Achene (Noun)
Meaning
Small dry indehiscent fruit with the seed distinct from the fruit wall.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- The sunflower seed is actually an achene, consisting of a single seed enclosed in a hard fruit wall.
- Achenes are an important part of the botanical definition of a dandelion, which produces many achenes that disperse in the wind.
- Each achene in the fruit head of a buttercup contains a single seed that is dispersed separately.
- The dry achenes of the strawberry are often mistaken for seeds, but they are actually tiny fruits that each contain a single seed.
- In botanical terms, the "seeds" of a raspberry are actually achenes, each containing a single seed and attached to a fleshy receptacle.