the water lily reach 2.5 meters and, with an evenly distributed load, can withstand a weight of up to 50 kilograms. The tuberous rhizome is usually deeply sunk into the muddy bottom. The upper surface is green with a wax layer that repels excess water, also has small holes for water removal. The lower part is purple-red with a net of ribs studded with thorns to protect against herbivorous fish, air bubbles accumulate between the ribs, helping the leaf to swim. In one season, each tuber can release up to 50 leaves, which, growing, cover a large surface of the reservoir, blocking the sunlight and thereby limiting the growth of other plants.
The flowers of Victoria of Amazon are under water and bloom only once a year for 2-3 days. Flowers bloom only at night, and with the onset of dawn they sink under the water. During flowering, flowers placed above the water, when opened, have a diameter of 20-30 centimeters. On the first day, the color of the petals is white, on the second they are pinkish, on the third they turn purple or dark crimson. In the wild, the plant can live up to 5 years.
6
Sequoia is a monotypic genus woody plants, Cypress family. Sprouting on the Pacific coast North America... Some redwoods reach a height of over 110 meters - these are the tallest trees on Earth. The maximum age is more than three and a half thousand years. This tree is more commonly known as the “redwood”, while the related species, the sequoiadendron, are known as the “giant sequoias”.
Their diameter at the level of a human chest is about 10 meters. The most a big tree in the world "General Sherman". Its height is 83.8 meters. In 2002, the volume of the tree was 1487 m³. It is believed to be 2300-2700 years old. The tallest tree in the world is "Hyperion", its height is 115 meters.
5
Nepentes is the only genus of plants of the monotypic family of Nepentes, which includes about 120 species. Most of the species are native to tropical Asia, especially on the island of Kalimantan. Named after the herb of oblivion from ancient greek mythology- nepenth. Species of the genus for the most part shrub or semi-shrub vines growing in humid habitats. Their long, thin herbaceous or slightly lignified stems climb the trunks and large branches of neighboring trees tens of meters in height, bringing their narrow terminal racemose or paniculate inflorescences to sunlight.
Have different types Nepentes jugs vary in size, shape and color. Their length varies from 2.5 to 30 centimeters, and in some species can reach up to 50 cm. Most often, the jugs are painted in bright colours: red, dull white with mottled patterns or light green with mottles. The flowers are small and inconspicuous, actinomorphic and petal, with four tiled sepals. Fruit in the form of a leathery capsule, divided internal partitions into separate chambers, in each of which seeds with a fleshy endosperm and a straight cylindrical small embryo are attached to the column.
It is curious that large nepentes, in addition to eating insects, also use the droppings of tupaya animals, which climb onto the plant like on a toilet bowl to feast on sweet nectar. Thus, the plant forms a symbiotic relationship with the animal, using its droppings as fertilizer.
4
This mushroom, belonging to the Agaric mushroom, looks like chewed gum, oozing with blood and smelling like strawberries. However, you should not eat it, because it is one of the most poisonous mushrooms on earth, and even just licking it you can be guaranteed to get serious poisoning. The mushroom became famous in 1812, and it was then that it was declared inedible. The surface of the fruit bodies is white, velvety, with small depressions; with age, it becomes beige or brown. On the surface of young specimens, drops of a poisonous blood-red liquid protrude through the pores. The word “tooth” in the title is not just that. The fungus has sharp formations along the edges that appear with age.
Besides their external qualities, this mushroom has good antibacterial properties and contains chemicals that thin the blood. It is possible that this mushroom will soon become a replacement for penicillin. main feature of this fungus lies in the fact that it can feed on soil juices and insects, which are attracted by the red liquid of the fungus. The diameter of the cap of the bloody tooth is 5-10 centimeters, the leg length is 2-3 centimeters. The bloody tooth grows in the coniferous forests of Australia, Europe and North America.
3
The top three among the most unusual plants in the world is closed by a large tropical plant of the genus amorphophallus of the aroid family, discovered in 1878 in Sumatra. One of the most known species kind, has one of largest inflorescences in the world. The aerial part of this plant is a short and thick stem, at the base there is a single large leaf, higher - smaller ones. Sheet up to 3 meters long and up to 1 meter in diameter. The petiole is 2-5 meters long, 10 cm thick. Matte green, with white transverse stripes. The underground part of the plant is a giant tuber weighing up to 50 kilograms.
The scent of the flower resembles a mixture of rotten eggs and rotten fish, and in appearance the flower resembles a decaying piece of meat. It is this smell that attracts wildlife to the plant of insect pollinators. Flowering continues for two weeks. Interestingly, the ear heats up to 40 ° C. During this time, the tuber is greatly depleted due to the overexpenditure of nutrients. Therefore, he needs another period of rest up to 4 weeks in order to accumulate strength for the development of the leaf. If there are few nutrients, then the tuber after flowering "sleeps" until next spring. The life span of this plant is 40 years, but it blooms during this time only three or four times.
2
The amazing Velvichia - a relict tree - is one species, one genus, one family, one order of the Velvichievs. Velvichia grows in the south of Angola and in Namibia. The plant is rarely found further than a hundred kilometers from the coast, this approximately corresponds to the limit reached by fogs, which are the main source of moisture for Velvichia. Her appearance You cannot call it grass, bush, or tree. Scientist world learned about Welwitschia in the 19th century.
From a distance, it seems that Welwitschia has a lot long leaves, but in fact there are only two of them, and they grow throughout its entire plant life, adding 8-15 centimeters per year. In scientific works, a giant was described with a leaf length of more than 6 meters and a width of about 2. And its life expectancy is so long that it is difficult to believe. Although Velvichia is considered a tree, it does not have annual rings, like on tree trunks. Scientists have determined the age of the largest Welwitschies using the radiocarbon method - it turned out that some specimens are about 2,000 years old!
Instead of a social plant life, Velvichia prefers a lonely existence, that is, she does not grow as a group. Velvichia's flowers look like small cones, and each female cone contains only one seed, and each seed is equipped with wide wings. As for pollination, the opinions of botanists differ here. Some believe that insects carry out pollination, while others are more inclined to the action of the wind. Welwitschia is protected by the Namibian Conservation Act. Collecting her seeds is prohibited without special permission. The entire territory where Velvichia grows was turned into a National Park.
1
Plants appear to us as something green and boring. But this is nothing more than pure prejudice - plants from this list are ready to compete in diversity and uniqueness with the animal world, they just need to be given a chance.
15. Rainbow trees 
Imagine walking through a forest of 60-meter trees in all colors of the rainbow. Do you think this is possible only in a fairy-tale film? But no - Eucalyptus deglupta, or rainbow eucalyptus actually exists and is found in the forests of the Philippines. These trees grow so fast that the bark peels off in stripes, revealing a bright green layer that changes color to yellow, orange, red, purple and brown as it ages.
14. Snapdragon seed pods 
Snapdragon has been widely used by botanists as a model in many genetic studies. For example, Gregor Mendel and Charles Darwin used snapdragon to study heredity. Distinctive feature the plants are its seed pods, each of which looks like a screaming skull.
13. Jaboticaba 
Jaboticaba is fruit tree with unique fruit formation. Unlike most trees, whose fruits grow on branches, jaboticaba forms its black fruits right on the trunk. It looks like they are oozing from the bark. Although the jaboticaba fruit is popular in Brazil, due to its short shelf life, it rarely makes it to other places. The fruit can be eaten fresh, as well as in the form of jam, wine or liquor.
11. Amorphophallus titanic 
This flower is the tallest in the world - its height can reach three meters. The yellow ear in the center contains small white flowers. Once they are ready to spread pollen, the ear begins to generate heat, which helps diffuse a fetid odor reminiscent of a decaying corpse. As in the case of the cadaveric lily, the scent attracts the flies, which do the pollination.
10. Elephant yam 
Amorphophallus pion-leaved, or elephant yam, is a close relative of Amorphophallus titanic. Earlier the only way to distinguish between the different species in this group was to smell them and find out what kind of stench they exude. The tubers that gave the plant the name "yams" are the third most popular source of carbohydrates in Indonesia after rice and corn. And the word "Amorphophallus" in the name indicates the shape of the flower - literally it translates as "shapeless penis".
9. Raven thickened 
The thick-legged raven also bears the cheerful name "doll's eyes". It is quite obvious that the creepy "eyes" are poisonous. Just a handful of these berries can cause instant death. Of course, only a desperate brave man can dare to eat the berries that are looking at him ...
8. Bitter cucumber 
Momordica harantia, or bitter cucumber, is a herbaceous vine growing all over the world. Its fruits, empty inside, have a warty surface. They are usually eaten while still green because the yellowing fruit becomes more bitter as it ripens. However, when fully ripe fruit is revealed, a sweet, bright red heart can be found inside.
7. The naked man 
Orchis italica, also called the Naked Man Orchid, can be found almost everywhere in the Mediterranean region. They are very popular among orchid lovers because ... well, at least because the petals look like naked men, which is not clear here. The plant has about 40 varieties, so you can choose a naked man of almost any color and size.
6. Predatory pitchers 
Animals eat plants. This is the natural order of things. However, some plants go against the system and kick back. Pitchers trap insects, spiders and even small mammals and reptiles, and then drown them. Their modified leaves trap fluid that contains digestive enzymes and chemicals. As soon as the victim hits the jug, it slides down the waxed slippery walls that prevent it from getting out. After unsuccessful attempts to get out, the victim plunges into the liquid, drowns, and the plant digests it to provide itself with nutrients that are not in the soil.
5. Blooming stones 
You, of course, know perfectly well that flowering stones does not exist in nature. But it is them that are reminiscent of the amazing plants of the genus Lithops. They can be found in the rocky and sandy deserts of South Africa. Plants have adapted to resemble the stones around them. This shape allows them to survive in regions with low rainfall, as the small surface area inhibits evaporation. Lithops are popular houseplants and are often marketed as "living stones".
4. African Hydnora
3. Albino sequoia 
Ask your child to draw a tree and you will get a brown trunk and green leaves. Everyone knows that trees are green. Everything except the albino sequoia. These trees are unable to produce chlorophyll, and without chlorophyll, they cannot absorb sunlight and produce their own nutrients. For other trees, this would be a death sentence, but redwoods have the ability to share roots among themselves. When the albino sequoia germinates, it needs to attach itself to the root system of another tree in order to extract food.
2. Red tumbleweed 
Bassia broom grows in Eurasia, but somehow it got to the USA, where it got the nickname "Mexican fire weed" or more prosaic "burning bush". Usually tumbleweeds, after dying off, turn yellow or brown, but bass takes on a bright red hue. Whole bassi fields can be found in Japan, where their black seeds are called "caviar of the earth."
1. Plant-kiss 
Sublime Psychotria is known under the unflattering name of the "sponge whore". One glance at the flower is enough to understand where this name came from. The plant is found in the jungles of Central America, but, despite its seductive appearance, it is gradually becoming extinct due to the loss of habitat. Sponges like this would look great on Batman's rival, Poison Ivy. Especially when you consider that the flower produces a hallucinogenic substance. Oddly enough, the "sponges" themselves are not a plant flower. The flower protrudes from the "mouth", all covered with yellow, viscous mucus. As they say, beauty is on the surface ...
Pine trees sterilize the air
The smallest flower in the world
Xerophyta - drought plant
Our planet never ceases to amaze with the variety of plant and animal species existing on it, sometimes possessing amazing abilities.
A selection of the most interesting facts about plants:
1. An amazing plant called Ceratonia of the legume family, which has long been cultivated in the Mediterranean, has an interesting property - the size of its fruits is always the same (0.2 g), for which they were very much appreciated by jewelers in the old days, but now this measure is called a carat. The scientific name of the genus, by the way, comes from the Greek κεράτιον ( сerátiοn), κέρας ( ceras) "Horn".
2. Among the straight-stemmed trees, the Australian eucalyptus trees can boast of the highest height, the height of which reaches 150 meters, and sometimes even more. The telegraph pole, made from the wood of this tree, is able to withstand the strongest winds, and the eucalyptus root system sucks water out of the soil with such force that people use these natural pumps to drain the swamps.
3. The plant-record holder is also titanium arum, the flower of which is the largest and reaches a height of 2.27 meters. For the unbearable smell exuded by the plant, titanium arum was nicknamed "cadaveric flower": its "aroma" resembles the smell of rotten meat. However, for pollinators - flies and beetles - this smell and bright color are very attractive. V natural conditions the flower grows in the jungle about. Sumatra. Titan arum blooms once every 20–40 years and blooms for only two days. All over the world, only about 150 cases of its flowering were officially recorded. A few years ago, visitors to the British Botanical Gardens became happy witnesses of the flowering of this peculiar plant.
4. Another famous large flower is Rafflesia Arnold (Sumatra Island, Kalimantan, Philippines, etc.). Rafflesia Arnold blooms with single flowers, their diameter is 60-100 cm, and their weight is up to 8 kg. The flower publishes bad smell, reminiscent of the smell of rotting meat, attracting the main pollinators - flies.
5. In the Amazon you can find a plant of the water lily family called victoria. Its leaves on the surface of the water reach three meters in diameter and can withstand a weight of up to 30 kg.
6. One of the most interesting facts about plants is that the leaves on their trunks and branches are not arranged chaotically, but in a certain sequence, having a certain angle of deviation relative to each other. The size of this angle differs depending on the plant itself. So, for an apricot it is 2/5, for a pear - 3/8, for an almond - 5/13, etc. This arrangement of leaves in accordance with the size of the tree, leaves and growing environment provides them with optimal nutrition, access to light and full growth.
In India, there is a plant locally called "cheat the stomach". Eating 1-2 leaves of the kalir-kanda plant, a person feels full for a whole week, although the leaves do not contain valuable nutrients. The property of the plant to create the illusion of satiety is used in the manufacture of tablets and infusions from the leaves, which are successfully used by people suffering from overweight.
One of the unusual plants native to the savannahs of the South American country of Paraguay. It is a shrub of STEVIA, the leaves of which contain a substance that resembles saccharin. It is over 300 times sweeter than sugar. This plant is already successfully cultivated in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Laos, Spain and with the light hand of Academician N. I. Vavilov in Russia. There are significant plantations of culture in the Belgorod region. With the extract made from stevia, Belgorod residents sweeten confectionery for diabetics.
SUGAR HERB. It grows in Central America, mainly in Mexico. A sweet oily liquid was isolated from its leaves and flowers, which is 1000 times more sweet than sugar. It is especially valuable that, unlike natural sugar, this substance is completely
harmless to diabetics and not conducive to obesity.
The herbaceous plant TOUMATOCUS DANNELIUS grows in the African savannah. The special substance talin, which is found in its red berries, is 2000 times sweeter than sugar.
An even sweeter plant is LIANA DIOSCOREFILLUM CUMMINISIA, which grows in the rainforests of Nigeria and other West African countries. Sugar, in comparison to its coral red berries, appears to be tasteless due to its monellin content. Still, after all, monellin is 3000 times sweeter than sugar!
And the champion among super-sweet plants is the KETEMPH shrub, which grows in the rainforests of West Africa. The sweetest substance in the world is obtained from it - toumatin. It is 100,000 times sweeter than sugar (hard to imagine)! This substance will be sweet even if toumatin is dissolved at a concentration of 10 g per ton of water!
Scientists believe that growing super-sweet plants could revolutionize the world's sugar industry.
In the tropical forests of West Africa, the SINSEPALUM DULCIFICUM shrub grows.
Its red berries, due to the content of miraculin, have an amazing property - to influence the taste of a person. If you chew a few of these small berries before a meal, miracles will start to happen with the taste: sour lemon will seem sweeter than an orange, and sugar - bitter. This effect lasts for about an hour, and sometimes more, depending on the amount of fruits eaten.
Locals from Ghana to Zaire, where this plant grows, use its fruits to sweeten sour palm wine.
It is interesting that plants similar in action are found in the Transcaucasia, in the south of Tajikistan and in China. This is a tree from the buckthorn family - ZIZIFUS, also known as unabi or Chinese date. Compotes, preserves, marshmallows are prepared from them, and kept in a dried form.
In 1784, dahlia tubers, unseen until then, were brought from Mexico to Spain. The Spanish king commanded to jealously guard the secret of the existence of an overseas flower, until in 1805 the German naturalist Alexander Humboldt brought tubers from South America for 20 years, a Mexican plant "unknown" in Europe!
Pine trees sterilize the air
One hectare of pine forest per day is capable of releasing about 5 kg of volatile phytocides into the atmosphere, destroying numerous microorganisms from the air. Therefore, in forests with growing young conifers, regardless of geographic latitude and the proximity of settlements, in comparison with other green areas, the air is practically sterile, contains only about 200 - 300 bacteria per 1 cubic meter.
In terms of vitamin C content, walnuts are 8 times higher than black currants and 50 times higher than citrus fruits. The B vitamins they contain contribute to the degradation of pyruvic acid, which accumulates in the muscles and causes fatigue. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus argued that the priests Ancient Babylon ordinary people were forbidden to eat walnuts, because it was believed that they have a beneficial effect on mental activity, and this is useless for the commoners.
The smallest flower in the world
Do you know which plant has the smallest flower in the world? At the duckweed! For a long time it was believed that this is an alga, but then they found flowers in the duckweed. But it is still unknown how the number of these plants in the reservoir doubles in a day - in a few days the duckweed covers the entire surface of the reservoir.
Xerophyta - drought plant
The hairy xerophyta Xerophyta viscosa was named by Antoine Laurent de Jussier (1748-1836) Xerophyta - which means "drought plant". This rare herbaceous perennial inhabits the stony soils of the Natal province in South Africa, on the tops of the Drakensberg Mountains, has filiform curved leaves 60 cm long, and flowers 5-6 cm in diameter appear on the plant from November to April. Often this plant is called by the false name Vellozia viscosa, but Vellozia is a completely different species. Xerophyta is able to live without water in extreme temperature conditions very long time... Researchers at the University of Cape Town are using xerophyte genes to encode the drought-labile weeds sanguinalis Digitaria and Thaliana Arbidopsis, and will then use xerophyte genes to cultivated plants to increase their resistance to stress.
The largest root system- in plants in arid regions, deserts and semi-deserts.
Their roots penetrate deep into the ground to get to the nearest underground water sources, or extend far in breadth to use the small amount of precipitation that falls in the desert.
Consider a few examples of the length of the roots of desert plants.
Central Asian shrub mimosa -7 m;
Sowing alfalfa - over 15 m;
Camel thorn - more than 20 m.
Which plant holds the record for the largest root? It turns out to be an apple tree growing in the porous soils of Nebraska in America. Its roots have penetrated to a depth of 1068 m! And if you take the whole root and even add to it all your own small roots (you get the total length of the root), then its length will be calculated not in meters, but in kilometers. For example, in a 4-month-old winter rye plant, it is 619 km. One of the Finnish botanists in 1954 calculated the total length of the roots of a century-old pine tree - about 50 km.
DID YOU KNOW?..
That carrots, beets, radishes are also roots, only roots that have changed their appearance because reserve nutrients have been deposited in them. What caused the roots to grow so wide? Otherwise, these roots are called root crops. By the way, root vegetables are the heaviest roots. In November 1978, the newspaper Nedelya reported, for example, a gigantic fodder beet grown by one Tajik farmer. Its weight is more than 20 kg!
TRUNK
The most large plants are eucalyptus trees found in Australia. They can reach 130 m in height with a trunk thickness of 10 m (compare: the height of a 10-storey building is 30 m).
In terms of size, eucalyptus trees are slightly inferior to mammoth trees - sequoias. The maximum height of these giants of the American continent is judged by measurements made in the last century on the fallen trunk of a unique tree in National park sequoia (USA). This tree, called "the father of forests", had 120 m from the base to the top. Now botanists consider maximum height living specimens of evergreen sequoia 110 m 33 cm. It was with such accuracy that a specimen was measured in the Humboldt sequoia park in the state of California. It was discovered in 1964 and got its own name "Howard Libby".
Brown algae successfully argues with terrestrial plants. Some authors estimate its maximum length at 300 m, others more modestly - only 70 m sea snake often referred to in nautical legends. The largest trunk in the world was found in a European chestnut. This tree grows on Mount Etna in Sicily, according to measurements in 1845, it had 64 m in girth (about 20, 4 m in diameter).
SHEET
In southeast Asia, on the island of Sri Lanka, palm trees from the genus Corypha grow. Plates of fan-shaped leaves of Coryphae reach 8 m in length and 6 m in width. One such sheet can cover half of the volleyball court. They make beautiful and durable umbrellas, painted fans. The corypha is also famous for its inflorescences - they are the largest in the world - 14 m long and 12 m wide.
The Brazilian palm Rafia Teedigera has even larger leaves. A giant "feather" more than 20 m long and almost 12 m wide sways on a petiole 4-5 m long. If you put such a sheet vertically on the ground, it will rise above the 6-storey building. A strong fiber is obtained from the raffia petiole, which is used to make brushes and hats.
DID YOU KNOW?..
That the spines of a cactus are its leaves? Victoria Amazonskaya, a relative of our white water lily (water lily), also became famous for its large leaves. It is because of the unusual
leaves and grow it aquatic plant in many botanical gardens different countries... Victoria's sheet will bear on itself not only a small child, but also a schoolchild. He will feel on it just like in a real boat. And some leaves do not go under water with a load of about 50 kg. Moreover, the Victoria leaf does not sink, even when its entire surface is covered with an even layer of sand up to 80 kg. This is how much an adult tall man weighs! Victoria's round leaves are usually no more than 2 m in diameter, but still giants!
Victoria flowers are also famous. When its buds bloom, it is reported on the local radio. It is in the evening that her snow-white flower opens. It is very large, it can be up to 40 cm and smells good. By morning, its petals turn pink and close. The closed flower is lowered into the water. By the next evening, it opens a second time. Now its petals are already painted in lilac-pink tones. During the second night, it gradually darkens, and by morning it closes again and again goes under water. Now forever! Few manage to see so little living Victoria flower!
The amazing Velvichia, growing in the deserts of Africa, has only two leaves in its entire life. Its leaves reach a length of 2-3 m. A giant specimen with leaves 6 m 20 cm long and 1 m 80 cm wide is described! Velvichia is famous and interesting for its stump-like stem. The stem can reach 1 m, and according to other sources - 4 m in diameter. This stem gradually grows in thickness over tens and even hundreds of years.
FLOWER
Another giant is Amorphophallus titanic, which grows in rainforests. He reached an extraordinary height - 2 m 42 cm! Due to the disgusting smell, the workers caring for him worked in gas masks and changed clothes after work.
And now about the smallest flowers. In central Europe, there is a naked hernia. This plant is only 5-15 cm high and the flower is only 1 mm! But the smallest flowers in duckweed and rootless wolfia (aquatic plant) are less than 0.5 mm. Despite their microscopic size, duckweed and wolfia cover parts of water bodies with a solid green carpet.
FRUIT
Large fruit near the Seychelles palm. Even in ancient times, the inhabitants of the western coast of India found unusual nuts brought by the wind (waves), as if sharply pulled in two. They were called Maldives nuts and were even considered for a long time to be the fruits of underwater palms that grow at the bottom of the sea. And in 1743, the Seychelles were discovered, and on them - the palm trees that give these mysterious nuts. Their size is striking: diameter 45 cm, weight up to 25 kg.