I would hope that wouldn't have to be stated, but these days, you never know.

Mislabeled as rings, necklaces, bracelets, etc.

That could be a problem.

Thank you for emailing the Report A Pest email with the Virginia Department of Agriculture.

If you are NOT a Virginia Resident, please contact your respective Department of Agriculture. Contact information can be found here: https://nationalplantboard.org/membership/.

If you are a Virginia Resident and are reporting Mystery Seed Packages, please see below for further information.
If you still have the seed packets and shipping/packaging materials, please do the following:
Do NOT open the seed packets;
Do NOT plant the seed packets;
Do NOT compost the seeds;
Do NOT throw the seeds in the trash, flush them down the drain, or expose them to the environment in any way; and
Put all packaging materials and seeds into a Ziploc bag.
Ship all seed and packaging materials to the following address:
Chickeilla Carter
USDA-APHIS-PPQ
5657 South Laburnum Avenue
Richmond, VA 23231
If you have already planted the seeds, please take one of the following actions
Pull the plants up;
Put all plant materials in a sturdy plastic bag;
Securely seal that plastic bag;
Put that bag in another plastic bag, securely seal the bag; and
Place all, double-bagged plant materials in the trash.
For all other pest concerns, we will reach back out to you when we are available.



--
Office of Plant Industry Services
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
102 Governor Street, Room LL55
Richmond, VA 23219
Office: (804) 786-3515

Thanks.

This Asian vine has invaded most of the southern parts of the united states. It's not just swallowing the lands but it is also affecting the ecosystem. And making it's way towards the northern parts of America as times go on. This plant is so aggressive and fast-growing that it can choke out big tree's and other plants. It also alters the nitrogen cycle in the air and the soil where it invades. Research shows that rates of nitrogen cycling were up to ten times faster in soils where the Kudzu invaded. The weight of the Kudzu vine has the ability to uproot trees, elevating the plants from the slightest chance of sunlight. Which is an actual source of danger. The Kudzu plant overtakes and suffocates native plants. This disturbs the food chain because it threatening the vegetation that the native animals use for food and shelter.The roots of the Kudzu plant also impacts the amount of water in the water and eventually the ecosystem itself.


https://sites.google.com/site/kudzuinvasion123456/description-of-the-ecosystem

Here are Kudzu seeds:



Here are sampes I've seen of the seeds sent from China:



Here are citrus seeds:

Hmmmm.....wut???

If you whack into a thick kudzu vine, it does leak fluid out for a surprisingly long time.
The fluid appeared to be water-like, but I did not taste to see, not knowing that much about kudzu at the time.

I wonder if the DoA or some state agriculture departments will plant them under controlled conditions to find out what kind of plants these are.

Sorry, no time to look up link. It was from early this morning.

450° might even be a simpler way. I suspect crushing them would also achieve the same results.

This isn't rocket surgery; these seeds aren't prions

(that I've seen) With all the resources at our fingertips? This is (at most) a two day project for any botany or horticultural lab in the country.
----- -----

Note: Probably more likely some type of scam, rather than ill intent -- according to some officials. Good information already available on how to safely dispose of -- or submit to state Ag Dept if you choose. I'd recommend the former -- under the assumption that your Ag department probably already has plenty of samples.

I'll put them in boiling water for 15 or 20 minutes, and when they cool, run them through the garbage disposal.

It's a typical way to sterilise things.

If I was sending very high value, possibly illegal seeds, to someone in the United States, I might hide them in a batch of useless seeds sent to a lot of random addresses.

The seeds sent to random addresses might be anything. Some photos of these seeds look like rejects from seed sorting machines.

Of all the people who got these seeds there may be one who is very happy with his GMO super high yield opium poppies.

There plenty of toxic seeds out there that will release toxins in your microwave. Cycads, morning glories,, datura, lilies, poison ivy..plenty of them.
Countless poisonous plants.

For that injection of common sense.

Put 2 ounces isopropanol and add seeds. Wait 30 minutes.
Put paper towel over can and drain the alcohol out.
Put towel and seeds back in can. Go outside.
Use a stick lighter, or light a bamboo skewer and touch flame to paper towel.
The early high temperature should drive any toxins out and thermally decompose them (if they're present).
The flame won't be hot enough to affect the can and it should all burn out in under a minute.
When flame is out, fill can with water to cool it.
Pour down the drain.
Whatever is left won't be seeds anymore.

I like that.

I did not have "scary foreign seeds of unknown origin appearing randomly in the mail with authorities warning to destroy them immediately" on my 2020 bingo card.

I'm not NOT saying that.

that had been received. Weird.

there are several different types in photos I’ve seen. The 4 types I’ve seen look like:
— citrus family
— something in the squash family (zucchini or yellow)
— sunflower
— garlic chives or morning glory

No kudzu.

that look like a cross between watermelons and string beans.