Despite the fact that strawberries grow in almost every garden, many people know practically nothing about this crop. Most plants with leaves shed them for the winter, but this doesn't happen here. The reasons are related to the growth characteristics.
Why are strawberries evergreen?
Of course, strawberries experience wilting and loss of older leaves. Some foliage turns yellow, gradually dries out, and falls off. Meanwhile, the young leaves don't even change color in the fall.
There's no definitive answer to why strawberries don't shed their leaves in the fall. One theory is that, at one time, strawberries were evergreen, bearing fruit year-round.
But after the Ice Age, the crop had to adapt to new conditions, like other plants. However, strawberries never learned to shed their leaves on their own.
It's hard to spot any similarities between a strawberry bush and a palm tree, but it's worth taking a closer look:
- in both cases the stems are covered with the remains of petioles;
- There is a stem (it is called a horn), but it is very short.
Essentially, a strawberry is a miniature palm tree.
You may be interested in:Another interesting fact: Many people mistakenly call strawberries berries, which are actually false, as the fruit itself isn't the tasty pulp, but the numerous seeds on top.
Strawberries are not strawberries at all
In fact, the plant we all call a strawberry isn't actually one. In Rus', that was the name for the green wild strawberry.
After the emergence of a new variety, the Muscat strawberry, which began to be grown in gardens, the name "strawberry" was adopted for its round fruit shape. Today, this name is used for the pineapple strawberry, which is also grown in gardens.
Many ancestors
Many scientists call the pineapple strawberry a "citizen of the world" because it has ancestors in many countries. One of these ancestors (the Virginia strawberry) was brought to France in the 17th century from North America.
In the 19th century, English breeders began working to improve the cultivated variety. But only after crossing it with the Chilean strawberry (which arrived in France in the 18th century) was it possible to produce the berry we know today.
You may be interested in:Many genes
It is surprising that strawberries have a huge number of genes (35 thousand), while humans have only 25 thousand. In 2010, scientists managed to completely decipher the genetic code of this plant.
When compared to other fruits and vegetables, the genetic code is only half the same.
More vitamin C than an orange
A very unexpected fact that confirms the health benefits of this plant's fruits. 100 g of strawberries contain approximately 59 mg of vitamin C, and about 41.2 mg are retained when frozen.
To get the daily requirement of this vitamin, a child only needs to eat 5-6 medium-sized berries, and an adult just over 100 g.
You may be interested in:Strawberries also contain a lot of folate, which is especially beneficial for pregnant women. Anthocyanins, found in strawberries, are also beneficial for humans. They counteract the harmful effects of consuming large amounts of sugar. You can safely eat strawberries with sugar without worrying about it.
Strawberries are a healthy crop that has been grown in gardens for a long time, but few people know the history of this crop and the incredible facts that explain many of its characteristics. These facts should be taken into account when growing them.
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