Fragaria vesca

Read about Fragaria vesca in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Fragaria vesca, Linn. (F. semperflorens, Duchesne). Alpine and Perpetual Strawberries. Erect and dark green, only sparsely hairy, the lvs. thin and light green as compared with the foregoing species, very sharp-toothed: fl.-cluster Mum 11. forking, erect: fr. firm, small, usually hemispheric, the achenes very prominent; hull spreading. Eu.—The American more slender form of this group-species, common in woods from Va. north, is var. americana, Porter (E. americana. Brit.), Fig. 1571, with ovoid or somewhat conical fr- usually with a distinct neck, and sparingly hairy rather than hairy-pubescent petioles and scapes, and thinner lvs. The true F. vesca is thought to be sparingly naturalized eastward, and probably native in many parts, particularly the white-fruited form (forma albicarpa, Brit.). The cult, forms are rarely seen in this country, but the quality is high, and they are deserving of more attention in home grounds. Variable in cult. There is a form with lfts. reduced to 1 (F. monophylla, Duchesne. B.M. 63). This type of strawberry bears more continuously than F. chiloensis and F. virginiana. in its cultivated forms. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

? Woodland Strawberry
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Rosaceae Subfamily: Rosoideae Genus: Fragaria Species: F. vesca
Binomial name
Fragaria vesca Coville

Fragaria vesca, commonly known as Woodland Strawberry occurs naturally throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Other names for this species include the Wild Strawberry, Alpine Strawberry and European Strawberry.

All strawberry species have a base haploid count of seven chromosomes; Fragaria vesca is diploid, having two pairs of these chromosomes for a total of 14.

Cultivation and uses

F. vesca from Sweden, threaded on a straw. The plant behind is not a strawberry plant.

The Woodland Strawberry was widely cultivated in Europe before being largely replaced by the Garden Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa and other hybrids), which have much larger berries. Woodland Strawberry fruit is strongly flavored, and is still grown on a small scale commercially for the use of gourmets.

Unlike most commercial and garden cultivars of strawberries, Woodland Strawberries rarely form runners, and are usually propagated by seeds or division of the plants.

Some cultivars of F. vesca have berries that are green, white, or yellow when fully ripe, in addition to the normal red.

F. vesca is sometimes used as an herbal medicine; an herbal tea made from the leaves, stems, and flowers is believed to aid in the treatment of diarrhea.

External links

• F. vesca information from GRIN Taxonomy Database
• Den Virtuella Floran, a Swedish site with good F. vesca photos