Flowers are one of nature's greatest gifts to the world, with different varieties displaying a huge range of colors, shapes and scents for us all to enjoy. But there are some extraordinary flowers that are rarely found in comparison to others, and can only be enjoyed in very select spots, making these exotic flowers extra special! Here is a beautiful collection of the rarest and most endangered flowers on Earth.
The chocolate orchid is endemic to Mexico but is now sadly believed to be extinct in the wild. The plant is so named because the odor it releases when it blooms smells of chocolate. There is only one example of this unique, maroon flower in existence today, a clone grown by scientists using a technique called vegetative propagation.
The corpse flower also takes its ghoulish name from the smell it releases when it blooms. Unlike the chocolate orchid, it is not an odor you would normally seek out, as it is often compared to rotting flesh. They are parasitic plants, which attach themselves to hosts to obtain water and nutrients, and the odor they emit does serve a purpose because it attracts flies and other pollinators. They can grow up to 3 feet (1 meter) tall and weigh up to 15 pounds (7 kilograms).
The parrot's beak is another flower named after a visual resemblance and is endemic to the Canary Islands. However, it is now believed to be either extinct or close to extinction, in the wild, because the sunbird - its only pollinator - has long since gone from the islands. They have rarely been found since the 19th century and only bloom in full sunshine, revealing fiery oranges, reds, and yellows when they do.
The campion can only be found on Gibraltar. In 1992 it was declared extinct but it has since 'come back from the dead', after being discovered growing on a nature reserve in 1994. Hearty efforts have since been made to preserve the remaining examples and reintroduce it to other areas so that its subtle scent and bright flowers that range in color from white to pink, can continue to be enjoyed.
