ADVERTISEMENT

If you've ever eaten a freshly grown tomato from a local farmers market, you know how anomalous and quirky natural plants can look. But this time, we’re taking the oddness of Mother Nature to a whole new level.

Please meet the aliens of the plant kingdom that resemble little creatures you’d see in Ridley Scott’s movie. This is due to a condition known as vivipary, which basically, and now you may hold tight, refers to “live birth” in Latin. And it means precisely what it sounds like—it’s when the seeds start germinating while still attached to the mother plant.

So let’s dive into the fascinating world of vivipary in plants as compiled by Bored Panda, so we all know what gardeners' nightmares are made of, and the next time you eat your lovely salad, don't take it for granted.

#1

Mutant! My Sunflower Has Had An Unconventional Baby

Mutant! My Sunflower Has Had An Unconventional Baby

mrdamcgowan Report

#3

Friend Of Mine Found An Apple With An Apple Tree Growing Out Of It

Friend Of Mine Found An Apple With An Apple Tree Growing Out Of It

Mattman91 Report

In order to find out more about this unusual phenomenon, Bored Panda spoke to David Lifton, a gardener and blogger who runs the Instagram account “Young Ground Grows.” David said that vivipary is pretty common sight for him because he has been growing his own produce on his allotment garden for eight years.

David explained that vivipary is a condition whereby the seeds of a fruit begin to sprout from inside the fruit. “Every seed contains growth hormones that are programmed to activate when the conditions are right (heat, light, humidity). And they normally do this once the fruit has dropped and has rotted away in the soil.”

However, these growth hormones can be tricked to grow prematurely in situations where fruits are left out in hot or humid weather.

#4

Sprouting Strawberries? How Can I Fix This?

Sprouting Strawberries? How Can I Fix This?

ashleyb17 Report

#5

An Avocado Tree Was Starting To Grow Inside My Avocado

An Avocado Tree Was Starting To Grow Inside My Avocado

ColdSunnyMorning Report

Add photo comments
POST
ariawhitaker avatar
Aria Whitaker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I...dont think I have seen anyone cut their avocados horizontally before....

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#6

Noticed Something That Looked Like A Worm In My Apple. Upon Further Inspection, It Turned Out To Be The Seeds Inside Sprouting

Noticed Something That Looked Like A Worm In My Apple. Upon Further Inspection, It Turned Out To Be The Seeds Inside Sprouting

5 years ago Report

David also said that you can eat vivipary fruits, but you need “to cut around the sprouted seeds and check there's no softness on the skin, bad odor, or signs of mold, as this would indicate the fruit is off.”

Even though vivipary-affected fruits and veggies look odd, to say the least, it turns out the condition is more common than we think. “If you grow your own pumpkins and squash and store them away for a few months, when you come to open them up, you may find the seeds have begun to sprout!”

Plus, “if you live in the western hemisphere, you'll most likely find vivipary in supermarket peppers,” David said.

#7

Forgot About This Tomato While On Vacation And It Sprouted

Forgot About This Tomato While On Vacation And It Sprouted

reddit.com Report

#8

This Strawberry's Seeds Started Sprouting While It Was Still On The Plant

This Strawberry's Seeds Started Sprouting While It Was Still On The Plant

reddit.com Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Vivipary (Premature Germination) Of Corn Kernels. This Condition Is Most Likely To Occur When Kernels Have Dried Down To 20% Moisture Or Less And Are Then Rewetted By Rains

Vivipary (Premature Germination) Of Corn Kernels. This Condition Is Most Likely To Occur When Kernels Have Dried Down To 20% Moisture Or Less And Are Then Rewetted By Rains

agricpedia.id Report

Other places where you can find vivipary fruits is near the equator, “where length of day and temperatures stay consistent.” Here, David explained that “vivipary may be a far more common sight in lots of fruits,” not just sprouting tomatoes.

ADVERTISEMENT
#10

This Bell Pepper Has Other Bell Peppers Growing Inside Of It

This Bell Pepper Has Other Bell Peppers Growing Inside Of It

xFly1ngPengu1nx Report

#11

Live Birth

Live Birth

downagardenpath Report

#12

The Seeds In My Butternut Squash Were Sprouting On The Inside

The Seeds In My Butternut Squash Were Sprouting On The Inside

reddit.com Report

#13

My Tomato's Seeds Have Started To Sprout From The Inside

My Tomato's Seeds Have Started To Sprout From The Inside

reddit.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
kttekassitar avatar
Merili Auq
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, my tomatoes do it all the time, because I forget about them on the kitchen table for too long :D

View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

I Find These Wonders Of Nature Often On My Plate

I Find These Wonders Of Nature Often On My Plate

Just as I was about to gobble up these pomegranate seeds I saw some green sticking to one of the seeds and thought it could be the coriander greens I was handling the same time I peeled the pomegranate. But it turned out to be a sprouting seed, a fine example of viviparous behaviour. I have experienced in earlier in papaya, many citrus fruits, tomatoes, cantaloupes, watermelon and even mangoes

sangeetaamkhanna Report

#15

Mango Pit Began To Grow Into A Tree, While Still Inside The Mango (Full Branch Visible)

Mango Pit Began To Grow Into A Tree, While Still Inside The Mango (Full Branch Visible)

reddit.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
jessgunn77 avatar
JessG
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's awesome! You've got a great starter! Plant that sucker!

View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

How Vivipary Is Happened In The Given Picture Of Mangifera Indica, Showing Emerges Of Seedling After Germination While The Fruit Still Attached With Mother Plant Identify This Abonormality......

How Vivipary Is Happened In The Given Picture Of Mangifera Indica, Showing Emerges Of Seedling After Germination While The Fruit Still Attached With Mother Plant Identify This Abonormality......

avanthibotanytalks Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#17

Found A Sprouting Seed In My Tangerine

Found A Sprouting Seed In My Tangerine

Morgeous Report

Add photo comments
POST
onemessylady avatar
Aunt Messy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Plant it! Stick it in a pot with a little soil and have fun.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

I May Have Left This Butternut Squash In The Field Too Long

I May Have Left This Butternut Squash In The Field Too Long

littlexlittlefarm Report

#25

Nature Is Amazing

Nature Is Amazing

stephenthegardener Report

Add photo comments
POST
sophieknight avatar
Maiun
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think teazles (Caprifoliaceae Dipsacus) are great plants and birds love them

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#27

A Tomato Growing More Tomatoes.

A Tomato Growing More Tomatoes.

reddit.com Report

#28

I Just Opened This Butternut Squash And Found This Amazing Phenomena That I Never Thought I Would Ever See

I Just Opened This Butternut Squash And Found This Amazing Phenomena That I Never Thought I Would Ever See

nightpeony Report

Add photo comments
POST
moconnell avatar
M O'Connell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Would the sprouts themselves be edible? They look a lot like bean sprouts.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

The Wonders Of Plant Vivipary

The Wonders Of Plant Vivipary

fluttersnflourishes Report

#30

Vivipary

Vivipary

raw.veganna Report

Add photo comments
POST
#31

Here We Have An Example Of Vivipary, When The Embryo Develops While Still "In Fruit"

Here We Have An Example Of Vivipary, When The Embryo Develops While Still "In Fruit"

bello_plantae Report

Add photo comments
POST
#32

Giving Live Birth

Giving Live Birth

galyettina Report

Add photo comments
POST
#33

Thanks, I Hate Tomato On Steroids

Thanks, I Hate Tomato On Steroids

reddit.com Report

#34

Рumpkin Seeds Started To Sprout From The Inside

Рumpkin Seeds Started To Sprout From The Inside

Proclomacia Report

#35

I Picked Some Lemons Off My Tree And The Seeds Had Begun Sprouting Inside The Lemons

I Picked Some Lemons Off My Tree And The Seeds Had Begun Sprouting Inside The Lemons

queott Report

Add photo comments
POST
#36

Tomato Sprouts Growing Inside The Tomato

Tomato Sprouts Growing Inside The Tomato

reddit.com Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#37

Seeds That Germinate Inside The Fruit And Today I Find This

Seeds That Germinate Inside The Fruit And Today I Find This

elhuertodenane Report

Add photo comments
POST
#38

Never Seen A Mango Sprout Like This Before. It's Still Semi-Green Too

Never Seen A Mango Sprout Like This Before. It's Still Semi-Green Too

selkiedreams Report

Add photo comments
POST
#39

Had A Little Stroll Around The Garden This Morning And Spotted This!

Had A Little Stroll Around The Garden This Morning And Spotted This!

bristolgardenista Report

Add photo comments
POST
sophieknight avatar
Maiun
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love in the mist - beautiful flowers with architectural pods which look great dried in a decoration

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#40

In This Episode Of Nature-Is-Weird, Vivipary: Corn Kernels

In This Episode Of Nature-Is-Weird, Vivipary: Corn Kernels

abecedary Report

#41

This Orange Seed Sprouted Inside An Orange

This Orange Seed Sprouted Inside An Orange

machupichu412 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#42

Pregnant Apple! Apple Tree Growing Inside The Apple!

Pregnant Apple! Apple Tree Growing Inside The Apple!

EdvrdMunch Report

#43

The Term For This Is Vivipary And It Might Very Well Be Your Next Phobia

The Term For This Is Vivipary And It Might Very Well Be Your Next Phobia

brandon98513 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#44

Cut A Lemon From My Yard In Half To Find The Seeds Already Sprouting

Cut A Lemon From My Yard In Half To Find The Seeds Already Sprouting

everydayidiealittle Report

Add photo comments
POST
ariawhitaker avatar
Aria Whitaker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hmmm. This one looks intentionally grown....just really weird that you cut a lemon in half and "find the seeds sprouting"...but managed to somehow miss cutting any of the sprouted stems which are growing in the dead center of the lemon....

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#46

Cut Open A Papaya Today And Found The Seeds Germinated From The Inside. Who Knew Papaya Had A Viviparous Nature?

Cut Open A Papaya Today And Found The Seeds Germinated From The Inside. Who Knew Papaya Had A Viviparous Nature?

pasdesnousse Report

Add photo comments
POST
See Also on Bored Panda
#48

Never Seen A Spaghetti Squash So Sprouty!

Never Seen A Spaghetti Squash So Sprouty!

nutrapothica Report

Add photo comments
POST
#50

A Seed In My Grapefruit Sprouted

A Seed In My Grapefruit Sprouted

overweightduck Report

Add photo comments
POST
#51

The Seeds Of This Strawberry Are Beginning To Sprout

The Seeds Of This Strawberry Are Beginning To Sprout

reddit.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
#52

This Strawberry Seeds Started To Grow

This Strawberry Seeds Started To Grow

reddit Report

#53

You Can Imagine My Surprise When I Cut Into

You Can Imagine My Surprise When I Cut Into

aristonorganic Report

Add photo comments
POST
#54

Vivipary Is When Seeds Germinate While Still Attached To The Parent Plant - As With This Pepper. Plants Are So Cool!

Vivipary Is When Seeds Germinate While Still Attached To The Parent Plant - As With This Pepper. Plants Are So Cool!

isu_hort Report

Add photo comments
POST
raroararoa avatar
RaroaRaroa
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not a plant sprouting. It's some kind of extra flesh on the capsicum. If it was a plant it'd be a shoot about to sprout leaves. Capcisum seedlings don't look like pieces of capsicum.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#55

We Forgot About Our Bag Of Potatoes And They Sprouted... A Lot

We Forgot About Our Bag Of Potatoes And They Sprouted... A Lot

weirdpanorama Report

#56

This Discarded Watermelon That Sprouted

This Discarded Watermelon That Sprouted

ilikebeepboops Report

Add photo comments
POST
goes-bart84 avatar
Bart
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry too tell you but that's definitely not a watermelon growing out of it. More likely a flower that grew through the watermelon...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda