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[shahrukh]

Flowers are some of nature's most wonderful creations - they usually look amazing, most of them emit very pleasing scents, and best of all, they're where honey comes from! We use them for decoration, as romantic gestures and to signify freedom and love (the 60's "Flower Children"). Not all flowers are the same, some have very unique patterns, some bloom very rarely and some don't even look like flowers at all. Join me on a trip to discover the strangest and prettiest flowers from around the world.

[shahrukh]

Beehive ginger (Zingiber spectabile) is a member of the ginger family. Native to Southeast Asia, it's mainly grown as an ornamental plant, but also used as a medicinal herb. Research shows that the plant has antimicrobial properties and a high concentration of enzymes that can prevent colon cancer.

[shahrukh]

Chinese lantern (Physalis alkekengi) found in Southern Europe and throught the east across Asia, the Chinese lantern got its name from the bright orange cover of the fruit which resembles a paper lantern. The fruit itself has antibacterial properties and possible beneficial properties for people suffering from chronic liver disease.

[shahrukh]

Black cat flower (Tacca chantrieri) this unusual plant is one of the only plants in the world to have black flowers. The big flowers (up to 12 inches across) have even longer "whiskers", giving it its colloquial name. It is native to the tropical regions of Southeast Asia.

[shahrukh]

Waxplant (Hoya) is a large family of evergreen creepers native to Southeast Asia and Australia. They gained the name "Waxplant" thanks to their flowers. The flowers always grow in bunches (called spurs), have five thick triangular petals that look as though they were carved out of wax. Most waxplants have an appealing scent and abundant nectar.

[shahrukh]

Titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) is the world's largest flower, whose blossom has a very unusual scent - that of rotting flesh. The titan produces this smell to attract flies, rather than bees, for pollination.
Quirky fact: its name comes from the Ancient Greek amorphos (misshapen) and phallos(penis)



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