Discounting the "very scary" trees in the opening of season one (or maybe you would count them; it's all yours if you want to tackle it), there are poison joke plants, heart's desire, and the seeds of truth, as well as the more familiar varieties cultivated in pony gardens, and, of course, grass. So maybe we can spice up the plant life a bit.

How common are magical flowers? If poison joke plants are but a negligible fraction of what Everfree has to offer, then maybe Zecora works with plants even stranger and more serious than the ones the Mane Six fell afoul of. Maybe there are gigantic flowers that make huge pits in the ground, ready to trap an unwary traveller. Maybe there are vines that cause pestilence and pain as soon as you touch them. Maybe there are hallucinogenic flowers that, when eaten, either grant you pure heaven or the worst nightmare of all time.

This is particularly interesting when we get to other species. In the land of the griffons, were there mountain trees that tried to swat them out of the air? Do zebras in their native lands have to battle with fire-blasting acacias, and are changelings cultivators of gigantic, underground lichens? Maybe minotaurs farm maze maize, and dragons eat gems that are actually the seed cases of gemsbark trees?

Lastly, perhaps there was a history of botany shared among the many Equestrian species. Something similar to the tulip crisis in the real world could have been replicated by overeager cattle in pony country. If griffons have trouble avoiding meat, then perhaps a friendly earth pony cultivated a kind of "meat plant" that grew fresh slabs of meat as seed pods. Not to mention that explorers of far off continents would no doubt have discovered new medicines and potion ingredients to send back home.

So, over to you. You can invent any species of plant, or choose to explain the origins and workings (and uses) of those already confirmed in canon. Alternatively, you can describe some of the weirder and more dramatic uses to which plants have been recruited, or describe a history of botany across species. It's entirely up to you.

N.B. Fungi technically aren't plants, but they can be included here as honourable mentions, if you wish.

Toxicodendron philogelos more commonly known as Poison Joke... and that's about all I got which is kind of funny considering that botany is what I'm getting my degree in.

Meat plant? That just sounds weird and makes me see a muscle bound tree glaring at you.

Plant symbiote. Equiviridae vaporus
Grows on pony skin, lets them photosynthesize. Can be dangerous, but is usually helpful. However, it can spray acid if it detects deadly intent.

Most of the world's fantastic flora was created by Discord, who firmly believed that any lifeform content with sitting around photosynthesizing all day wasn't anywhere near interesting enough. Thus, most such plants fall into two camps: those that are actively mischievous (like poison joke and fruit bats) and those that, while useful, require the cultivator to go to ridiculous lengths in the act of cultivation (like the seeds of truth and zap apples.)

A notable exception to both of these trends is the timberwolf. While the first pack was created during Discord's reign, they did so spontaneously, several million years of evolution compressed into one chaotic moment. The timberwolf is the only known carnivorous plant that actively hunts prey. Upon subdual, the prey is buried and the wolf roots itself, content to feed on the carcass-enriched soil for weeks. Their regeneration is a relic of the far more tumultuous times of Discord's ascendancy.

814833

Tsk, tsk...

I can't remember where or when I got the idea from, nor who came up with it originally, but I had heard a fanon theory that Discord created the poison joke in the first place, solely for his own amusement. Alternatively, Celestia made them as a prank, but then had to get rid of them when they began to infest pony country. Despite her efforts, a pocket population escaped her efforts and now survive, hidden away, in the Everfree forest.

Now, random making-stuff-up...

Pseudorchid equiphilia: A gigantic flower native to Zebra Country, which produces an exceedingly complicated flower in the shape of a female zebra. It only does this during certain times of the year, to coincide with native courtship rituals of the zebra tribes. It's more common name is the Zebra's Fool Orchid.

An unlucky zebra stallion, seeing the fake, will engage in his traditional dance to court and woo her, thinking she is a real mare. The dance continues for a long time - similar to the zap apples, the apparently arbitrary moves are all important to making the plant's magic work - culminating in a kiss on the muzzle, whereupon the flower vanishes and leaves a trace of pollen on the bewildered stallion's lips. This benefits him by making him more attractive to females, (though male zebras are completely unaware of what's going on and attribute it to their performance improving), who then receive the pollen when they kiss the males. The pollen is then eaten when the zebra female takes part in the traditional feast, and when it comes out the other end, it has a pre-arranged pocket of fertilizer ready.

They then enter their next stage, in which the growth protruding from the latrine creates the actual seed and tempts bees to come and eat the nectar. However, the bees are then trapped and eaten, and this is added to the seeds' packages before the fruits appear and are taken by the zebras and other creatures, which thereby disperse them. The plant grows wherever the seed is dropped, and the cycle begins again.

I based this partly on how orchids work, and partly on how ferns go through two stages in their life cycle. Some of the less family-friendly developments were left out.

814880

I have to ask: Does it spray acid at other creatures, or inwards at its own host?

Venus Flight-trap. Pegasi are allergic to the leaves of this plant and lose the ability to fly until the reaction fades a couple of days later.

814929 Whichever is trying to harm it. So it is somewhere between Mutualist and Parasitoid.

There are some very interesting mythological plants that I'm sure would fit in just fine into the Everfree forest. Ya-Te-Veo plants, for example, which are basically large carnivorous shrubs equipped with many long, clutching tendrils/tentacles/tendricles that devour whatever comes within reach of their vines, up to and including large mammals. There's also the Barometz, or the Vegetable Lamb of Tartary. This is a plant which produces a "sheep" at the end of a long stalk, which proceeds to graze on other plants growing in its vicinity. A favorite food of wolves and other carnivorous creatures, due to its inability to run away. Interestingly, this might be a perfect form for Impossible Numbers' meat plant to take; I imagine that griffons, minotaurs, and any diamond dogs naturalized into pony society might maintain whole plantations of Barometz, feeding them on grass cut from other fields maintained precisely for that purpose. There's also the Raskovnik, a small and not uncommon plant which is impossibly difficult to identify (either it looks incredibly nondescript, or it shifts its appearance to resemble other plants growing nearby) but which, when found, can be used to undo any lock or overcome any barrier. Hedgehogs, snakes, and tortoises are all apparently capable of recognizing it, so common methods of finding it in legends involve presenting one of these creatures with some kind of insuperable barrier between them and their young, prompting them to seek out a Raskovnik and bring it back so they can get past. Other interesting possibilities are the the barnacle tree, a plant inspired by goose barnacles which was believed to produce giant barnacles hanging from its limbs which, when opened, reveal geese. I suspect Discord's involvement. Also fascinating (and unintentionally hilarious) are vampire pumpkins and watermelons. They play a minor but plot-relevant role in Ursula Vernon's excellent webcomic Digger (characters include a ex-Pirate Queen shrew, a pragmatic wombat, a statue of Ganesh, a smart-mouthed talking slug, and the most pathetic and lovable hyena ever. Look it up. You won't regret it, I promise), but it's probably best to go back to the original source for the legend, provided by Wikipedia:

Tatomir Vukanović: According to them there are only two plants which are regarded as likely to turn into vampires: pumpkins of every kind and water-melons. And the change takes place when they are 'fighting one another.' In Podrima and Prizrenski Podgor they consider this transformation occurs if these ground fruit have been kept for more than ten days: then the gathered pumpkins stir all by themselves and make a sound like 'brrrl, brrrl, brrrl!' and begin to shake themselves. It is also believed that sometimes a trace of blood can be seen on the pumpkin, and the Gs. then say it has become a vampire. These pumpkins and melons go round the houses, stables, and rooms at night, all by themselves, and do harm to people. But it is thought that they cannot do great damage to folk, so people are not very afraid of this kind of vampire.

Personally, I imagine their attempts at vampirism to be expressed as a sort of extremely aggressive nuzzling, but it's probably up to interpretation. Incidentally, I think that from now on I will have no choice but to work vampire pumpkins in to all of my stories, if only incidentally. It's just too wonderful to neglect.

Rosa Equidae: Also known as a Rose pony is an intelligent plant construct that resembles a pony in several ways. They come in a variety of colors from yellow to red and have a mane of petals across their head. A long whip-like tail extends around their flank, covered in deadly thorns useful in defense. They are a very shy plant that will hide if seen. Many ponies hunted them for their special nectar that can heal wounds and regenerate youth.

Lantern Trees: A large tree that grows special rings that glow in the dark. Once taken out of their dark environment they wilt and cease glowing. The zebra use them as lights around their cities and cultivate them in numerous bio luminescent colors.

Fireroot: A strange flowering weed that is hot too touch and can explode if damaged. they are highly dangerous to eat, grow or pretty much do anything with. Unlike normal plants water is toxic to them due to growing in or around the lava lakes.

Morphus Orchidaceae or the Changeling Orchid: A shape shifting flower that can take on the form of any other plant or fungus. Many pony scholars believe that these flowers were a gift to the Queen of the Changelings that took root and quickly infested the surrounding forest. 67.5% of plants found in the Shifting Forest are Changeling Orchids.

Funky Fungi: An odd type of fungus that dates back to Discords Reign. If ingested, sniffed, crushed or kicked it will release thousands of tiny spores that cover the muscles of the victim. Once infected the victim will begin dancing at inappropriate times and singing a catchy blues number. The fungus will be activated by any beat or symphonic sound it detects. Only known cure is heavy metal music which makes the host head-bang so much the fungi burns itself out.

Quercus luxala: A very rare species of oak that is only found in two places in Equestria, up in Volitant Valley of the Drakenridge Mountains and on Asturcón Plateau near the Tears and Canterlot. They are a long lived species with most specimens being over 1000 years old. Besides their longevity the trees are able to withstand and will blunt even the hardest and sharpest of axes and saws yet dead trees are able to felled easily. Also they exhibit some form of sentients and has a unique defense mechanisms, generation of "wings of light". During certain times of the year every single tree shines with a brilliant light. According to the literature this is due to magic but some other kind of energy.

It also be noted that thrones used by Celestia and Luna are said to be carved Quercus luxala, two trees that had willing gave up limbs to be used.

Cnidoscolus Scelero or Black Nettle: This species of nettle is fairly innocuous but can be identified by the black hairs coating the entirety of the creeper-like growth. The leaves have a red rim where they connect to the main body of the plant. Each nettle carries a highly caustic poison that, when brushed by skin, will cause extremely painful welts. The fur around the welt will fall out and will only grow back when the swelling dies down. When the fur does grow back, it will be the inverse color of the fur that fell out, but will not return already changed fur to its original color. It will usually grows symbiotically with other, non-harmful, plants, with them provididing defence and the other plant providing support and nutrients. In the lands where they grow, the natives use them as parts of a ritual, coloring patterns onto the coats of members (with or without something to dampen the pain depends on the culture).

There exists a myth in some zebra tribes that all zebras were black (or white, depending on the speaker) until they stumbled into a patch of black nettle.

Wangadi Fruit unoffically known as Mouthbusters

Native to Saddle Arabia, in wet or normal weather the fruits are tasty and spread their seeds in the dung of those who eat them. In hot dry weather they become...explosive, blowing off the head of the creature that eats them so the try on which they grow, or failing that the seeds themselves, can feed off the corpse. Can be used as land mines in hot dry conditions, but water turns them into edible fruit again.

Water Cannon Bouquet: (Hydroanthoides jector) A cousin of the watersquirt, this plant looks at first sight like a collection of harmless blue daffodils clustered together. When approached, however, the flowers will point at the intruder and blast them with several tens of gallons of water, presumably as a safety device to keep its natural enemies (salamanders and fireworms) away from its combustible stem and leaves.

The flower has been cultivated in the Saddle Arabian desert as a means of forming oases for desert nomads, but it doesn't flower easily away from chalky or moist soil, and is more readily found in its native griffin country. Griffins use it as a means of keeping their feathers clean, though it takes months of learning just how close to get to the plant, as too close a proximity prompts a more violent water blast.

Despite the amusing anecdotes often told by griffins and ponies about naive and luckless travellers who get hit by it, the Water Cannon Bouquet can be extremely dangerous and has been known to claim fatalities. It is estimated that several dozen individuals are either drowned or crushed by a Water Cannon Bouquet's blast every year. The plant is also a genuine health hazard in many places, since it often plays host to a deadly plant disease spread by Rhizomatoxa dehydrator, which can also infect feathers and fur. Furthermore, the plant can become a notoriously unstoppable weed if its seeds germinate near farmland, as it hoards all the available water supplies and kills off its rivals by starving the soil of nutrients.

From my story:

The Greenblood Sac is the final stage in the reproductive cycle of the Greenblood algal species. Its physiology is unique among freshwater algae. As the bloom matures, it begins to harvest its dead members and convert their bodies into the structure on display above. While harmless while residing outside the sac, once the algae succeed in creating a closed structure around itself and deplete the oxygen contained within the airtight membrane, it activates an accelerated reproductive process. This results in an increase of pressure that will eventually cause the sac to explode, allowing the algae to spread to nearby bodies of water. Travellers in Cervidas are advised to stay clear of any bodies of standing water, as the average explosive strength of a ruptured Greenblood Sac is comparable to the force of three champion buckers’ combined kicks.

Stay out of the water!

Why?

*Boom*

Sargassum velamentum: A species of brown algae (thus not technically a plant) that is found far off shore and along the boundary of the Veil (the magical barrier that separate Equestria's continent from the rest of the world). Due to the magics of the Veil being infused into each thallus, this species is able to shift, for a lack of a better term, between the inside and outside of the Veil. Because of this property it is used a reagent in some magical remedies.

Helianthus lacrima: Common name: Tears of the Sun/Dagrau yr Haul.

A rare species of sunflower that only grows in the southern Vanner Plains primary around the ruins of Xenophon in the Everfree Forest and around the village of Ponyville. It is said that the first Tear came into bloom upon the sun following Nightmare Moon's banishment when Celestia came to full realization as to her actions the previous day that she will not see her sister again. She wept as the moon rose and saw the Mare-in-the-Moon. The tears germinated into flowers. The flowers only bloom once a year, the night after the Summer Solstice, though there are some accounts of them blooming whenever Celestia weeps upon seeing the Moon or remembering her sister. Upon Luna's return the flowers begun to bloom year round but still at night.

Rosa arktikos: Arctic Rose:

Found only up in the far north of Atlas, on the Shoulders of Atlas, around the Crystal Empire. It is a species of rose that is characterized by deep ice color bloom. The magics of that region of the continent give the flower an eternal bloom.

Black Widow Cycad

This plant is rare outside of Death's Head Island, which is just as well as the plant is possibly one of the most poisonous on the entire planet. It produces a toxic gas that, while heavy and therefore restricted to ground level, quickly overwhelms any animal unlucky enough to breathe it. If a pony in a breathing suit gets past the gas layer, they still have to avoid the tangle of venom-tipped spines along its spiky leaves, for the spines cut easily through flesh and cloth, and deliver a toxin that kills in seconds. Anyone trying to cut off its black cone will trigger the next defence mechanism; the plant's bulbous base explodes, splattering everything within a six-feet radius (including the victim) with a corrosive black tar that eats away at anything that isn't metal.

Even having avoided these dangers, the cultivator is not safe, as the cone carries long "prehensile" leaves under its scales, and if these touch anything, they quickly wrap around it and squeeze it to pulp. The scales also contain bullet-sized sub-varieties of "dead" seeds in addition to the usual black spores, and can fire these out at tremendous speed, puncturing all but the thickest of shields. Lastly, the cones often contain crab spiders that carry a venomous bite and a short temper, and unwary cultivators who have avoided previous dangers may still be swarmed by an unexpected nest of the things lurking within the cone itself.

All of this would render the plant permanently untouchable, were it not for the fact that all the defences mysteriously fail in the presence of teaspoons.

-- Edited in response to Celestias Paladin's reply. Sorry for the error.

855473
I would like to point out that cycads are not angiosperms thus they do not have flowers.

855677

Gymnosperms, then? Point taken. I'll go back and substitute "cones" for "flowers", and modify any other references to flower parts.

855939
Yep, Division/Phylum Cycadophyta. Though other than that you aren't too far off, cycads are considered toxic.

Remember what I said in my first post, I'm a Botanist

855972

Though other than that you aren't too far off, cycads are considered toxic.

I knew that much, since it was the inspiration for the idea. It's my plant cladistics that need work. I'm more familiar with animal cladistics, to be honest, and came up with that plant on the spur of the moment, without thinking or checking.

Won't do that again in a hurry...

856009
The last two I did were bit spur of the moment as well. Ok the Arctic Rose I came up with two years ago.

Old thread, but the wishblossom seen in Growing Up is Hard to Do is likely something of an alicorn among magical plants - even a single petal can manifest power on par with the mightiest of unicorn magic, and that's when used accidentally by filles. One can only boggle at the miracles which could be done with a whole plant, especially in the hooves of a skilled shaman.