Strawberry, fruit plant of eight main species of the genus Fragaria (family Rosaceae), native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere but widely cultivated in the Southern Hemisphere as well. The strawberry fruit in the botanical sense is not a berry and is much more than a single fruit; it is the greatly enlarged stem end, or receptacle, in which are partially embedded the many true fruits, or achenes, popularly called seeds. Rich in vitamin C, the strawberry also provides iron and other minerals. The cultivated, large-fruited strawberry originated in Europe in the 18th century. Most countries developed their own varieties during the 19th century, and these are often specially suitable for the climate, day length, altitude, or type of production required in a particular region. In 2003 more than 600,000 tonnes of strawberries were grown world wide and the strawberry fruit is therefore becoming more and more popular to eat fresh, dried, or as an ingredient in juices jams dairy products etc.