barren strawberry

noun

1. a low-growing plant, Waldsteinia fragarioides, of the rose family, native to north temperate regions, having long stalks with three toothed leaflets and yellow flowers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of barren strawberry¹

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; so called because the fruit is dry and inedible

Example Sentences

Dog-violets, barren strawberry, and the yellowish-green spurge are in flower there now.

From Project Gutenberg

Neither is there any demand for the white barren strawberry blossom, or the purplish ground-ivy among the finely marked fern moss.

From Project Gutenberg

One tiny white flower of barren strawberry has ventured to bloom.

From Project Gutenberg