Fragaria vesca
Wild strawberry
Fragaria vesca, commonly known as the wild strawberry, is a versatile woodland plant prized for its aromatic fruit. Beyond its culinary appeal, it holds significant ethnobotanical value. Rich in antioxidants and Vitamin C, this species has been traditionally utilized in herbal medicine to support digestive health and skin vitality.
- Scientific name: Fragaria vesca
- Family: Rosaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Rosales, it is a member of the Rosaceae family. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Fragaria.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Rosales | WCVP |
| Family | Rosaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Fragaria | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Fragaria vesca, is recognized by various common names depending on the language and region. In Polish, it is called poziomka pospolita, while in Belarusian, it is referred to as Суніцы лясныя. In the Udmurt language, the name used is Нюлэс узы, and in French, it is known as Fraisier des bois. Additionally, in Hungarian, this woodland species is called erdwei szamócsa.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pl | poziomka pospolita | Wikidata |
| udm | Нюлэс узы | Wikidata |
| be | Суніцы лясныя | Wikidata |
| fr | Fraisier des bois | Wikidata |
| hu | erdei szamóca | Wikidata |
| to | Situlōpeli | Wikidata |
| et | metsmaasikas | Wikidata |
| de | Wald-Erdbeere | Wikidata |
| sq | Dredhëza e malit | Wikidata |
| el | Χαμοκέρασο | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad presence across several regions in Northern Europe. Specifically, it can be found growing throughout the landscape of Denmark. Its distribution also extends to the northern territories of Finland. In the Atlantic region, the species is established in both Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its range reaches as far north as the island of Iceland.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Finland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Iceland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as the wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca), utilizes various anatomical structures for both growth and therapeutic application. The roots consist of a shallow, creeping rhizomatous system that allows the plant to spread horizontally and anchor itself in nutrient-rich soil. The leaves are trifoliate, characterized by their serrated edges and distinct veining, often used in traditional herbalism for their astringent properties. Together, these components, along with the stems and runners, constitute the essential vegetative parts that support the plant's metabolic processes and facilitate its expansion across the forest floor.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 5
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| vegetative parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Fragaria vesca has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 21 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include flavonoids, anthocyanins, catechin, tannins, DPPH.
- Total chemicals
- 14
- Scientific sources
- 21
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| flavonoids | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| anthocyanins | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| catechin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| DPPH | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| agrimoniin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| colistin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| condensed tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ellagic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ellagitannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Fragaria vesca has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include DNA damage, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, hypertension, respiratory infections.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| DNA damage | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hypertension | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| respiratory infections | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |