Our plant world's Weird wonders

Plants that burst into flames, are obedient to the touch, or look like mice and even Darth Vader! We reveal some of nature’s marvels that will astound you

- Darth Vader

EVOLUTION has produced some weird and wonderful plants, many of which often resemble something else – be it an insect, a mouse or a pair of lips! Here we look at some of the fascinating plants that can be found around the world.

In Britain, a perennial that flowers in late summer and is fascinating is the obedient plant, Physostegia virginiana. Its obedience is demonstrated when you touch the flowers, which can be moved up, down or sideways, and will stay where they are put. The flowers are carried in spires rather than spikes, and it increases reasonably well and is easily divided. The variety P. virginiana ‘Summer Snow’ (AGM) grows to around 2½ft (76cm) and has pure-white flowers; P. v. ‘Vivid’, 1½ft (50cm) is bright rosycrimson; and P. v. var. speciosa ‘Bouquet Rose’, 2ft (60cm), is rose-pink.

Dictamnus albus, the burning bush, gives off a volatile gas which, on a hot, still day, can be ignited by a match held near it, when it will flare up for a moment without the plant suffering any damage. With D. a. var albus (AGM), the flowers are white, but there is a pale-pink variety with darker veining on the petals called D. a. var. purpureus (AGM). Long sweeping stamens curling up at the ends give a somewhat moustached appearance. The plants stand 2ft (60cm) high and do not need staking, but they have deep roots that resent interference if you attempt to divide them, so it is best to propagate them from seed or to buy plants.

The mouse plant (Arisarum proboscideum) is a useful low-growing ground-cover plant for shady, moist places. The arrow-shaped leaves are a dark, shiny green. Being related to the arum lily, the flower of this plant is in the form of a single spathe that looks like the rounded hindquarters of a tiny mouse with a long curling tail.

Plants from around the world