California Strawberry
Scientific Name:
Fragaria vesca
Physical Appearance:
Made up of 5 main components :leaves, roots, crown, runner, and a daughter plan
When Does It Grow:
Early spring, summer, and early fall
Preferred Environment:
Mild weather
Flat terrain
Method of Reproduction:
BEES!
Atomically, strawberry plants owe their reproductive success to their crown
The crown is where runners stem from which produce small stalks/daughter plants
Once the daughter plants form a root bud and establish an independent root system, they detach from the runner and eventually develop as their own clone of the original plant
Medicinal Uses:
Stems and leaves can be dried into tea
Leaves can be crushed and applied to the skin to treat boils and burns
Role in the Ecosystem:
Bees help increase the production of strawberries, but they can self-pollinate
Random:
These suckers is the sixth most value crop in California
The first recorded botanical illustration of a strawberry is from 1454! Do you see why artistic documentation is so important? It can last decades and even centuries!
Strawberries also have a long history with in cuisine
Even Native Americans were said to eat strawberries with cornmeal which is reminiscent of our modern day strawberry shortcake!
75% of North American strawberries are grown in California… wild right?
FUN FACT: botanically speaking, strawberries do not meet the definition of a berry!!
Whacky right?! A berry is supposed to have its seeds on the inside of the berry