thumb|Rosa hypanthium encircling separate achene fruits

An achene (; ), also sometimes called akene and occasionally achenium or achenocarp, is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate (formed from one carpel) and indehiscent (they do not open at maturity). Achenes contain a single seed that nearly fills the pericarp, but does not adhere to it. In many species, what is called the "seed" is an achene, a fruit containing the seed. The seed-like appearance is owed to the hardening of the fruit wall (pericarp), which encloses the solitary seed so closely as to seem like a seed coat.

Fruits of sedges are sometimes considered achenes although their one-locule ovary is a compound ovary.

thumb|Cypsela of [[Cynara]]

The fruit of the family Asteraceae is also so similar to an achene that it is often considered to be one, although it derives from a compound inferior ovary (with one locule). A special term for the Asteraceae fruit is cypsela (plural cypselae or cypselas). For example, the white-gray husks of a sunflower "seed" are the walls of the cypsela fruit. Many cypselas (e.g. dandelion) have modified calyx tissue called pappi attached that functions in biological dispersal of the seed.

<gallery>

File:Make a Wish by Vefobitseq.jpg|Cypselae on a dandelion "clock" (the matured capitulum) can disperse in the wind due to the hair-like calyx tissue above each ovary.

File:Dandelion Microscopic 1.jpg|A microscopic view of a dandelion "clock" showing the receptacle and the cypselas.

File:Acer buergerianum seeds.jpg|Samaras of Acer buergerianum are achenes with large wing-like structures.

File:Pulsatilla alpina fruit.JPG|The diaspore of Pulsatilla (family Ranunculaceae) disperses in the wind, either as single achenes or as the entire aggregate of achenes. The achenes have long hairy appendages that developed from the style of the flower.

File:Coreopsis tinctoria cultivar Uptick Cream and Red 12.JPG|Coreopsis tinctoria showing 4 stages of inflorescence, with two reddish-brown flower heads containing cypselas

File:Coreopsis tinctoria cultivar Uptick Cream and Red 13-achenes.jpg|Coreopsis tinctoria flower head containing cypselas forming as florets finish blooming

</gallery>

References

  • Botanical Glossary