‘So mind-blown by this’ people left shocked after discovering what the white dots on strawberries really are

NOW that the sun is shining, many Brits may be looking to pack up some fresh fruit for their picnics.

Whether it’s to add to their prosecco or simply to enjoy as a refreshingly sweet snack, strawberries are a popular go-to for many Brits.

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People are only just finding out what the white dots on strawberries really is[/caption]

In the UK alone, according to Where Science Meets Business, the average per capita consumption of strawberries is about 3kg a year.

But many Brits aren’t clued up on the surprising facts about them – including the prickly white spots around strawberries that look like seeds.

Surprisingly, they aren’t seeds but are actually small fruits called achenes – each containing a single seed inside.

In other words, they are small, dry, one-seeded fruits that do not open to release the seed.

These are the brownish or whitish specks that make strawberries relatively high in fibre.

The average strawberry contains around 200 of these, and they form when the strawberry flower is pollinated.

Other plants that have achenes include buttercups, buckwheat, quinoa, and cannabis.

Aaron Liston, from the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University, told Live Science: “When you eat one strawberry, you’re getting hundreds of fruits, not just one.”

Chris Gunter, associate professor of horticultural science at NC State, also said: “First off, strawberries don’t keep their seeds outside their fruit.

“Those things we think of as strawberry seeds aren’t seeds.

“There are a few fundamental reasons why plants have evolved different kinds of fruits. One reason is to attract something that spreads seeds.

“A second evolutionary approach is for plants to find ways for their fruit to disperse on their own.

For example, they may fly in the wind, like a dandelion, or be moved by the water, like a coconut.”

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People are now understanding what they ‘prickly’ parts of the fruit are[/caption]

In a recent Reddit thread, one user explained that the seeds on the outside of a strawberry are actually the fruit, and this caused shock among social media users.

One said: “I’m actually so mind-blown by this.”

A second added: “This is blowing my mind more than I feel it should.”

A third said: “All these years I’ve been lied to.”

And someone else said: “So that’s why they’re prickly!”