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'Human Root' Unearthed (Picture)

mrpoultice

mrpoultice

Fen-dwelling Slodger
Joined
Jan 28, 2003
Messages
374
Stunned farmer Zheng Dexun dug up a crop of fleeceflower, or Chinese knotweed, and found one shaped like a person, in Langzhong, China. The eerie-looking plant, measuring 62 centimetres tall, has clearly defined arms, legs, and head. Zheng said: "I don't know whether it is good or bad to dig out a Chinese knotweed that looks like a human. I'd better put it back in the earth!"
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Picture of the day today on the Telegraph website. (click to see it)

SmartSelect_20240401_220020_Samsung Internet.jpg


Mr P
 
Ah! So that's where babies come from! Glad we've got that one cleared up.

Seriously though, excellent pic.
 
Dang. He got that up all in one piece? It's huge! I'd like to hire him to come root the hackberry out of my yard, please.
 
That is way spooky.
 
Really?

Or just another blatant lie by the Chinese media?

You know, like the ones that are seriously starting to clog-up "Strange Days". I mean, come on now, there's "Fortean", and then there's "bollocks".
 
CarlosTheDJ said:
Really?

Or just another blatant lie by the Chinese media?

You know, like the ones that are seriously starting to clog-up "Strange Days". I mean, come on now, there's "Fortean", and then there's "bollocks".
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I must admit, I thought that too. It's a bit like when Pravda turned into the Sunday Sport but everyone kept treating it like a valid news source.
 
What's Wayne Rooney doing in China?
 
CarlosTheDJ said:
Really?

Or just another blatant lie by the Chinese media?

You know, like the ones that are seriously starting to clog-up "Strange Days". I mean, come on now, there's "Fortean", and then there's "bollocks".
Click to expand...

You're right, it does raise doubts. It could have been faked up.
 
any horticulturists around here ?
would it be possible to manipulate a plant's roots into a mold like they do with fruits and vegetables?
 
Carlos the DJ wrote
Really?
Or just another blatant lie by the Chinese media?

You know, like the ones that are seriously starting to clog-up "Strange Days". I mean, come on now, there's "Fortean", and then there's "bollocks".
Click to expand...

...Carlos, I didn't make any claims for it's veracity in my post. I wasn't aware there was an issue with Chinese media stories on here. And I would remind you that this is a forum for discussion, and not "shouting down" what other forteans bring to the table.

Mr P
 
It seems unlikely that such a thing could happen naturally, much less twice in a short period of time, but they are intriguing, to be sure.
 
mrpoultice said:
Carlos the DJ wrote
Really?
Or just another blatant lie by the Chinese media?

You know, like the ones that are seriously starting to clog-up "Strange Days". I mean, come on now, there's "Fortean", and then there's "bollocks".
Click to expand...

...Carlos, I didn't make any claims for it's veracity in my post. I wasn't aware there was an issue with Chinese media stories on here. And I would remind you that this is a forum for discussion, and not "shouting down" what other forteans bring to the table.

Mr P
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Unless you work for the Chinese media I wasn't shouting you down.

I was referring to "Strange Days" in the magazine which is getting more and more saturated with tales from China that stretch the interest of even the most ardent Fortean.

And you will notice from the question marks that I wasn't stating anything, I was questioning the truthfulness of the story. Which makes it a discussion doesn't it?

I agree that it may have come across as a bit aggressive, but it wasn't aimed at you - apologies if you took any offence.
 
:sbump:For those of you doubting the veracity of the picture, I wonder if the plant was grown inside of a mould of a human figure. That would force the shape of the root. The picture and root could be real.
 
No comment on the veracity of these! Here's a similar root that turned out to be fake, though. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/soc...-human-shaped-vegetable-turns-out-be-man-made
1711990598134.png




Edit: while I have no doubt these are made with moulds, human-shaped chinese fleeceflower/knotweed roots seem to be a common thing. Here's another from 2016:
1711991294094.png

and another:
1711991355330.png

And another:
1711991413137.png

and another:
1711991454434.png


In fact, if you search for the English term 'Chinese fleeceflower', you will only find pictures of dubious humanoid roots. I had to look up the Chinese name for the plant (何首烏) and search using that to find out what the roots really look like:

1711991631316.png
 
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In real life in certain countries ginseng is known as the human body root.

Ginseng grows to resemble a human, and it is mystical for body health.

I think the pictures above are fake.
 
James_H said:
No comment on the veracity of these! Here's a similar root that turned out to be fake, though. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/soc...-human-shaped-vegetable-turns-out-be-man-made
View attachment 75248



Edit: while I have no doubt these are made with moulds, human-shaped chinese fleeceflower/knotweed roots seem to be a common thing. Here's another from 2016:
View attachment 75251
and another:
View attachment 75252
And another:
View attachment 75253
and another:
View attachment 75254

In fact, if you search for the English term 'Chinese fleeceflower', you will only find pictures of dubious humanoid roots. I had to look up the Chinese name for the plant (何首烏) and search using that to find out what the roots really look like:

View attachment 75255
Click to expand...
Perhaps the common fleeceflower name is more a description of what the purpose of these photos really is.;)
 
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