Our mystery seeds come from a plant that is native to Europe, West Asia and Northern Africa, but is now planted throughout the world.
It is a sign of spring.
Although the plant makes seeds, it is unlikely that you grew it from them.
Have you seen these mystery seeds before?
Please leave a comment if you recognize them.
Edit: The answer is now posted.
Anna was spot on when she guessed last week’s mystery seeds were from blackberries, Rubus sp.
Unfortunately my photographs did not show the details found in close ups of mature seeds.
Check out the ridges and grooves in the surface of these black raspberry seeds, Rubus occidentalis (Photograph by Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database). Don’t they look a bit like sponges?
As you can see, these American red raspberry seeds (Rubus idaeus) also have similar structures (Photograph by Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database).
In any case, the seeds were from blackberry fruit. Botanically the “berry” is actually an aggregation of drupelets, each with a single seed.
Blackberries grow on shrubby plants. The stems are covered with prickles.
Various related species grow throughout Europe and North America.
The flower is white with five petals.
When the flower is pollinated, the petals drop off and the drupelets begin to ripen.
All this comes from a single flower.
Are blackberries ripe yet where you live?
Do you have a favorite recipe for blackberries?
You have probably seen these mystery seeds, but might not have noticed them.
They are found in a food we eat.
Eaten any pies lately?
Please leave a comment if you recognize the mystery seeds.
Edit: The answer is now posted.
For more information, see Roberta Gibson Writes.
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