Flowers with special talents
By Zhang Hao
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Being sensitive to sound waves at a certain frequency, the plant can be seen bouncing its leaves, crossing them over each other or shake them to the rhythm of the music. When the temperature reaches between 28 to 34 degrees Celsius, all leaves will appear to dance like flying butterflies. The video above shows some of their moves to an ethnic song.

In order to attract more pollinating critters for its small and plain-looking white flower, the ashanti blood has gradually developed one of its sepals into the size ten times of its flower, shining in a deep red. Bright color and apparent size increase the possibility of pollination, but the deceptive sepal is always mistaken as the flower by many. 

The ashanti blood at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Garden in southwest China's Yunnan Province. /Photo by Zhang Hao

The ashanti blood at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Garden in southwest China's Yunnan Province. /Photo by Zhang Hao

Many think the giant dutchman's pipe is the ugliest flower, and it is also smelly. Instead of using fragrance to lure pollinating bugs, they use a stinky smell. The flower has only one large petal in the shape of a saggy hanging bag. The bag is the death pitfall for any critters who accidentally crawl in except for the flies. The chamber serves as a warm bed for flies to breed until they reach maturity.

The Giant dutchman's pipe at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Garden in southwest China's Yunnan Province. /Photo by Zhang Hao

The Giant dutchman's pipe at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanic Garden in southwest China's Yunnan Province. /Photo by Zhang Hao

(Cover: VCG)

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