The world's weirdest flowers

Nature is full of surprises, and the world of flowers is one that sprouts with some truly weird and wonderful blooms. So varied are flowers that while one can give off an odor akin to rotting flesh, another can resemble a bird in flight. So, is your favorite flower on this list of the world's weirdest flowers? Click through and take your pick!

Girlfriend's kiss (Psychotria elata)

Notable for its distinctly shaped red bracts that resemble full, pouting lips, this tropical plant is identified by several nicknames, including hot lips, flower lips, and girlfriend's kiss. It's found in the rainforests of Central and South America.

Bee orchid (Ophrys apifera)

Widespread across central and southern Europe, as well as North Africa and the Middle East, the bee orchid appears as if it's being pollinated by said insect, such is the color and design of its petals.

Naked man orchid (Orchis italica)

A species of orchid native to Mediterranean regions, this flower is also known as the hanging man orchid. And if you use your imagination, the flower does indeed resemble a male figure, with dotted eyes, a broad smile, and even a phallus-like appendage!

Swaddled babies orchid (Anguloa uniflora)

The delightfully named swaddled babies orchid is so called because the flowers resemble that of a tiny infant swathed in blankets. These particular orchids hail from South America.

Monkey-faced orchid (Dracula simia)

The monkey orchid is so named for obvious reasons—the arrangement of column, petals, and lip strongly resembles a tiny primate's face. This rare flower is native to Ecuador, but is also found in some regions of Colombia and Peru.

Cannonball tree (Couroupita guianensis)

The cannonball tree is possessed of beautiful, fragrant flowers and large, interesting fruits. The blooms have six petals and are typically brightly colored, ranging from shades of pink and red near the bases to yellowish toward the tips. The plant is native to the tropical forests of Central and South America.

Flying duck orchid (Caleana major)

This orchid species features a remarkable flower, resembling a duck in flight. The plant is endemic to eastern and southern Australia.

Dove orchid (Peristeria elata)

The dove orchard is one of the rarest flowers on this list. In fact, it's in danger of extinction, and all because of its beauty. This species of orchid, endemic to parts of Central and South America, produces flowers with an intense marble white color, as well as purple spots that, if you peer closely, look like they have a small dove with open wings perched inside. And the bird is significant. In the Bible, the Holy Ghost takes the form of a dove. This is why the flower is also known as the Holy Ghost orchid.

Protea pinwheel (Leucospermum catherinae)

Also known as the Catherine-wheel pincushion, this delicate-looking bloom is an endemic species limited to the southwest of the Western Cape province of South Africa.

Silver vase (Aechmea fasciata)

So named for its popular use as a houseplant in temperate regions, the silver vase is native to Brazil.

Beehive ginger (Zingiber spectabile)

Without doubt one of the world's weirdest flowers, the beehive ginger is so called because of its beehive-like shape and the fact that it's related to the ginger plant. The cups, or bracts, embedded in the plant's body collect water and nourish flowers with small, purple petals and yellow spots. The cups of water, meanwhile, give off a wonderful scent of ginger. The species is native to Southeast Asia.

Bat-faced cuphea (Cuphea llavea)

Native to Central America and Mexico, the bat-faced cuphea is named for its interesting little bat-faced blooms of deep purple and bright red. The nectar-rich flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis)

The moth orchid is named for its supposed resemblance to a moth in flight. The flower is native to Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and Australia. In Indonesia, it's also known as the moon orchid.

Bird of paradise (Strelitzia)

A popular tropical flower species, the bird of paradise is named because of a resemblance of its flowers to exotic birds-of-paradise species. It's native to South Africa, where it's also known as a crane flower.