this post was submitted on 05 Apr 2026
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Science Memes

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A shrubbery! (mander.xyz)
submitted 3 months ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
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[–] Zwiebel@feddit.org 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

How do strawberries not look like berries to you?

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[–] Omegamanthethird@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Berries are supposed to be bulbous and smooth. The only berry I can come up with that kinda has strawberry features is a raspberry because it's more squishy. But even then, it has a lot of the little balls, like a blackberry. Strawberries just don't look like a berry.

[–] Tlaloc_Temporal@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Bayberries/waxberries aren't really smootth, and Yewberries aren't very bulbous.

Haskap berries are lumpy and mealy, are they not berries?

Do groundcherries count with their paper husk? Tomatillos? Cherry Tomatos?

Are cherries berries? Rose hips?

Cherry chili peppers are bulbous and smooth, are they berries?

Raspberries and blackberries often have little hairs growing off of each fruit, does that mean they're not smooth? If hair is ok, kiwifruit are bulbous, but hariy.

[–] Omegamanthethird@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I feel like you're naming berries that don't look like most berries and non-berries that look like berries. I think you're actually kinda agreeing with me and making my point.

In this case, strawberries are not berries that also don't look like berries.

[–] Tlaloc_Temporal@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 months ago

I'm pointing out flaws in your reasoning. Bulbous and small aren't good categories, especially when you recognized that raspberries are different.

I would contest that the nature of a cultural berry is being a small sweet fruit that typically wants to be eaten. Strawberries sit alongside gooseberries, raspberries, cherries, and all the other traditional berries in this. Strawberries are certainly unique in their structure, but that doesn't change how we eat them.

The botanical berry definition has little to do with the cultural definition besides taking the name. Try looking at the botanical definition of tree sometime. Does Bamboo count? Palm trees? Ginkgo? It's a strategy for than a rigid group.