No, a strawberry is not a berry.
What is a Strawberry?
Botanically speaking, a strawberry is classified as a false fruit, also known as a pseudocarp. This means its fleshy part doesn't develop from the flower's ovary, unlike true berries. Instead, a strawberry is a multiple fruit, formed from the receptacle of the flower, with many tiny, individual fruits (the achenes, commonly called seeds) embedded on its surface. This contrasts with true berries like blueberries or grapes, which develop from a single ovary.
Examples of True Berries vs. Strawberry:
- True Berries: Blueberries, grapes, tomatoes (surprisingly!), avocados (also surprisingly!). These develop from the flower's ovary.
- Strawberry (False Fruit): The "seeds" on the outside are the actual fruits, while the red fleshy part is the swollen receptacle of the flower.
This unique structure explains why the strawberry isn't considered a true berry, despite its popular perception. The reference material clearly states that, "And the popular strawberry is not a berry at all." Botanists correctly identify it as a "false fruit," or pseudocarp.
