View source for Beach Strawberry

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Beach Strawberry
| image = Fragariachileonsis.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = <small>''Fragaria chiloensis''</small>
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Rosales]]
| familia = [[Rosaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Rosoideae]]
| genus = ''[[Strawberry|Fragaria]]''
| species = '''''F. chiloensis'''''
| binomial = ''Fragaria chiloensis''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]) [[Philip Miller|Mill.]]
}}

The '''Beach Strawberry''', '''Chilean Strawberry''', '''Sand Strawberry''', or '''Coastal Strawberry''' (''Fragaria chiloensis'') is one of two species of [[strawberry]] that were [[hybrid]]ized to create the modern [[Garden Strawberry]].  It is noted for its large berries. Its natural range is the [[Pacific Ocean]] coasts of [[North America|North]] and [[South America]], and also [[Hawaii]].

It is an [[evergreen]] plant growing to 15-30 cm tall, with glossy green trifoliate [[leaf|leaves]], each leaflet around 5 cm long. The [[flower]]s are white, produced in spring and early summer. The [[fruit]] is edible, red on the surface, white inside.

It is still sold as a local delicacy in some South American produce markets.

[[Amédée-François Frézier]] (1682-1773) was the first to bring back specimens of ''Fragaria chiloensis'' to the [[Old World]].

;Subspecies
There are a number of subspecies and forms:
*''Fragaria chiloensis'' subsp. ''chiloensis'' forma ''chiloensis''
*''Fragaria chiloensis'' subsp. ''chiloensis'' forma ''patagonica''
*''Fragaria chiloensis'' subsp. ''lucida''
*''Fragaria chiloensis'' subsp. ''pacifica''
*''Fragaria chiloensis'' subsp. ''sandwicensis''

[[Image:Fragaria chiloensis.jpg|left|thumb|''Fragria chiloensis'' subsp. ''chiloensis'' forma ''chiloensis'']]
All strawberries have a base [[haploid]] count of 7 [[chromosomes]]. ''Fragaria chiloensis'' is [[polyploidy|octoploid]], having eight sets of these chromosomes for a total of 56. These eight genomes pair as four distinct sets, of two different types, with little or no pairing between sets.  The genome composition of the octoploid strawberry species has generally been indicated as AAA'A'BBB'B'. The A-type genomes were likely contributed by diploid ancestors related to ''[[Fragaria vesca]]'' or similar species, while the B-type genomes seem to descend from a close relative of ''[[Fragaria iinumae]]''. The exact process of hybridization and speciation which resulted in the octoploid species is still unknown, but it appears that the genome compositions of both ''Fragaria chiloensis'' and ''[[Fragaria virginiana]]'' (and by extension the cultivated octoploid strawberry as well) are identical.

==External links==
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?246 ''F. chiloensis'' information from the GRIN Taxonomy Database]

[[Category:Fragaria]]
[[de:Chile-Erdbeere]]
[[es:Fragaria chiloensis]]
[[Category:Fruit]]
[[Category:Flora of California]]