# What the Hell is growing in my Green Pepper? Looks like the Devil! (pics) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 22, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007 "2007-01-22T22:36:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/1 "2007-01-22T22:36:48Z")
Starting dinner this evening I sliced into a green pepper and this ghastly creature of some sort peered out at me… What the heck is [this](http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/Phlosphr/devilpepper.jpg) and [this](http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r156/Phlosphr/devilpepper2.jpg)? I have never seen anything like it. Almost like a pepper within a pepper… I do live near a Nuclear Power Plant but jeez I’m 20 miles away… ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/2 "2007-01-22T22:40:02Z")
As someone who cuts open more green peppers then most people, I can tell you it’s more common then you realize. Maybe 1 in 50. Hope you’re not pro-pepper-life. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/3 "2007-01-22T22:41:54Z")
My mom does a lot cooking with bell peppers, so I asked her. She doesn’t know what they are (she’s always thought they were little peppers), but they don’t seem to affect the actual pepper. She doesn’t use the “little peppers” though. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/4 "2007-01-22T22:41:58Z")
Wow, I must get old and nasty peppers, because I see it in more like 1 out of 5 peppers! ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/5 "2007-01-22T22:59:50Z")
It’s not much, [however](http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/opp4528?opendocument#3): > [@](#): > > The development of growths within the pepper usually appear early in the cropping cycle, generally on the first fruit set (Portree 1996). This results from abnormal tissue development in the honey gland of the fruit (Portree 1996). A honey gland is the part of the flower which secretes nectar, a [nectary](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nectary). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2007, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/6 "2007-01-22T23:22:19Z")
I see these things all the time, and use them along with the rest. They taste the same as the rest of the pepper, and haven’t killed me yet. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/7 "2007-01-23T00:25:53Z")
Yeah, I think of them less like fetuses and more like little absorbed twins, the kind people have sometimes that have teeth and hair. Happy cooking! Seriously, see them plenty. Usually in the red ones, though. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/8 "2007-01-23T00:44:01Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] Yeah, I think of them less like fetuses and more like little absorbed twins, the kind people have sometimes that have teeth and hair. Happy cooking! Seriously, see them plenty. Usually in the red ones, though. [/QUOTE] Where the hell is that puke smilie when you need one. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/9 "2007-01-23T01:04:14Z")
I see these a lot (I love peppers) and always use them. I find them sweeter that the rest of the pepper (I suppose since it comes from the honey gland as **Squink** pointed out). ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/10 "2007-01-23T01:07:38Z")
Also the seeds may sprout inside the fruit. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/11 "2007-01-23T01:21:29Z")
I see them a lot while cooking, and usually pop them into my mouth. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/12 "2007-01-23T01:51:14Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] Yeah, I think of them less like fetuses and more like little absorbed twins, the kind people have sometimes that have teeth and hair. Happy cooking! Seriously, see them plenty. Usually in the red ones, though. [/QUOTE] I think you’re thinking of teratomas. They result from pluri/totipotent cells that basically go out of control and start producing structures including teeth and hair. Very gross. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/13 "2007-01-23T16:02:58Z")
[QUOTE=audiobottle] I think you’re thinking of teratomas. They result from pluri/totipotent cells that basically go out of control and start producing structures including teeth and hair. Very gross. [/QUOTE] I thought ovarian cysts could do that too? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/14 "2007-01-23T16:24:06Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] I thought ovarian cysts could do that too? [/QUOTE] [Yep, dermoid cysts:](http://www.4woman.gov/faq/ovarian_cysts.htm) “Dermoid cysts. The cells in the ovary are able to make hair, teeth, and other growing tissues that become part of a forming ovarian cyst. These cysts can become large and cause pain.” ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/15 "2007-01-23T16:37:12Z")
What the hell are you eating these vile weeds for anyway? They’re just doing what evil does best… creating more evil-y looking evil. yuk. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/16 "2007-01-23T17:04:32Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] [Yep, dermoid cysts:](http://www.4woman.gov/faq/ovarian_cysts.htm) “Dermoid cysts. The cells in the ovary are able to make hair, teeth, and other growing tissues that become part of a forming ovarian cyst. These cysts can become large and cause pain.” [/QUOTE] That is so awesome. If I ever got one I’d ask for it back and keep it in a jar. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/17 "2007-01-23T17:06:55Z")
On second thought, forget the jar! I’ll put a collar on it and sometimes I’ll take it out for a walk on a leash, or maybe in a pram. If anybody says anything about it I’ll get terribly offended and never speak to them again. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/18 "2007-01-23T17:09:35Z")
It’s a pepper sprout. It’s sweet, crunchy and delicious. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2007, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/19 "2007-01-23T19:34:36Z")
If you have paid a price a-piece for your peppers, congratulations on having gotten more of your money’s worth. I get these all the time. I cut them up with the rest, or I snack on them. Yum ! ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2007, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-growing-in-my-green-pepper-looks-like-the-devil-pics/389007/20 "2007-01-24T00:06:17Z")
Wow, I’ll have to tell Mom about this…I really didn’t know those things are edible.