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Fragaria virginiana - (image 1 of 5)

Taxonomy

Family: Rosaceae

Habitat

Various, including disturbed woodlands, prairies, grassy fields, peaty and boggy habitats.

Associates

Distribution

Morphology

Low herbaceous perennial that spreads by means of runners. Leaves compound; leaflets 3, 1-1.5" long, toothed; the terminal tooth strongly reduced, shorter and narrower than the 2 subterminal teeth next to it; petioles hairy. Flowers white, petals and sepals 5, rounded, stamens numerous, pistils numerous. Achenes set in pits on the receptacle (the red "fruit"). Calyx lobes appressed to the fruits..

Notes

Flowers early April to late June

Wetland indicator: Facultative-

Very common, although the fruits aren't often found fully ripe. This species and F. chiloensis (L.) Mill are thought to be the parents of the cultivated strawberry, F. x ananassa Duchesne. The fruits of wild strawberries are considerably smaller but every bit as good or better than cultivated strawberries.

Bibliography

Niering, W. A. 1979. The Audubon society field guide to North American wildflowers: eastern region.
Knopf/Random House, New York.

Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.

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