Out of the ordinary

Plants and fungi can be strange-looking, foul-smelling, elusive and complex. Below is a selection of some of the species that defy convention of what we consider 'ordinary'.

Leaves and fruits of Panax quinquefolius

Panax quinquefolius
American ginseng

Pelargonium cordifolium

Pelargonium cordifolium
heart-leaved pelargonium

Premna serratifolia

Premna serratifolia
malbau

Rafflesia arnoldii found to the east of the Lake Maninjau, Sumatra, Indonesia (Image: Henrik Hansson)

Rafflesia arnoldii
corpse flower

Rhinanthus minor

Rhinanthus minor
yellow rattle

Adult male gecko forages at fruits of Roussea simplex

Roussea simplex
 

Russula meleagris cap (Bart Buyck)

Russula meleagris
 

Sauromatum venosum (voodoo lily)

Sauromatum venosum
voodoo lily

Swainsona formosa

Swainsona formosa
Sturt's desert pea

Close up of Tahina spectabilis

Tahina spectabilis
dimaka

Welwitschia mirabilis in Namibian desert

Welwitschia mirabilis
tree tumbo

Xanthorrhoea preissii in Lesueur National Park, Western Australia

Xanthorrhoea preissii
balga


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