The garden strawberry is a widely grown hybrid species of the genus Fragaria, collectively known as the strawberries, which are cultivated worldwide for their fruit. The fruit is widely appreciated for its characteristic aroma, bright red colour, juicy texture and sweetness. Strawberries are native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and cultivated varieties are widely grown throughout the world.
Strawberries are a low growing herbaceous fruit with a fibrous root system and a crown from which arise basal leaves. The leaves are compound, typically with three leaflets, sawtooth edged and usually hairy. The flowers, generally white, are borne in small clusters on slender stalks arising from the axils of the leaves. As the plant ages, the root system becomes woody and the ‘mother’ crown sends out runners (e.g. stolons) that touch the ground and root, thus enlarging the plant vegetatively.
Botanically the strawberry fruit is considered an ‘accessory fruit’ and therefore is not a true berry.
