Potentille false strawberry plant

Scientific names and etymology

Potentilla sterilis (L.) Garcke = Potentilla fragariastrum Sea-green .

Of Latin potens : powerful (tonic property of the plants of potentille kind)
Of Latin sterilis : sterile because this plant does not bear fruit as much as the strawberry plant
Of Latin fragaria : strawberry plant by resemblance with the strawberry plant

Description

The potentille false strawberry plant is long-lived from 5 to 15 cm, stoloniferous whose port points out that of the strawberry plant ( Fragaria vesca ).

It flowers from February to May. Its flowers white, are indented in the shape of heart. They measure 8-12 cm in diameter and are grouped by 1-3. The false-fruits, called false strawberries are reduced. They are dry and do not resemble a strawberry. They carry less Akène S that this one, from where the name of sterilis . But its akenes have a slightly higher volume, and are of color blanchâtre or yellowish.

The sheets have the final tooth shorter than its two neighbors (contrary to the strawberry plant).

It is a plant mellifère. It does not have particular medicinal properties contrary to the other family members of the potentilles.

Habitat

It is a subatlantic species (up to 1.500 meters of altitude) which is absent from Mediterranean regions.

She appreciates the half-shade, the rather fresh and deep grounds, rather neutral.

One finds it in wood (Hêtraie - Chênaie), the hedges, the forest cuts, the ways, the moors, the lawns.

See too

Duchesnea indica , or strawberry plant of the Indies, is also called “forgery strawberry plant”.

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