vesca

Vesca is a botanical epithet used in the scientific name of Fragaria vesca, the wild strawberry. The epithet is derived from Latin vesca, meaning fruit, and is used in botanical Latin to denote edible fruits. Fragaria vesca belongs to the Rosaceae family and is a perennial herb with creeping stolons. It produces small white flowers and small, aromatic red berries that are edible and often sweeter in aroma than their size might suggest. The plant is native to Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa and has been naturalized in many other regions. It typically grows in woodlands, hedgerows, and grassy clearings, thriving in well-drained soil and partial shade. The fruit is commonly used fresh or in jams, desserts, and traditional medicines; it is high in vitamin C and polyphenols. There are several subspecies and varieties, with fruits that vary in size and ripening time. The species has long cultural and culinary associations and is often used as a reference point for the flavor profile of cultivated garden strawberries.