However, many aficionados of the delectable fruit have discovered the startling truth about the white flecks on the surface – and many are astounded by the revelation.

You might have mistaken the speckled surface for seeds, but the spots dispersed on strawberries are achenes, the plant’s fruit. The term ‘achene’ refers to the basic dry fruit produced by a number of blooming plants, including buckwheat and even cannabis.

Achene-containing plants include dandelions and sunflowers, whereas winged achenes are found in maple fruits, elm, bush willows, and hop trees. Achenes contain a single seed, but what distinguishes the strawberry plant is that it does not use it for reproduction. Gunter reports that, while it is unclear what evolutionary force caused strawberries to grow in the manner they did, he does have some theories.

“There are a few key reasons why plants evolved various types of fruits. “One reason is to attract something that spreads seeds,” he explained. “A second evolutionary approach is for plants to look for ways to disseminate their fruit on their own. For example, they could fly in the wind, like a dandelion, or be moved by water, like a coconut.”