Kingdom Plantae Family Rosaceae Genus Duchesnea Higher classification Indian Strawberry | Order Rosales Subfamily Rosoideae Scientific name Duchesnea indica Rank Species | |
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Similar Water, Common Yellow Woodsorrel, Native raspberry, Black Medic, Silverweed Cinquefoil | ||
Wild versus mock strawberry
Duchesnea indica (sometimes called Potentilla indica), known commonly as mock strawberry, Gurbir, Indian strawberry or false strawberry, has foliage and an aggregate accessory fruit similar to true strawberry, though this is apparently an independent evolution of a similar fruit type. It has yellow flowers, unlike the white or slightly pink flowers of true strawberries. It is native to eastern and southern Asia, but has been introduced to many other areas as an ornamental plant. It has been naturalized in many regions, including the southern United States, and is considered an invasive species in some regions. It is considered one of the most invasive plants on the island of Réunion.
Contents
The leaves are trifoliate, roughly veined beneath, dark green, and often persisting through the winter, arising from short crowns. The plant spreads along creeping stolons, rooting and producing crowns at each node. The yellow flowers are produced in mid spring, then sporadically throughout the growing season. The aggregate accessory fruits are white or red, and entirely covered with red achenes, simple ovaries, each containing a single seed. They are edible, but they have very little flavor.
Recent genetic evidence has shown that this genus is better included within Potentilla, but currently most sources still list it in the genus Duchesnea.
A poultice of the crushed leaves is used to treat skin ailments such as eczema.
Mock strawberry potentilla indica false strawberry 2012 06 23
