The American Museum of Natural History, a place of serious thinking and research, recently posted a doozy of a picture that has left the internet in stitches.
What was supposed to be a wholesome botanical post turned out to be anything but in the comment section. The post reads:
“Jackal food (Hydnora africana) is a parasitic plant that doesn’t photosynthesize. So how does it grow? It attaches to the roots of other plants to siphon off nutrients.”
“This flowering plant, which can be found in the drier areas of southern Africa, grows its flowers underground. After heavy rainfall, its flowers surface and give off a carrion-like stench to attract insects that help pollinate it.
The fruit of jackal food, which is similar to a potato, attracts a different crowd: animals like jackals, porcupines, and moles.”
The image attached to the caption in the post appears to be a…sandy clam. You could even say it looks like a venus flytrap.
But a flower, like…with petals? LOL, nope.
And we’re not alone; the comments on the post that has been shared 1.5K times are pure comedy gold.
They are full of hot takes on what this rare flowering parasitic plant really looks like.
Heather Smith wrote, “I’m waiting for it to sing. ‘Science fiction, double feature.'” Because you know, it actually DOES look a bit Rocky Horror, doesn’t it? Although, honestly, I was getting more Feed me, Seymour! vibes.
Others had hilarious opportunities in mind for this NSFW botanical.
Beth Woolsey wrote, “If Lume Deodorant fails to use this as a marketing opportunity re: ‘the carrion-like stench’ then IDEvenK what the internet is even for anymore,” and you know what, she is NOT wrong LOL!
David Thain is pretty sure he has read about this in magazines that he reads for the articles and not the other stuff. Mmm, hmm.
But some folks had an earnest scientific interest in the plant, like this budding botanist who wondered if it was perhaps in the wrong location for its anatomy. “I would of figured it for a moist climate,” wrote Michael Tricky Young. And my dude, SAME.
Others used the post as a hilarious opportunity to anthropomorphize the evil nature of the sandy clam.
Karley Lynn Mitchell sassed, “gives off the stench to attract insects to pollinate it. Much like my husband’s ex.”
Alex Haskel has big plans that have us concerned. He wrote, “Be right back, planting 10 of these in my garden for research.” Sure, buddy…for “research.”
John Leverette wonders if that research is spawned by the sandy clam’s hidden agenda. “Was the evolutionary intention to be pollinated by humans?”
But possibly our favorite punchline in the comments section came from Tom Anthony Besser, who noted that “If you plant it too close to eggplant you will end up with a lot of kumquat.” He’s not wrong, LOL!
If you’re having a rough day and need a laugh, drop what you’re doing and check out the original post, where you will certainly not be disappointed.
