Note: If you have trypophobia like I do, some of these pics may (mildly) gross you out.
1. If it looks like this tomato is sprouting worms, it might as well be. This phenomenon is what people smarter than me call "vivipary."
2. According to the journal Mangroves of Singapore, vivipary in plants, which is Latin for "live birth," occurs when "the embryo (the young plant within the seed) grows first to break through the seed coat then out of the fruit wall while still attached to the parent plant."
3. Which is basically to say, a seed is like, "Bet you'd thought you'd seen the last of me," and literally tries to break through its parent's skin no matter what.
4. The result? Alien-lookin' fruit much like this mango. Yes, that's what's become of the pit.
5. On the one hand, I realize this phenomenon is an interesting part of life; on the other hand, whyyyy?!
6. On first glance, that could easily be mistaken for a parasite going after my apple.
7. Leave my butternut squash alone!
8. And while many plants are victim to their rapidly growing offspring, there are two culprits that disturb me WAY more than the others...
9. ...tomatoes and strawberries!
10. I just want to take a razor to this strawberry.
11. This literally makes my skin crawl.
12. I can't fully explain why this makes me nauseous, but it does.
13. Throw this tomato into the ground and let it become the tree it so desperately wants to be.
14. I'm trying to take a moment to fully understand how fascinating this is, I really am.
15. But my eyes are too itchy to care.
16. I hope you've enjoyed today's lesson in vivipary.
17. Now excuse me while I go wash my eyes out.
In conclusion...
