With no leaves and no chlorophyll, Southern Africa’s Hydnora africana is a underground-dwelling parasitic plant in that gets all of its sugars, minerals, and water by attaching to the roots of Euphorbia plants. It also has an unusual looking and smelling flower that pushes its way above ground to be pollinated. What does it smell like? And is it The Strangest Plant In The World? Decide for yourself as Anna Rothschild introduces Hydnora africana in this Gross Science video.
Next, watch The Corpse Flower: Behind the Stink of the Titan Arum and more from Gross Science. Plus, two more parasitic relationships: The Dodder Vine Sniffs Out Its Prey and The Crazy Cribs of Parasitic Wasps.
