Indian Strawberry, Mock Strawberry
Duchesnea indica

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 10 cm high and spreads 1.8 m wide. It is silky and has soft hairs. It has a rootstock that lasts from year to year and puts up slender runners. It has runners which root at the nodes and the tips forming new rings of leaves. The leaves are dark green and have 3 leaflets. The leaves have leaflets which are oval and wedge shaped at the base. They have coarse teeth. They are rounded at the tip. The end leaflet is 1-3 cm long and 0.7-2.5 cm wide. The side leaflets are slightly smaller. The flowers occur singly. The sepals are triangle shaped and 5-10 mm long. The petals are narrowly oval and 5 mm long. The flowers are yellow. The fruit are dry. They spread over a red, swollen, pulpy receptacle. The fruit are 2 cm long. See Potentilla indica - this covers some varieties.

There are 6 Duchesnea species. Chemical composition: emodin = 0.1%; ash = 9.3%. Rich in lime. Contains chrysophonic acid, phytosterol, sugars, and volatile oil.

Where it is found

It suits warm temperate places. It grows in moist shaded places. It grows in wetlands. It is often near river banks and grows in Assam up to 2,000 m above sea level. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,800 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 6-11. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Hawaii, Himalayas (country/location of origin), India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Lord Howe Island, Laos, Mexico, Nepal, New Zealand, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Slovenia, South America, Tibet, Uruguay, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The small fruit are edible. They are eaten raw. The young leaves are eaten in salads. The root and lower parts of the stem are eaten as betel nut.

It is sold in local markets in China. The fruit are especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, leaves - tea

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed or division of runners.

Its other names

Local names

Baemttalgi, Bangros, Bhi-kafal, Bhium-kaphal, Bhui aiselu, Bhui kafal, Bhusyai kafla, Bunmala, Bu shi du za, Dau dat, Dhartimian, Dihongpao, Eki tangkin, Falsa frutilla, Fresa silvestre, Frutilla insulsa, Frutilla silvestre, Garukhisi, He shang tou cao, Indijski jagodnjak, Jalinkhumthera, Jangali shatawari, Jongli strawberry, Kaphliya, Kikoloh mukbursa, Kiphaliya, Likhodaphrushi, Makbursa, Mayako, Nenye pepror, Pungbang, Pu-tshu-la-gong, Shemei, Snake berry, Soh shan, Viepakhe-hamang, Zmakey toot

Synonyms

Fragaria indica Andr.; Duchesnea fragiformis Sm; Potentilla denticulata Ser.; Potentilla indica (Andrews) Wolf; Potentilla wallichiana Ser.;