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Homescience

These 10 Plants Fool Flies into Spreading Pollen

Discover these sneaky plants that trick flies into pollinating, using deception, smell and traps to ensure reproduction in the wild.

Gurpreet Singh | October 15, 2025 / 15:45 IST
1/10
1. Rafflesia: Rafflesia emits a strong smell of rotting meat attracting flies to carry its pollen effectively over distances. (Image: Canva)
1. Rafflesia: Rafflesia emits a strong smell of rotting meat attracting flies to carry its pollen effectively over distances. (Image: Canva)
2/10
2. Aristolochia: These tubular flowers trap flies temporarily, forcing them to touch pollen before they escape for their freedom. (Image: Canva)
2. Aristolochia: These tubular flowers trap flies temporarily, forcing them to touch pollen before they escape for their freedom. (Image: Canva)
3/10
3. Stapelia: Stapelia flowers look and smell like decaying flesh, attracting carrion flies that act as unknowing pollinators. (Image: Canva)
3. Stapelia: Stapelia flowers look and smell like decaying flesh, attracting carrion flies that act as unknowing pollinators. (Image: Canva)
4/10
4. Titan Arum: This enormous flower produces a foul odour mimicking carrion, tricking flies into spreading its pollen efficiently. (Image: Canva)
4. Titan Arum: This enormous flower produces a foul odour mimicking carrion, tricking flies into spreading its pollen efficiently. (Image: Canva)
5/10
4. Bulbophyllum Orchids: Some Bulbophyllum species produce a rotten smell and move enticingly, deceiving flies to transport pollen. (Image: Canva)
4. Bulbophyllum Orchids: Some Bulbophyllum species produce a rotten smell and move enticingly, deceiving flies to transport pollen. (Image: Canva)
6/10
6. Dragon Arum: Dragon arum uses dark colours and carrion-like odours to attract flies, ensuring pollination through deception. (Image: Canva)
6. Dragon Arum: Dragon arum uses dark colours and carrion-like odours to attract flies, ensuring pollination through deception. (Image: Canva)
7/10
7. Carrion Plant: This small plant emits a rotting scent, drawing flies which inadvertently carry its pollen between flowers. (Image: Canva)
7. Carrion Plant: This small plant emits a rotting scent, drawing flies which inadvertently carry its pollen between flowers. (Image: Canva)
8/10
8. Hydnora Africana: A subterranean flower emits a stench of decaying matter, luring flies into its pollination chamber underground. (Image: Canva)
8. Hydnora Africana: A subterranean flower emits a stench of decaying matter, luring flies into its pollination chamber underground. (Image: Canva)
9/10
9. Ceropegia: Ceropegia flowers trap small flies inside tubular structures, forcing them to brush against pollen during escape attempts. (Image: Canva)
9. Ceropegia: Ceropegia flowers trap small flies inside tubular structures, forcing them to brush against pollen during escape attempts. (Image: Canva)
10/10
10. Dead Horse Arum: Dead horse arum mimics rotting meat with foul odours, attracting flies that unknowingly transfer pollen between flowers. (Image: Canva)
10. Dead Horse Arum: Dead horse arum mimics rotting meat with foul odours, attracting flies that unknowingly transfer pollen between flowers. (Image: Canva)

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