The Gross, The Stinky and The Deadly

Happy Halloween everyone!
My apologies this is a few days late, it's been a busy time!

The world of plants is beautiful, fragrant, and delicate, but it can also be gross, smelly, violent and just plain ew!

I hope you enjoy!

1. Did you know the Corpse flower, when it blooms can reach up to 3 meters and literally smells of rotting flesh, attracting bugs from miles around for pollination.


2. The Puya chilensis aka Sheep Eating plant, works to entangle and capture passing sheep, even those full grown, eventually starving the sheep to death, then gaining the nutrients from the poor sheep's dead corpse.

3. Nepenthes develop magnificent pitchers,  some of which can reach quite a length! However these may look stunning, but they are used to capture its food, luring prey in with a tasty residue, once a fly, or even small mammals fall into these pitchers, there is no escape, and they are slowly eaten, sometimes alive.

4. The Manchineel is a tree really not to be messed with, or even sat next to! This tree has been used as a torture device, as being in contact with it causes blistering and dermatitis.
Alternatively, if burned this tree can cause blindness, standing under it whilst raining can result in blisters, and generally speaking it can cause blindness, swelling, bleeding, difficulty breathing, excruciating agony, and so so much more...

5. Cerbera odollam or more somberly known as the suicide tree. This morbid tree is native to South Asia and Australia. If it's apple like fruit are consumed, the heart stops very quickly. No wonder it has been for so many murders over the years!

Happy Hallo-scream everyone.