Is It A Strawberry?

Over the past week or so, the small bright red fruit of Indian strawberry has appeared in lawns and fields all over the place. The other common names for this little plant are False strawberry and Indian Mock-Strawberry. The words "False" and "Mock" in the name should probably tell us something about the fruit. Unfortunately, despite looking an awful lot like a mini strawberry, the fruit has virtually no taste at all. It won't hurt to try one, but it will be an utter disappointment if you were hoping for a tiny version of the juicy, sweet strawberries that are ripening right now at local farms and gardens. Check here for more .

The scientific name of the plant is also pretty interesting. It is Duchesnea indica. The species indica and the common name Indian refer to India and not our Native American's and reflect the origin of the plant from southeast Asia. The plant can spread rapidly and is often considered a weed, but the small red berries and yellow flowers are pretty. The genus name Duchesnea for this plant is also interesting and a bit curious.  The genus is named after the 18th century French botanist Antoine Nicolas Duchesne who was the seminal force behind the cultivation of our modern strawberries. It doesn't seem very fitting that the botanist who introduced the world to strawberries has his name attached to a dry tasteless false "strawberry." So, enjoy the pretty little red berries that are all over our lawns now, and maybe even try one. But also head to one of the local farms or markets and endulge in one of the great pleasures of early summer, red sweet juicy drip down your chin strawberries.