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

Plants that will be included in the bioinfiltration garden include the blue flag iris, barren strawberry, hot lips turtlehead and Cheyenne sky switchgrass.

From Washington Times

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

The tiny white petals of the barren strawberry open under the April sunshine which, as yet unchecked by crowded foliage above, can reach the moist banks under the trees.

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