The StrawberryThe strawberry, fruit of the Fragaria genus, has existed for many centuries. Over the centuries the strawberry has been studied, cultivated, told about and simply appreciated by millions of people. This very abundant fruit has had a variety of uses: it has been used for medicinal purposes; for decorations throughout a person's home; and, for the pleasure of eating. The history of the strawberry dates back to Roman times or perhaps the Greeks. In the 13th century, the first evidence of the strawberry was its use as a medicinal herb. It was thought to be useful for digestive disorders or to treat gout. Shortly afterwards it was declared that the strawberries were not edible because they grew close to the ground and therefore the fruit was contaminated. This has caused many to avoid the fruit and diminished its popularity (see www "A Lesson in Strawberry History"). In this period and in the following centuries, not only the strawberry but also many other plants were used to promote people's health and well-being. In the sixteenth century, strawberry cultivation had resumed and regained some of its popularity. Scientists and doctors had discovered the supposed medical uses and thus began to name many different species (Darrow 17). By the end of the century three species had been mentioned, F. vesca, the common garden strawberry, F. moschata, the mossy strawberry, and F. viridis, the green strawberry (Darrow 19). The history of the modern strawberry had begun. This was now the time of the 16th and 17th centuries. Individuals of these times grew corn, potatoes, tobacco, tomatoes and cotton and unbeknownst to them the... medium of paper... one of the tastiest economic plants of the twentieth century and will continue to be in many more centuries to come. He prepared many wonderful dishes and adorned many homes. What more could you ask for from a simple plant? Works Cited “A Lesson in Strawberry History.” History of strawberries. http:// see www. barc.usda.gov/psi/fl/fl.html (May 7, 1999).Darrow, George M. The History, Breeding, and Physiology of Strawberries. New York. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1966."Strawberries". History of the strawberry http:// see www. tina/flhtml/fun-st.html (7 May 1999). "Strawberries, historical and horticultural facts". http://see www.jamm.com/strawberry/fact.html (7 May 1999). Wilhelm, Stephen and James E. Sagen. A history of the strawberry from ancient gardens to modern markets. Berkeley. University of California. Division of Agricultural Sciences. 1974.