
A peculiar flower that resembles Darth Vader has just bloomed at the Kyoto Botanical Garden, causing rebels in the Kyoto metropolitan area to tremble in fear. With two deep pitted areas and a smaller one in the middle, as well as a bulbous cap with curled edges, it appears the Sith Lord has been reincarnated as a flower.
While technically called aristolochia salvador platensis, “Darth Vader Flower” just rolls off the tongue. The plant originates in the humid climates of Central America, but is able to thrive in the Kyoto Botanical Garden greenhouse. The Darth Vader Flower originated as a small seedling which was brought to Kyoto in March 2001 from Setsunan University in Osaka. The pint-sized flowers only grow to about 5 cm (2 in) and bloom for only a single week. If a hostile take-over is being planned for Kyoto, the Darth Vader flowers better get going quick, they only have six more days!
Source: MSN News Japan
Images: See more pictures, Garden of Eaden, Scifi Wikia


Darth Vader Head Planetarium Lulls You to Sleep Then Haunts Your Dreams
Buy this Star Wars PC featuring Darth Vader’s ugly mug, impress your nerdy friends
Niconico Video user crafts miniature violin-playing Darth Vader out of paper just because he can
Darth Vader makes Japanese pro baseball debut with killer home run 【Video】
Darth Vader in Death Star armour brandishes lightsaber katana, joins the Samurai force in Japan
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
Tokyo’s Pokémon Cafe reopens this month with brand-new sweets and Pikachu show
Tourists brave Typhoon Jangmi to queue at two famous sites in Tokyo
Japan’s sticker wars are reaching a breaking point, even for enthusiasts
Video of man spraying liquid on conveyor belt sushi leads to arrest in Japan
Osaka is hosting a “hentai” event, but it’s probably not what you think
Starbucks Japan unveils new Frappuccino showcasing “mottainai” culture
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
What’s up with the Ghibli Park photo and video ban?
Japan’s adorable pudding chick becomes a transit card mascot
Starbucks Japan has a problem with its sell-out breakfast that might annoy solo diners
Pikachu cakes and other adorable Pokémon 30th anniversary food coming to Tokyo luxury hotel
Krispy Kreme releases a new Doughwich… at only one store in Japan
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Japan has a new cute and clever sunblock for cat lovers
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
What do Kamen Rider and Darth Vader have in common? They’re both in this (insane) video!
Star Wars fever continues — we try out Darth Vader boots from UGG’s Star Wars Collection!
Awesome cardboard Darth Vader costume lets you become an eco-friendly Jedi villain【Video】
Samurai Darth Vader figure and his light-katana tempt us to the dark/awesome side of the force
Life-size gold Darth Vader mask is simply dazzling… and also worth US$1.4 million! 【Pics】
If Darth Vader owned an iPhone, he’d probably keep it in a stunning wooden ukiyoe Star Wars case
Beautiful flowers bloom just one day each at 500-year-old Kyoto temple, and they’re blossoming now