noun
- Plural of achene; small, dry, one-seeded fruits that do not open naturally at maturity, commonly found in plants like sunflowers and strawberries.
Usage: botanical term; plural form
Examples
- Sunflower seeds are actually achenes, not true seeds.
- The strawberry's surface is covered with tiny achenes.
- Botanists classify achenes as indehiscent fruits because they don't split open on their own.
- Each achene contains a single seed protected by a hard outer layer.
- The wind disperses achenes from dandelion flowers across the field.