according to Wikipedia it is a parasitic plant and the flower which we see here has the tantalizing odor of feces. it would go rather well with stinkhorns and Stapelia and varities of Arums and similar plants. it would give a new meaning to the beauty of “god’s flower creation”
uncle frogy
Merridolsays
So cool. And it’s a stinky scent mimic, too. Attracts dung beetles wherever it’s planted, according to Glen Davidson’s link.
UpAgainstTheRopessays
@wholething
A great gaping maw? I saw female genitalia.
You must have the must the most amazing anxiety dreams from having seen(or despite having seen) the movie Teeth
Marellasays
So not edible then?
Gregory Greenwoodsays
Marella@ 24;
So not edible then?
At a guess, no. By the look of it, if bitten, it might bite back.
Birger Johanssonsays
“I’m a mean green mother from outer space, and I am bad”
I want a GM, nonparasitic version I can plant in rows around my house to keep burglars away. That version would not be limited to smell as offensive strategy (hint; acid for sap, stronger cilia around the maw).
Antiochus Epiphanessays
I loves you, PZ. When Cthulhu returns, may you be the first one devoured!
For those who don’t know, parasitic plants are the most interesting thing in the world. The close realtive of this plant Hydnora tricepscompletes its entire life-cycle underground…from seed to flower. It is completely bad-ass!
I’m so freaking happy right now, I’m going to go do some work.
kcsays
i think i’ve seen this in an o’keefe painting before. no?
It reminds me that I will need to bring in my jack-o-lantern before going to bed on Halloween, so that I can make delicious pumpkin curry the next day. Last year the raccoons beat me to it.
I’m deeply saddened to see that some of you think it looks anything like lady-bits. (The Dodge Ram logo, however, looks a lot like cervix/uterus/fallopian tubes.)
Hercules Grytpype-Thynnesays
Didn’t one of these explode and kill a redshirt on Star Trek TOS?
Amysays
We have all kinds of weird and wonderful plants in South Africa!
And this also apparently has some interesting uses: “The fruit is delicious when baked on a fire and has a sweetish taste. Jackal food is used in a series of Cape dishes as recorded in the recipe book of Betsie Rood, Kos uit die veldkombuis (Rood 1994). One of the recipes describes how the fruit pulp can be mixed with cream to make a delicious dessert. The fruit is extremely astringent and has been used for tanning and preserving fishing nets.”
I like this image of same. Looks like a great gaping maw. Info at the site, too, like that the flowers are growing from the surfaces of the roots.
I think it’d eat Martians.
Glen Davidson
A great gaping maw? I saw female genitalia.
I have a sudden urge to plant one of these in a green pipe.
Cantaloupe vagina!!!
Man eating Cantaloupe. RUN!
Really? I’m getting a distinct Venusy vibe.
With those cilia lining the edges of the maw I’m getting a freaky vagina dentata vibe.
so… the pod people contained inside these things have already escaped?
Kind of like a deflated beach ball.
Whatever it is, I’m just going to back away slowly.
Shai-Hulud
The rare giant earth lobster emerges claws first.
I thought it was a stinkhorn. I guess one never stops learning.
I get a whiff of Sauron’s Unblinking Eye.
Mmmmmmm… Melon on a stick!
When does the facehugger explode out of it?
How subliminal. Well played, god. Well played.
It’s Audrey II!
Little Shop, Little Shop of Horrors!
Feed me!
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2733546496/tt0091419
Dead-ringer. Where’s Rick Moranis when you need him?
Stinky parasite.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydnora_africana
according to Wikipedia it is a parasitic plant and the flower which we see here has the tantalizing odor of feces. it would go rather well with stinkhorns and Stapelia and varities of Arums and similar plants. it would give a new meaning to the beauty of “god’s flower creation”
uncle frogy
So cool. And it’s a stinky scent mimic, too. Attracts dung beetles wherever it’s planted, according to Glen Davidson’s link.
You must have the must the most amazing anxiety dreams from having seen(or despite having seen) the movie Teeth
So not edible then?
Marella@ 24;
At a guess, no. By the look of it, if bitten, it might bite back.
“I’m a mean green mother from outer space, and I am bad”
I want a GM, nonparasitic version I can plant in rows around my house to keep burglars away. That version would not be limited to smell as offensive strategy (hint; acid for sap, stronger cilia around the maw).
I loves you, PZ. When Cthulhu returns, may you be the first one devoured!
For those who don’t know, parasitic plants are the most interesting thing in the world. The close realtive of this plant Hydnora tricepscompletes its entire life-cycle underground…from seed to flower. It is completely bad-ass!
I’m so freaking happy right now, I’m going to go do some work.
i think i’ve seen this in an o’keefe painting before. no?
Feed me, Seymour!
I don’t know what it is, but I think I need one for Halloween
From Mars or Venus?
“Venus and Mars are alright tonight…”
It reminds me that I will need to bring in my jack-o-lantern before going to bed on Halloween, so that I can make delicious pumpkin curry the next day. Last year the raccoons beat me to it.
I’m deeply saddened to see that some of you think it looks anything like lady-bits. (The Dodge Ram logo, however, looks a lot like cervix/uterus/fallopian tubes.)
Didn’t one of these explode and kill a redshirt on Star Trek TOS?
We have all kinds of weird and wonderful plants in South Africa!
And this also apparently has some interesting uses: “The fruit is delicious when baked on a fire and has a sweetish taste. Jackal food is used in a series of Cape dishes as recorded in the recipe book of Betsie Rood, Kos uit die veldkombuis (Rood 1994). One of the recipes describes how the fruit pulp can be mixed with cream to make a delicious dessert. The fruit is extremely astringent and has been used for tanning and preserving fishing nets.”
http://www.plantzafrica.com/planthij/hydnorafric.htm
It looks like a vegetable version of a comb jelly. I thought it might be something in an aquarium.