What Is Mock Strawberry? Four Major Differences Between It and Wild Strawberry Explained in One Article

Mock strawberry, also known as shepao grass, got its name because it grows in places where venomous snakes appear. At present, it grows on hillsides, grasslands, riverbanks and in fields in most parts of our country. Because it looks quite similar to wild strawberry, many people mistake them for the same plant, so what is mock strawberry? What is the difference between it and wild strawberry?

1. What is mock strawberry?

1. Mock strawberry is a perennial herbaceous plant in the order Rosales, suborder Rosineae, family Rosaceae, subfamily Rosoideae, genus Duchesnea. The whole plant has soft hairs, the rhizome is thick and short, and like strawberry, it has many stolons, which are also covered with fine hairs. Its leaves are obovate or rhombic-oblong, with rounded blunt tips and serrated edges. It generally blooms from June to August and bears fruit from August to October. The flowers are yellow and obovate, with hairs on the outside, and the fruit is bright red, with fleshy hairs on the outside. It tastes sweet and sour, but is not as tasty as strawberry.

2. Mock strawberry is a wild plant, generally more commonly seen on hillsides, roadsides, grasslands, beside weeds on field ridges and beside ditches. Especially from June to August, it produces large numbers of yellow flowers, and from August to October it bears large numbers of red fruits, which are very attractive. At present, it is planted in most parts of our country.

3. Mock strawberry is also known as snake fruit and little strawberry. The whole plant can be used as medicine, and it has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, stopping bleeding, and promoting blood circulation and dissipating blood stasis. It can effectively treat snake bites, bruises, febrile diseases, colds and asthma and other conditions. At the same time, the fruit can be eaten directly, but it should not be eaten too much, because mock strawberry has a slight toxicity. Although it has little effect on the human body, eating too much can cause symptoms of poisoning.

2. What are the differences between mock strawberry and wild strawberry?

Difference 1, different family and genus: mock strawberry is a perennial herbaceous plant in the order Rosales, suborder Rosineae, family Rosaceae, subfamily Rosoideae, genus Duchesnea; wild strawberry is a perennial herbaceous plant in the order Rosales, family Rosaceae, genus Fragaria.

Difference 2, different appearance: the flowers of mock strawberry are yellow, with white fine hairs on them, and the fruit it bears is round, solid and fleshy, with many, many small red tentacle-like protrusions on it; the flowers of wild strawberry are white. The fruit it bears is formed from many plump small red granules, and is hollow inside.

Difference 3, different effects: mock strawberry has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, stopping bleeding, and promoting blood circulation and dissipating blood stasis, and can effectively treat snake bites, bruises, febrile diseases, colds and asthma and other conditions; wild strawberry has the effects of clearing heat and relieving cough, nourishing blood, strengthening the spleen and promoting urination, and can effectively treat diarrhea, cystitis, anemia and other conditions.

Difference 4, different taste: mock strawberry can be eaten, and tastes sweet and sour, but many people do not eat it; many people like to eat wild strawberry, and it tastes sweet and sour.

In general, mock strawberry is just a kind of snake fruit that few people eat, but the whole plant can be used as medicine, and it can treat snake bites, bruises, febrile diseases, colds and asthma and other conditions. Although its appearance is similar to wild strawberry, the two differ somewhat in appearance, taste and effects, so care should be taken when eating them.