Fragaria virginiana (Wild Strawberry) - photos and description
Flower peduncles shorter than (flowers are lower than) the leaves.
Flower peduncles shorter than (flowers are lower than) the leaves.
Flower peduncles shorter than (flowers are lower than) the leaves.
Terminal
tooth does not project beyond its adjacent teeth.
General: Low, perennial, acaulescent plants with above ground runners (stolons), whose fruit is a small, sweet strawberry. Stems and petioles pubescent.
Flowers: Flowers in clusters of 2 to 6 flowers, are white with 5 petals and sepals, we measured a flower at 16 mm diameter. Flower peduncles grow shorter than (flowers are lower than) the leaves.
Leaves: Leaves basal, ternate, leaflets wedge-shaped, serrate. We measured a leaf at 9 cm wide and 6 cm long, and a leaflet at 5.5 cm long and 3 cm wide. Leaflets serrate with teeth pointing toward the apex. The terminal tooth is usually shorter than its adjacent teeth. Leaflets green to bluish-green above and paler green below. Leaflets are sparingly hairy below and have long hairs above.
Height: Height listed in Flora of Alberta to 25 cm, we measured one plant with leaves to 17 cm tall, flower peduncle to 13 cm tall.
Habitat: Open woodlands and moist prairie.
Abundance: Common.
Origin: Native.
Similar species: This plant is very similar to
Fragaria vesca.
- Fragaria virginiana has peduncles which grow shorter than the
leaves, the end tooth of leaflets is shorter than its adjacent teeth,
its fruit has achenes in tiny pits on its surface. I also noticed its
leaflets are less noticeably veined, and sometimes have a more
blue-green colour.
- Fragaria vesca has peduncles which grow taller than the
leaves, the end tooth of leaflets is longer than its adjacent teeth, its
fruit has achenes on its surface. I also noticed its leaflets are more
noticeably veined, and have a more yellow-green colour.
When and where photographed: Photos taken May 30th in open aspen woods about 70 km south east of Regina, SK, and June 19th, edge of woods, east central Saskatchewan about 400 km northeast of our home in Regina, SK.