Many people enjoy the sweet, juicy flavor of strawberries, often noticing the small, dotted specks covering their surface. These tiny structures are commonly referred to as seeds. While they might seem like simple seeds, there is a fascinating botanical explanation behind their color and function, revealing that these apparent “seeds” are more complex.
Unveiling the Color and Identity of Strawberry “Seeds”
The small specks on the surface of a strawberry range in color, appearing as pale yellow, yellowish-green, or brownish. As the strawberry ripens, these structures may darken, contributing to the fruit’s vibrant appearance. Some specialized strawberry varieties can even display achenes of white, red, purple, or black hues, with the specific color often linked to the cultivar and its flavonoid content.
These little dots are not true seeds in the botanical sense. Each speck is actually a type of dry, single-seeded fruit known as an “achene.” An achene is characterized by its hardened fruit wall, or pericarp, which closely encloses a single seed but does not adhere to it. This structure differs from a typical seed found within fleshy fruits, where the seed is usually directly surrounded by the fruit’s pulp.
These achenes are visible on the outside due to the unique development of the strawberry itself. The fleshy, red part of the strawberry that people consume is not botanically a true fruit. Instead, it is an enlarged part of the flower called the receptacle, which holds all the flower’s components together. The achenes, being the true fruits, are embedded on this swollen receptacle’s surface.
The Unique Botanical Role of Strawberry Achenes
These achenes play a significant role in the strawberry plant’s reproduction and dispersal. When animals consume the sweet, red part of the strawberry, the achenes can be dispersed, allowing new strawberry plants to grow in different locations.
The red, fleshy portion of the strawberry is botanically classified as an “accessory fruit” or “false fruit” because it develops from the enlarged receptacle of the flower, rather than from the flower’s ovary. The achenes, which are the true botanical fruits, develop from the individual ovaries of the strawberry flower. The growth and enlargement of this fleshy receptacle are significantly influenced by hormones, such as auxin, which are produced by the fertilized ovules within the developing achenes. This coordination between the achenes and the receptacle allows for the formation of the attractive and edible structure we recognize as a strawberry.