Why Do Raspberries Have Hair?

By Staff WriterLast Updated April 10, 2020

The little hairs on raspberries are left over from the plant’s flower. The pistils, the female reproductive part of a plant, become the little hairs on the raspberry fruit. The hairs may have an added benefit of protecting the fruit against insect damage.

Raspberries are small red, purple or black fruits that grow on bushes. The cores of raspberries are not attached to the fruit, in contrast to blackberries, which do contain cores, despite their relation to raspberries. Most cultivated varieties of raspberries can pollinate themselves without the help of honey bees or other pollinators, though wind can also facilitate pollination.