The Audrey 2 plant, an iconic figure from the “Little Shop of Horrors” musical and film adaptations, has captivated audiences for decades. Its unique nature sparks curiosity, drawing viewers into a peculiar narrative.
What is the Audrey 2 Plant?
Audrey 2 is a fictional, carnivorous plant central to “Little Shop of Horrors.” It appears as a small, unusual sprout, resembling an anthropomorphic Venus flytrap-avocado hybrid. The plant quickly grows, developing a distinctive, large-mouthed appearance and a demanding personality.
It grows through several stages, transforming from a small pot plant into a massive, imposing creature. Audrey 2 possesses sentience and the ability to speak, sing, and manipulate others. Its diet evolves from drops of blood to a craving for human flesh, vocalizing with “Feed me!” Audrey 2 manipulates its caretaker, Seymour, promising wealth and success for victims, ultimately aiming for world domination.
Is Audrey 2 a Real Plant?
Audrey 2 is a purely fictional creation. It originated from writer Howard Ashman for the 1982 Off-Broadway musical “Little Shop of Horrors,” based on a 1960 B-movie. No known botanical species exhibits sentience, speech, or a human blood diet.
Its distinctive traits, including growth from a small sprout to a large, mobile, and vocal organism, are products of theatrical and cinematic imagination. While its design draws loose inspiration from real carnivorous plants, its predatory behavior and intelligence are science fiction. Audrey 2 remains a testament to creative storytelling.
Real-Life Plants Resembling Audrey 2
Several real-life plants possess unusual features that evoke Audrey 2’s imagery, particularly among carnivorous species. The Venus flytrap, Dionaea muscipula, is a direct visual parallel due to its “jaw-like” clamping leaves. Native to the Carolinas, this plant captures insects by quickly closing its two-lobed leaves when trigger hairs are stimulated. These traps can snap shut in approximately one-tenth of a second, though multiple touches are needed to prevent false alarms.
Pitcher plants, including tropical Nepenthes and North American Sarracenia, also share a predatory nature. Nepenthes species from Southeast Asia develop specialized pitcher-shaped leaves filled with digestive fluid. Insects are lured by nectar, slip into the fluid, and are digested. Some larger Nepenthes can be substantial, with pitchers up to 30 centimeters, occasionally trapping small vertebrates.
Sarracenia species from North American bogs and swamps use tubular leaves as pitfall traps. These leaves are brightly colored and secrete nectar to attract insects. Once inside, the slippery interior and downward-pointing hairs prevent escape, leading prey to digestive enzymes. These plants vary in size, from 6 inches to 3 feet tall, and some can form large clumps.
Beyond carnivorous plants, the Titan Arum, Amorphophallus titanum, known as the “corpse flower,” evokes a fantastical scale. It produces one of the largest unbranched inflorescences, up to 10 feet tall. Native to the Indonesian rainforest, its bloom emits a powerful odor of decaying flesh, attracting pollinating insects. Its sheer size and unusual appearance contribute to its otherworldly presence, making it a non-carnivorous counterpart to Audrey 2’s dramatic visual.
The Enduring Legacy of Audrey 2
Audrey 2 is a widely recognized cultural icon. Its memorable design and menacing personality make it a quintessential representation of a monstrous plant. Its journey from a small sprout to a colossal, human-eating entity is a powerful narrative that resonates with audiences.
Elaborate puppetry contributed to Audrey 2’s enduring legacy. Meticulous design and operation of the plant puppets create a compelling illusion of growth and sentience, making Audrey 2 a standout character. Its imagery appears in various forms of media, merchandise, and as a common reference for fictional monstrous flora. Its iconic status demonstrates how a compelling fictional creation achieves widespread recognition and influence.