Weird story, so about 9 years ago we sold our house to a family member, who rented it out. Those renters reached out to them and said that we got a package. We still live in the area so I went and got it from them.

We have no idea what this is, or who sent it. When I search that sku I can’t find much except an article about how Americans are getting sent seeds from China, the return address is from Equatorial Guinea. But even if they are seeds, what are they? Also why?

What you got Lemmy? Maybe put a sarcasm tag on your response if you have a humorous thought. But I really want to know. Google lens thinks they are bugs.

  • kadu
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    Yep, those are seeds.

    Why you got them? The leading theory from a few years ago was sellers getting fake positive reviews on their products by creating alternate accounts, “buying” the product and to fulfill the shipping status just sending some random leaked address a bag of the lightest, most cheap product they could send, just so platforms like AliExpress had an actual transaction completed allowing the review to be posted.

    Do not plant foreign seeds or discard them incorrectly. You have no idea what that species is, and you do not want to be the one introducing a new invasive species to your local biome.

  • rustydominoEnglish
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    The label is in Chinese (simplified characters common in China) and translates as 100 rainbow chrysanthemum seeds”. I have no idea whether the contents are what the label claims.

      • Sagrotan
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        It’s just code for “dark matter from Temu”

    • Denjin
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      My other half gets identical packages arrive all the time, looks about right for chrysanthemum seeds

  • swab148
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    Those little pip things on new tires, you gotta glue them on individually!

  • Who_me21English
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    It says 100 Rainbow Chrysanthemum Seeds

  • techknowdude101
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    They are most likely seeds. Whatever you do, DON’T plant them. If you’re in the USA, contact someone from your state’s Agricultural Department.

      • Dave
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        Unless they are fire type, in which case you might make things worse.

        • wahmingEnglish
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          For a moment I thought it was a pokemon joke, then I realised it’s an actual legit concern.

          • Dave
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            It was a pokemon joke. But now you mention it, there are plants whose seeds can only grow after a forest fire!

      • p1mrx
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        I wonder if boiling water would be a good disposal method? Plant matter can probably be flushed down the drain if it’s properly dead.

  • Pratai
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    It’s a brushing scam. You’re now going to find that somewhere online, you have left wonderful reviews for their products.

    • Killing_Spark
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      You ought to love humanity. “We are shipping flower seeds halfway across the globe so we have at least some legitimacy to make an online rating marginally better”

          • AAA
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            He won’t because that’s exactly how it works. They need a successful delivery to be able to boost their own rating with a fake review.

            Someone explained it in more detail I this topic, and there’s also a link to the scam warning PSA.

  • doctorcrimson
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    Yeah, np, OP that says these are 彩虹菊花种子.

        • halva
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          You’ve been permanently banned from participating r/Beijing.

  • Bakachu
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    I remember a few years ago on the other place that starts with “R”, there were a bunch of people who were randomly sent seed packets from China. Big debate on whether they should plant them and if it would start the zombie apocalypse or not. Some planted them and it grew to be wildflowersso far.

    TLDR: seeds

    • KnightontheSun
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      I just wanted to acknowledge your usage of the TLDR here. I just about could not be bothered to read your three sentences, but the alluring, quite interesting and enthralling TLDR hooked me in an instance and there I was reading your diatribe, absorbing and riding high on each and every word! It was altogether glorious, so I am extending this laurel and hearty handshake to you in appreciation!

      TLDR: thanks

  • mortalicOP
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    You all are awesome. What’s the best way to dispose of them?

      • derpgon
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        Make it someone else’s problem, I like it.

        • derpgon
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          Could also be something cool, like sentient fly traps.

        • Maalus
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          The label actually says what they are and they are benign. If you don’t speak the language, why would you say “it doesn’t say anything”?

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            Yes, lets trust the label that a scammer put on a package, seeing as they have been so trustworthy so far!

          • 【J】【u】【s】【t】【Z】
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            Back when this first started several years ago a number of the seed packs were found to be mislabeled.

            So while it is labeled, OP can have nearly zero confidence that it’s the correct label.

    • mosiacmango
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      Trash should be fine. They aren’t going to enjoy the soil at the dump.

  • Teon
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    Those are the seeds used to grow charcoal briquettes.
    /s

  • Mossy Feathers (They/Them)
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    As other people have mentioned, please don’t plant them. You have no idea what the seeds are and they could be invasive. As for why; no one’s sure, but many people think it’s some kind of weird customer rating scam. Like, they send you seeds and then use your info to make a fake review or something.

  • Darkassassin07English
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    Rainbow chrysanthemum flower seeds

    According to google translate + OCR on the label.

  • Contramuffin
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    The Chinese reads that it’s a seed for some type of flower. Unfortunately, I don’t know quite enough Chinese to know what exact type of flower

    • XyliaSky
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      Looks like rainbow chrysanthemum according to the iOS translate feature.

      EDIT: and a Google search explains that “rainbow chrysanthemum” flowers don’t actually exist in a natural form, and seeds claiming to be them are usually just standard chrysanthemum seeds dyed to look different and won’t produce rainbow flowers.