What is odd about strawberry seeds?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

August 1, 2002

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The cultivated strawberry (Fragaria X ananassa) is a hybrid between the beach strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis Duchesne) of the west coast of the Americas and the Virginia strawberry (Fragaria virginiana (L.) Duchesne) of eastern North America. This hybrid, like its parent species, is a polyploid with eight sets of chromosomes. Strawberries are members of the Rosaceae, the rose family.

Strawberries are not berries. The fruit are the tiny tan achenes, each of which houses a single seed. The sweet, red, fleshy part is the receptacle, that portion of the pedicel (stalk) which held the parts of the flower—petals, stamens, and the many carpels which develop into the achenes.

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Strawberries announce the arrival of summer, bearing juicy red fruits loaded with sweet flavor. They’re among the most versatile fruits you can grow, too-use them in pies, on shortcakes, in jams and jellies, or simply pluck them from the garden and enjoy! Any surplus is easy to freeze, too.

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When the strawberry flower is pollinated, the developing seeds inside the achenes produce auxin, a plant hormone. Auxin stimulates growth. If most or all of the seeds develop, the strawberry will grow into a fully shaped 'fruit'. Misshapen strawberries (nubbins) are caused when only some of the seeds develop. The receptacle does not expand where it does not receive auxin.

Strawberry flowers and achenes develop in an odd not-quite-perfect mathematical sequence (assuming good pollination, sufficient water and fertilizer, and good temperatures). Strawberry flowers develop on a short branching stem, a 'cluster'. The first flower, the primary, develops in the 'V' of the first branching of the stem. This flower opens first and produces the biggest receptacle with the most achenes, around 400.

The two branches of the first 'V' will branch again. A flower will develop in each of these two 'Vs'. The two secondary receptacles are smaller and will have around 200 to 225 achenes each. If the weather holds and no snails, slugs, or birds get to the plants, these 'Vs' could branch again. Four flowers, tertiaries, will develop into smaller fruit with fewer (90 to 150) achenes each.

Under perfect conditions, the flower 'clusters' can be pushed to two more divisions, eight and sixteen flowers. Each receptacle has approximately half the achenes of the previous flowering, but the total number of achenes remains about the same.

Ken Robertson has labeled photographs of the parts of the strawberry flower and fleshy receptacle. To view his diagrams, click on the link:

http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/Side4.html

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Strawberries announce the arrival of summer, bearing juicy red fruits loaded with sweet flavor. They’re among the most versatile fruits you can grow, too-use them in pies, on shortcakes, in jams and jellies, or simply pluck them from the garden and enjoy! Any surplus is easy to freeze, too.

Comments: Available in Limited Quantity for American Gardeners: Sweet and Delicious Berries as Big as Peaches! Hardy Multiply Rapidly Produce Prolific Crops You'll find Whopper Strawberries easy to grow in nearly any sunny garden. Or you can plant them for their outstanding, decorative beauty in a bed alongside the house or patio, or to edge a walk or driveway. Many gardeners report they make one of the finest ground covers they've ever planted. Whopper Strawberries are extremely hardy and disease-free. They have survived in all kinds of climates and multiply rapidly year after year. Gurney's was the first to introduce the Whopper Strawberries to the U.S. Now gardeners everywhere can enjoy these amazing, sweet and delicious berries.

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Available in Limited Quantity for American Gardeners:

Sweet and Delicious Berries as Big as Peaches!

Hardy
Multiply Rapidly
Produce Prolific Crops

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You'll find Whopper Strawberries easy to grow in nearly any sunny garden. Or you can plant them for their outstanding, decorative beauty in a bed alongside the house or patio, or to edge a walk or driveway. Many gardeners report they make one of the finest ground covers they've ever planted.

Whopper Strawberries are extremely hardy and disease-free. They have survived in all kinds of climates and multiply rapidly year after year.

Gurney's was the first to introduce the Whopper Strawberries to the U.S. Now gardeners everywhere can enjoy these amazing, sweet and delicious berries.

This Item Ships In The Spring Click here - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com!

[View All Strawberries!] [Small Fruit & Berries!]