Strawberry

Strawberry (Fragaria), a small genus of rosaceous plants, comprising three or four widely-distributed species. They produce runners, have adnate stipules and, generally, ternate leaves, an epicalyx of five leaves, and a remarkable fleshy outgrowth from the floral receptacle carrying the humerous achenes with their persistent lateral styles upon it in a spiral. The fragrance of this fruit, or rather pseudocarp, and the custom of putting straw under the fruit in wet weather are the origins of its name. Strawberries were certainly cultivated before the time of Holinshed, if not before that of Richard III. (see Sbakespeare's Richard III., act iii. scene 4), F. vesca being a common wild plant throughout Europe, Northern Asia, and North America. The hautbois (F. elatior), with spreading bairs on the flower-stalks and short stalks to the leaflets, sometimes found wild, is probably only a cultivated variety of P. vesca, which has escaped from gardens. F. virginiana, the scarlet or Virginian strawberry, introduced in 1629, and F. grandiflora, the pine strawberry, introduced from Carolina, are the origin of many of our cultivated sorts. F. chilensis, introduced from Chili to France in 1712, is largely grown in France, and has been used for crossing with other forms in this country. Some 700 or 800 tons of strawberries are sold in London annually, Kent being the chief centre of their cultivation for the metropolitan market.