barren strawberry

American  

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.

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Etymology

Origin of barren strawberry

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

Example Sentences

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

From Field and Hedgerow Being the Last Essays of Richard Jefferies by Jefferies, Richard

Thus the common bean was dedicated to St. Ignatius, and the blue hyacinth to St. Dorothy, while to St. Hilary the barren strawberry has been assigned.

From The Folk-lore of Plants by Dyer, T. F. Thiselton (Thomas Firminger Thiselton)

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

From The Hills and the Vale by Jefferies, Richard

Among the shrunken leaves on the turf here and there are the white flowers of the barren strawberry.

From The Life of the Fields by Jefferies, Richard

Other plants with runners much like the strawberry are: several kinds of crowfoot, barren strawberry, cinquefoil, strawberry geranium, and orange hawkweed.

From Seed Dispersal by Beal, W. J. (William James)