* y [ 17S5 ]
ERA G ARI A sterilis.
Barren Strawberry.
ICOSANDRIA Polygynia.
G en. Char. Cal. inferior, in 10 segments. Petals 5.
Receptacle of the seeds ovate, pulpy, deciduous.
Seeds smooth.
Spec. Char. Stem decumbent. Flowering branches
weak, each bearing one or two flowers.
Svn. Fragaria sterilis. Linn. Sp. PL 709. Sm. FI.
Brit. 546. Huds. 222. With. 472. Hull. 112.
Relh. 196. Sibth. 160. Abbot. 1 12. Curt. Bond,
fasc. 3. t. 30. Raii Syn. 254.
FREQUENT in dry gravelly pastures, where its blossoms
appear in March and April, but, are followed by no eatable
fruit: hence it has acquired the above name.
Root perennial and somewhat woody, externally black,
bearing many spreading, decumbent, leafy stems, but no
creeping runners. Leaves on long hairy stalks ; their leaflets
broad and roundish, coarsely serrated, hairy and silky, especially
beneath. Flowering branches loosely spreading, bearing
one or two leaves, and as many flowers, .which are more delicate
than those of F . v e s c a , t . 1524. Calyx hairy, as long
as the petals. Receptacle of the Seeds small and dry when
ripe, scarcely deciduous as the generic character requires, yet
it is present, and the seeds moreover, when perfect, are
smooth, or very slightly wrinkled.
The habit and seeds of this plant so perfectly agree with
F r a g a r i a , that botanists have overlooked the want of a pulpy
fruit, in which last respect it rather accords with P o t e n l i l l a ,
1766
SeptrTjizdoj. AubliLhH by JaL Jirw erbyAaruian.