A vine producing penis-shaped passion fruit has been discovered by a gardener in the Brazilian city of San Jose de Ribamar, in the country's north. Normally round, the fruit is native to South America and its tart pulp can be found flavoring everything from sweet desserts to caipirinhas, the Brazilian national cocktail.
Although none of the phallic variety are ripe yet, the woman who grows them, Maria Rodrigues de Aguiar Farias, 53, said so many visitors want to see the plants that she's started charging admission. "I charge two reals to look, 15 for taking photographs, and 20 to shoot video," she said. (That's a little over $1 to see, $9 for a snapshot and $12 for video).
A local government plant expert has examined the fruit and pronounced it healthy. The shape itself shouldn't be a reason to shy away, said Marcelo Cavallari, with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation.
"It's pretty big, it's pretty thick," Cavallari said. "It may even reach 15 to 20 centimeters in length."
