ROSACEiE. 277 



of the R. villosus in every respect, and is given in the same cases ; some 

 persons deem it more effiacious, but there is no evidence of any difference in 

 power between them. 



Fragaria. — Linn. 



Calyx inferior, 10-cleft, 5 of the segments alternately smaller. Petals 5. Receptacle 

 succulent or pulpy, and deciduous, with dry achenia scattered over its surface. Styles 

 lateral, with depressed stigmas. 



The Strawberries are perennial, stoloniferous herbs, with tri-foliolate leaves, 

 found in most parts of the world, in cool climates. The species are very dif- 

 ficult to define, as they all have the same habit and flowers, differing only in 

 some less important details. If every deviation of form, colour, pubescence, 

 &c, is to be considered specific, the species would be infinite. Linnseus and 

 many other botanists considered that there was but one ; but at present some 

 fifteen or twenty are recognised, of which three are noticed by Torrey and 

 Gray as natives of North America. 



F. vesca, Linn. — Fruit conical or hemispherical, the achenia superficial. Calyx 

 spreading, or reflexed in fruit. Peduncles usually longer than the leaves ; direction of the 

 pubescence variable. 



Linn., Gen. 633 ; Torrey and Gray, i. 448 ; English Bot. 1524 ; Flor. 

 Med. iii. 169. 



Common Names. — Strawberry ; Garden Strawberry. 

 Foreign Names, — Fraisier, Fr.; Erdbeer, Ger. ; Fragola, It. 



Description. — Root perennial, creeping, 

 knotty. Stems procumbent and stoloniferous, Fig. 140. 



and upright and reclined, short. Leaves 

 cauline and radical, the latter on long pe- 

 tioles, tri-foliolate. Leaflets sessile or nearly 

 so, oboval, oval or nearly round, deeply ser- 

 rated, hairy ; the former nearly similar, but 

 smaller, both with lanceolate, oblong, acute 

 stipules. Flowers from one to many, with 

 erect or drooping pedicels. The calyx is 

 spreading or reflexed, divided into ten acute 

 segments, the alternate one being somewhat 

 shorter. The petals are five, white, oboval 

 or obcordate, inserted on the calyx. Stamens 

 indefinite, small, and also inserted on the 

 calyx. Ovaries many, with each a small 

 sessile stigma, inserted on a succulent gyno- 

 phore, which increases in size, becomes co- 

 loured, and forms the fruit. 



This species is found in Europe and 

 this country, and presents innumerable 

 varieties ; it is one of those cultivated 

 in gardens. It flowers from April to 

 May, and ripens its fruit in May and 

 June. 



Medical Uses. — The fruit is 

 freely used as a dessert, and for flavouring syrups, &c, but is also said to 

 possess medicinal qualities. Gesner speaks of its good effects in calculous 

 disorders, and Linnseus extols its efficacy in gout, having, he states, pre- 



F. vesca. 



