Strawberries sprouting! Have you seen this?
The phenomenon where the “seeds” turn into green shoots all over the surface of a strawberry is called “vivipary.” Vivipary occurs frequently in some plants, but only intermittently in others, like the strawberry. Viviparous plants produce seeds that germinate immediately while still attached to the plant. So, the achenes (commonly called strawberry seeds) are actually sprouting/germinating right on the strawberry.
Is vivipary fruit safe to eat?
When vivipary occurs in fruit in your kitchen, the fruit containing the germinating seeds is fine to eat, it just may not look so appealing.
Tip: do not consume the seedlings from the viviparous fruit of nightshades like tomatoes and aubergines (Solanum melongena).
What vegetables are vivipary?
Vivipary can happen in most fruits, but is particularly common in strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, pumpkin, avocado, and citrus. It’s also relatively common in corn ears and similar plants which can trap moisture under their husks, producing the dark, damp conditions that spur the seeds into growth.
Vivipary” = germination before dispersal.
