# Question about strawberries

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-strawberries/153779>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 8, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-strawberries/153779 "2003-02-08T23:07:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HyperionDC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f6c823/32.png) [@HyperionDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HyperionDC)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-strawberries/153779/1 "2003-02-08T23:07:01Z")

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Not quite sure if there have been threads about this or not…are strawberries the only fruits with their seeds on the outside? Also, do strawberries have skin? Or are they unique in that as well?

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-strawberries/153779/2 "2003-02-08T23:28:46Z")

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A strawberry is an aggregate fruit (not actually a berry at all) - composed of many ovaries, each producing a single seed.

There are other fruits which bear their seeds on the outside, but not necessarily _edible_ fruits.

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**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-strawberries/153779/3 "2003-02-09T00:33:58Z")

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**Mantetout** - aren’t _all_ fruits edible by you, by definition?

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-strawberries/153779/4 "2003-02-09T06:05:20Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by DarrenS \*  
> \*\ ***Mantetout** - aren’t _all_ fruits edible by you, by definition? \*\*

The jury is still out on [durians.](http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues99/sep99/durian.html)

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**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-strawberries/153779/5 "2003-02-09T06:43:58Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by DarrenS \*  
> **Mantetout** - aren’t _all_ fruits edible by you, by definition?

Nope. Or at least not necessarily. Some dictionary definitions will mention edibility, but in botanical terms it is just a ripened ovary, its contents, and any inseparable accessory tissues. A milkweed pod is a fruit, for example. While many fruits are designed to be eaten to aid in dispersal, not all are.

- Tamerlane

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**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-strawberries/153779/6 "2003-02-09T08:56:46Z")

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Guys - I was being facetious - **Mangetout** ’s nick in French means “eats everything”. 😃

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**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-strawberries/153779/7 "2003-02-09T09:15:32Z")

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**DarrenS** : Too subtle for me :D.

- Tamerlane