Halloween is just around the corner again. Therefore, it's time again to highlight the creepiest tropical plants and orchids. Are you ready for nature's most macabre and terrifying plants? Then read on soon if you dare!
Bulbophyllum medusae
Are you familiar with Greek mythology and the story of Medusa? The Bulbophyllum is because of its spiky flower that resembles the snake head of Medusa. Moreover, it is not only creepy and sinister in appearance, but is also a plant with a macabre method of pollination. The flowers have a similar smell with rotting flesh to lure carrion flies. Scavenger flies normally gravitate to cadavers (dead animals). What better fit for Halloween than an orchid that takes advantage of chilling death in a lurid way?
Black orchids
Black is the color of death, mourning, the end and especially a color that fits the Halloween theme. Black is a rare color among tropical orchids. Yet there are a number of cultivated black orchids that look mysterious because of the unusual, yet scary color flower. The black orchid remains undiminished popular among orchid lovers. Examples of exciting orchids include the Fredclarkeara After Dark, Cymbidium Kiwi Midnight (often blooms from Halloween), Dracula vampira (named after a creepy vampire) and the Maxillaria schunkeana.
Other Bulbophyllums
Did you know that the Bulbophyllum medusae is not the only scary Bulbophyllum? Other Bulbophyllum flowers also have an eerie or sometimes even otherworldly appearance. Moreover, there are also many species that take advantage of carrion flies attracted by cadaver air to pollinate the flower.
