Have you ever heard of the sausage tree or the sneezewort plant? The team at Gardening Express have revealed 11 flowers, shrubs and trees from around the world with the funniest nicknames — and looked into where they got their bemusing monikers.
"Plants come in all different shapes and sizes, with some resembling random things like sausages and even kangaroo paws, hence how they get their common names," they explain.
"Other earn their monikers from the way they smell, or how they behave. Take the Corpse flower for example, named not for how it looks, but rather the foul odour it emits."
Take a look at the nicknames below and see how many you know...
1. Sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica)
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This flower might be incredibly pretty when in full bloom, but it's one that's famous for making people sneeze. "As its common name suggests, this strong-scented flowering plant was used historically to create a sneezing powder. It was believed to be a good agent in clearing out sinuses by making people sneeze. These flowers can also be beaten in salads and used as insect repellent."
2. Sticky willy (Galium aparine)
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The Galium aparine plant has acquired many nicknames over the years, including cleavers, clivers, bedstraw, goosegrass, catchweed, stickyweed and sticky willy. This fast-growing plant produces tiny star-shaped flowers from early spring to summer.
3. Mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)
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This flowering houseplant is commonly known as the snake plant, Saint George's sword and the mother-in-law's tongue. "This plant's sword-like leaves were thought to be a fitting representation of the stereotypical sharp tongue of a mother-in-law, hence its nickname," says the team.
4. Kangaroo paws (Anigozanthos flavidus)
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This interesting-looking plant got its nickname as it bears a slight — albeit not much — resemblance to the fuzzy feet of kangaroos. Have you ever seen this one?
5. Corpse flower (Titan arum)
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On the hunt for a show-stopping plant? The Titan arum — nicknamed the corpse flower — is certainly an impressive sight. "This flower's nickname comes not from its appearance, but rather the foul odour it emits. It can also take up to a decade to bloom."
6. Turkey Corn (Dicentra eximia)
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The turkey corn is planted by gardeners as an ornamental plant, due to its beautiful heart-shaped flowers. "Also known as 'Fringed Bleeding Heart', this is a flowering plant with fernlike leaves and oddly shaped flowers, native to the Appalachian Mountains."
7. American skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus)
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This vibrant perennial wildflower grows in swampy, wet areas of forest lands in Western North America, so you're unlikely to find it in the UK.
"This unusual plant and has an odd chemistry that creates its own heat, often melting the snow around itself as it first sprouts in the spring."
8. Shaggy soldier (Galinsoga quadriradiata)
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Coming from the daisy family, this flowering plant is known by several common names, including the shaggy soldier, Peruvian daisy and hairy galinsoga. "Its native home is apparently central Mexico, but it has become naturalised in many other places include Europe, Japan, and North and South America."
9. Butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus)
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The gardening experts say: "Butcher's broom is a small evergreen shrub. Historically, butchers would bundle its branches to sweep off their chopping blocks, which is how it got its name. This plant's greenish white flowers are often followed by yellow or red fruit."
10. Sausage tree (Kigelia Africana)
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This flowering plant got its funny nickname as its hanging fruits look like sausages or hot dogs. It's the kind of plant that will make you chuckle as you walk past.
11. Mouse tail (Arisarum proboscideum)
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"Mouse tail is a low growing woodland plant that displays chocolate or maroon coloured blooms with long, tail-like tips in early spring."
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