Strawberries: is it a berry or a nut and what are its features?

Strawberries - this is a very fragrant berry, which has a rich and sweet taste. It makes delicious desserts and delicious jam. Good strawberry and the fact that it has a positive effect on the human body. Let us examine in detail what properties and features this well-known berry has.

Strawberries are very popular with many people. Its unique taste is known to many since childhood. Collect fragrant strawberries, like many other small berries, it is quite difficult, because of what it costs quite expensive. However, its tastes delight many people, so most of them consider such spending justified.

This popular berry grows in the forest in the meadows (both large and small). In addition, it can be met in the forest felling, forest edges, meadows, among the bushes in the forest and forest-steppe parts.

Some people claim that it is not a berry, but a nut. In fact, strawberries are a very sweet wild berry, which is quite capricious in gathering issues.

The root system of strawberries is a dense, mock rhizome, which has a characteristic brown tint. In this case, the roots usually develop very well and lie in the soil at a depth of 20-25 cm.

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As for strawberry leaves - they are triple, ovate or ovate-rhombic. Their color in most cases is dark green. The size of the leaves depends on the specific type of berries. There are medium or large leaves. Their edges are usually jagged. The height of the petioles, on which the leaf blades are located, usually reaches the mark of 25 cm. The lower part of the leaflets has a characteristic pubescence

Strawberry inflorescences are few-flowered or many-flowered shields, which are located on rather long bases, the height of which can be about 40 cm. They come from the neck of the roots and represent a kind of rosettes. The flowers of strawberries in most cases are bisexual (slightly less often you can see sprouts with same-sex flowers). They are also insecticide, have petals of yellowish, pink, white or red color. They have a large number of pestles and stamens.

Fruits of strawberries actually are false berries (otherwise they are called poly-points). As a rule, they have a pink, red or white color. On top of the fruit have a "veil" of seeds, characterized by their brownish color.

Strawberries are a very popular berry, the taste of which is adored by many people. But it not only boasts excellent taste, but also the ability to beneficially affect human health. First of all, the use of this berry has a positive effect on the work of the cardiovascular system. It also stimulates the heart muscle, slowing down and strengthening its contractions.

In addition, you need to consider that Strawberries can reduce pressure, so it is often recommended to use it for diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. Few people know, but strawberries help to eliminate cholesterol from the body.

Eating strawberries can also affect the work of the gastrointestinal tract. For example, this natural delicacy normalizes the work of the intestines, and the fiber that is present in its composition is absorbed very quickly and easily. If you eat strawberries, then you need to consider that it significantly increases the appetite. Experts recommend eating this berry even if the person suffers from a stomach ulcer or 12 duodenal ulcer. She also helps with such illnesses as:

• constipation;
• hemorrhoids;
• helminthiasis.

Strawberries have a calming effect on the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, if there are such common diseases as gastritis, colitis or other inflammatory processes.Beneficially, this berry also affects the biliary tract.

In order to overcome diseases associated with the joints, it is customary to use not only fruits, but also highly effective extracts of strawberry leaves. These berries, despite the high sweetness of taste, do not cause any harm to the health of people suffering from diabetes. Also, these natural remedies are great in dealing with:

• anemia;
• diseases associated with the work of the spleen;
• metabolic problems.

It should be noted that strawberries, used together with milk, demonstrate their positive qualities much more efficiently.

Alcoholic infusion of strawberries in the distant past was used in the fight against freckles and acne. In addition, masks made on the basis of such fruits prevent the formation of wrinkles, making the skin more elastic. If you regularly use these fragrant and sweet berries, you can not only enjoy their unique taste, but also say goodbye to tartar.

As for the strawberry leaves, then it is worth noting that they also have a healing effect. In their composition there is such a useful component as ascorbic acid, as well as duplicate substances and essential oils. Such ingredients can boast healing abilities, so it is permissible to apply them to damage on the skin or mucous membrane.

The roots of this aromatic berry also have useful properties. They contain alkaloids and redundant substances. Decoction infused on strawberry roots, often used to clean the body of nitrates or slags. Also, such tools can help fill the lack of iron. Previously, such natural broths treated kidney and urinary system diseases and dysentery.

We must not forget that strawberries are an allergen that can cause itching, skin rashes and other signs of allergies. If any, then you should consult a doctor and stop eating fruits for food.

Do not think that strawberries are represented by one species. In fact, in nature there are several varieties of this berry. Each of them has its own characteristics. We will get acquainted with them.

In another way, this berry is called garden or large-fruited. She is one of the representatives of the Dutch selection, which was bred in the distant 18th century with the help of hybridization of large-fruited Chile and frost-resistant Virginia strawberries.

This variety has quite large leaves that are on the petioles, whose height often reaches 20-25 cm. The flowers of this garden strawberry have a characteristic white color, but there are also special decorative subspecies with reddish or pink flowers. The berries themselves in this variety usually have a red color (white or pink fruits are less common). Many people mistakenly call this variety strawberries because of their large fruits. Due to the selective increase in mass, some fruits differ in weight, which can be from 5 to 75 g

Absolutely all the components of the Chilean variety differ in pubescence.The leaves of such strawberries are usually trifoliate, round and have a green color, complemented by a bluish tinge. As for the flowers, they have white petals and are located on not very long bases.

Strawberry fruits of white or light red color are distinguished by pulp of high density and have impressive dimensions. In the optimum ripe state, the berries are disconnected seamlessly from the sepals. It is necessary to take into account that This variety of tasty berries very badly withstands cold winters. In addition, it is prone to spotting.

Strawberries "Chilean" variety grows along the Chilean coast and covers an impressive area of ​​the Southern Arctic Circle. It is widespread in America, it can be found in Hawaii. This berry feels great in the highlands.

"Muskusny" variety of strawberries has many other names. In another way such a berry is called:

• "Nutmeg";
• “High” strawberries;
• "Garden" strawberries;
• "Real" strawberries;
• "European" strawberries;
• “High” strawberries;
• "Shpansky" strawberries;
• "Pitch".

This variety is characterized by elongated straight stems, as well as fairly short leaf stalks. On these elements of the plant there is a thick cover of tiny hairs. "Muskuyu" strawberry has trifoliate leaves, which differ ovate-rhombic structure. They have large sizes, jagged areas along the edges, as well as pubescence in the upper and lower parts. The colors of this plant are also large and mostly grow same-sex.

Male flowers have many stamens, which can be as long as 1.5 cm. Berries of this variety are small and differ in a ball-like or ovoid shape. They are characterized by a very pleasant and rich aroma of honey and nutmeg. As for the immediate color of the fruit, it can vary from pale pink to green-white with a red side. This variety is widely distributed not only in Russia, but also in European countries. Exceptions are only the Far North and South.

This variety is characterized by leaves that have an ovoid-rhombic shape. Usually there are about 6-9 teeth on them. Basically, thick pubescence occurs at the bottom, and on top of it quite a bit. The stems are very tall - they can be as long as 30 cm. These parts of the plant can also be covered with hairs.

The mustache of Oriental strawberries is very long, but sometimes absent altogether. Bisexual flowers, which can be 1.5-3 cm in diameter, are collected in inflorescences of 2-7 pieces. The fruits themselves, as a rule, have a regular round shape and a uniform reddish color. Such a beautiful berry grows in:

• Eastern Siberia;
• Altai region;
• Korea;
• Mongolia;
• in the Far East

This variety of sweet berries was imported to Europe from the US state of Virginia. It is characterized by a very intensive formation of shoots. The height of the plant can reach 25 cm. The leaves of such strawberries have a dark green color, and also differ in large sizes. Leaves grow on the "fluffy" and high cuttings. White flowers are usually collected in inflorescences of 5 pieces. The fruits of this berry have a characteristic cone shape and are distinguished by red color.

The main distinguishing characteristics of virgin berries are:

• excellent drought tolerance;
• resistance to low temperatures.

Otherwise, such a strawberry is called "ordinary". It is a wild species, the height of which can reach 25-30 cm. From the "forest" strawberries come some varieties of breeding berries.This plant is unpretentious and grows on acidic or poor, as well as weakly alkaline and rich lands. This strawberry has long leaflets with rich pubescence in the lower part, as well as large and sharp teeth. The flowers of this plant are bisexual and have a white color. They gather in small few-flowered inflorescences.

"Forest" strawberries can be met on forest clearings, forest edges or among shrubs.

Strawberries of this variety also have many different names. For example:

• strawberry strawberry;
• "Half-hat";
• “Meadow” strawberries;
• “Steppe” strawberry;
• "Forest" strawberries.

This plant can reach a height of 5 to 20 cm. The stems are thin and have short mustaches. The leaves are oval or ovoid. The teeth on them are located on the bottom edge and are distinguished by a rather rich edge. This strawberry has snow-white bisexual flowers, which can reach 2 cm in diameter.

The fruits of green berries are characterized by a rounded shape and very small size, so it is very inconvenient to collect them. The berries have a characteristic cherry color, which at full ripening becomes pink-red, diluted in small white or greenish areas.

Fruits are detached from the stalks along with sepals. They are distinguished by high density and trouble-free transportability.

In mid-May, fragrant strawberries begin to actively bloom in central Russia. Its blooming ends after 2 months, that is, in mid-July. For this reason, such a berry can be recovered throughout the summer season.

Strawberry is a berry, which is known from time immemorial, however, it began to be engaged in breeding only at the end of the 15th century. Until this period, people were treated by the fact that they were “given” by forest thickets — there were a lot of fruits in them — there was nowhere to step.

Few people know, but strawberries, along with an apple, belong to the Rosaceae family.

It is not known for sure how many varieties of strawberries exist. Some people believe that there are about 80 of them, others believe that the correct figure is 200. It should be noted that there can be a lot of differences between different species and all of them are explained by the presence of specific chromosomes.

Strawberries are one of the most common plants. It can be found in Eurasia, and in North and South America, and in Japan, and in the Kuriles, and on Sakhalin - it can be listed for a long time. This fabulous berry grows even in the Tundra! However, the place of occurrence of such fruits is considered to be Southeast Asia.

When harvesting strawberries, it can be seen that round fruit grows within one glade, and oblong fruits grow on the other. As it seemed, as many as 7 species of this plant are found in Russia, or rather:

• "Eastern";
• "Bukhara";
• "Hilly";
• "Meadow";
• "High".

As mentioned earlier, the “nutmeg” variety of strawberries is often called strawberries. But it should be noted that in everyday life any large strawberries grown in a garden or a vegetable garden are called strawberries, although this is a wrong designation. Strawberries began to magnify those fruits, which are collected in a forest glade.

Few people know, but in the foliage of strawberries there is a high content of beneficial vitamin C, carotene, potassium, flavonoids, calcium and iron. Tea from such leaves rich in composition boasts a variety of useful and healing properties. Once this magic remedy was used to treat poisoning, gout and atherosclerosis. The leaves of this berry should be collected in June-July.

In Russia, the garden berry became popular only by the 18th century. During this period, many have begun its serious breeding. Moreover, even people who had very small land plots started this exercise.

There is an opinion that in the case of picking strawberries in silence and solitude, as well as in thoughts about something that is most dreamed of, the desire can be fulfilled. And if you literally dry 3 leaves of this berry and hang it near the entrance door, tied with a pink ribbon, then happiness will come to the house.

Consider a few examples of the ratio of the mass and volume of fresh strawberries:

• in a tea glass with a volume of 250 ml - 170 g;
• in a 200 ml faceted glass - 140 g;
• in a tablespoon in 18 ml - 25 g;
• in a teaspoon in 5 ml - 5 g;
• in a liter jar - 400-800 g;
• 1 kg contains 2.5 liters of meadow or forest strawberries;
• a bucket of 5 liters will hold about 3-4 kg of strawberries;
• A bucket of 10 liters will fit 7-9 kg of berries.

It is better to pick strawberries on their own rather than buying at markets or near roads, especially if you plan to use the berry for medicinal purposes. So, wild strawberry blooms in May and June. At this time it is possible to collect its leaves, as well as the roots for the purpose of further drying. To do this, the root parts will need to dig and cut, and then, like the leaves, leave to dry a thin layer in a sufficiently ventilated space.

In June and July, the fruits of strawberries ripen, and it is permissible to start their collection. It is best to do this early in the morning or in the evening. An important condition is a sunny day. For blanks, it is desirable to choose a more dense fruit. During the collection you need to be careful not to damage them.

Sometimes the taste of strawberries feels unpleasant bitterness. Users encounter this problem quite often, as evidenced by numerous reviews.

Connoisseurs claim that strawberries may be bitter because of the small bones that are present in the fruits of the scarlet color. In addition, the mostly wild strawberries that were collected in the forests, and not in the field. Moreover, bitterness is usually preserved when cooking fruits, therefore, strawberry jam can be bitter, and it may not be very pleasant to eat it.

Strawberries not only need to be carefully collected, but also properly stored.

So, the roots and leaves of a wild berry cut after harvesting should be laid in a thin layer and stored in well-ventilated places. It is necessary to avoid contact with sunlight and stir them as often as possible. In the already dried state, they can be stored, without losing their beneficial qualities, for no more than one year. It is advisable to keep them in woven bags. But it is important to remember that medicinal properties are characterized only by the roots and leaves of the forest variety. As for garden berries, they have these components are poisonous.

If you plan to dry the berries, then you will need to find a well-ventilated room for them. They will need to be expanded under a canopy and try to eliminate contact with the rays of the sun. Fruits also need to lay out a thin layer on the basis of fabric or wood. Dried berries can be stored for about 2 years. It is advisable to keep them in glass jars.

Do not be afraid of freezing strawberries. In such conditions, they can easily maintain all their positive qualities and therapeutic properties.

To learn how to grow strawberries and garden strawberries from seeds on the windowsill, see below.