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Freaky fruit and vile vegetables: mother nature's freaks of nature

Fruity oddities and edgy veggies - remember, they're still good for you!

Gao Xianzhang of Hexia, northern China, has spent six years developing bizarre baby-shaped pears, carefully crafting each one inside an individual mould as it grows...
To make nature's wonders just that little bit more wonderful, man's helping hand may be required. For example, Gao Xianzhang of Hexia, northern China, has spent six years developing bizarre baby-shaped pears, carefully crafting each one inside an individual mould as it grows... Credit: EUROPICS[CEN]
...Locals snap them up, despite the hefty £5 price tag. Now Gao is planning to export the pear-babies to the UK and the rest of Europe
...Locals snap them up, despite the hefty £5 price tag. Now Gao is planning to export the pear-babies to the UK and the rest of Europe Credit: EUROPICS[CEN]
A square watermelon, on sale in a shop in Shibuya District, Tokyo
Watermelons seem to be a popular choice for novelty adaptation, Japan is home to the square watermelon... Credit: REX FEATURES
A heart-shaped watermelon
...watermelon hearts...
A watermelon face
...and even watermelon faces
Stickers placed on apples as they ripened created these Apple Mac apples. They were made my a Mac fan, and apple-grower, in Fuji, Japan
Stickers placed on apples as they ripened created these Apple Mac apples. They were made by an apple-grower, and major Mac fan, in Fuji, Japan
Cucumbers grown in a mold, shaped like hearts and starsA
Cucumbers grown in moulds, shaped like hearts and stars, add a little extra sparkle and love to an ordinary salad
A carrot crotch
Often though, mother nature will do her own experimenting on her healthy snacks. These bizarre creations all brought a smile to our faces...
A tomato with a smiling face
...not least this little fellow with a smile of his own Credit: REX FEATURES
A duck-shaped cucumber found in Skegness, Lincolnshire
A duck-shaped cucumber found in Skegness, Lincolnshire Credit: REX FEATURES
A snake-shaped marrow found in Montreal, Canada
A snake-shaped marrow found in Montreal, Canada Credit: REX FEATURES
A tomato with a phallus-shaped growth, which was grown by George Findlay of Essex
A tomato with a phallus-shaped growth, which was grown by George Findlay of Essex Credit: REX FEATURES
A devilish tomato with horns, grown by a Bury pensioner, in Lancashire
A devilish tomato with horns, grown by a Bury pensioner, in Lancashire Credit: REX FEATURES
Farmer Ernie Crouch (73) from Tasmania, Australia, with his potato man Tassie Tater
Farmer Ernie Crouch (73) from Tasmania, Australia, with his potato man Tassie Tater Credit: REX FEATURES
A cuddling carrot found in a Plymouth garden
A cuddling carrot found in a Plymouth garden Credit: REX FEATURES
A potato shaped like Sooty the bear, found by Michael Audus in Cambridge. Mr Audus decided not to eat it
A potato shaped like Sooty the bear, found by Michael Audus in Cambridge. Mr Audus decided not to eat it Credit: REX FEATURES
A sweet potato that bares a resemblance to a rat
A sweet potato that bares a resemblance to a rat Credit: REX FEATURES
A heart-shaped potato, found in a sack of potatoes, in Wales
A heart-shaped potato, found in a sack of potatoes, in Wales Credit: REX FEATURES
A heart shaped potato found in a sack of potatoes, discovered by staff at K's cafe in Wales
A heart shaped potato found in a sack of potatoes, discovered by staff at K's cafe in Wales Credit: REX FEATURES
A rabbit-shaped ginger root
A rabbit-shaped ginger root Credit: REX FEATURES
Tomato shaped like a rabbit, grown by David and Audrey Maber in Gosport, Hampshire
Tomato shaped like a rabbit, grown by David and Audrey Maber in Gosport, Hampshire Credit: REX FEATURES
farmer Simon Goldsworthy, 23, from Hayle in Cornwall, produced the largest pumpkin at the annual Bath and West Gardening Show - at 304kg...
Then there's those vegetables that could feed an army. Farmer Simon Goldsworthy, 23, from Hayle in Cornwall, produced the largest pumpkin at the annual Bath and West Gardening Show - at 304kg... Credit: SWNS
Amateur horticulturalist Ian Neale, 66, shattered the world record with a pair of super-sized swedes, each weighing 37kg. The previous record was 34kg
...Amateur horticulturalist Ian Neale, 66, shattered the world record with a pair of super-sized swedes, each weighing 37kg. The previous record was 34kg Credit: SWNS
...Other scale-busting produce on show included carrots, beetroot and cabbages. Stacey Humphries poses between two huge cabbages
...Other scale-busting produce on show included carrots, beetroot and cabbages. Stacey Humphries poses between two huge cabbages Credit: SWNS
A young boy with a giant cucumber, grown in Petah Tikva, Israel
...A young boy with a giant cucumber, grown in Petah Tikva, Israel Credit: REX FEATURES
Miniature versions of Parisienne carrots, placed next to ordinary-sized carrots
And, of course, the ones from the opposite end of the spectrum. Here are some miniature versions of Parisienne carrots, placed next to ordinary-sized carrots Credit: PA
Red bananas, a rare breedfrom Colombia
But mother nature doesn't just experiment with shape and size, sometimes a fruit's colour or veg's pigmentation is the root of its weirdness, like these red bananas - a rare breed from Colombia Credit: LONDON MEDIA
Culinary experts believe the Purple Jewel sweet potato, which has an overwhelming creamy and nutty taste, are grown in volcanic ash in Hawaii
The Purple Jewel sweet potato, which has an overwhelming creamy and nutty taste, are grown in volcanic ash in Hawaii Credit: REX FEATURES
Purple betasweet carrots, farmed as Islehah by Tomsett Burgess growers
Purple betasweet carrots, farmed as Islehah by Tomsett Burgess growers
A Hindu symbol found in an Aubergine. The symbol, AUM, is the most sacred sound in the Hindu religion and is considered the root of the universe and everything that exists
Some people believe that a creator is present in all things, well this aubergine might agree. A Hindu symbol was discovered within it. The symbol, AUM, is the most sacred sound in the Hindu religion and is considered the root of the universe and everything that exists Credit: REX FEATURES