Rosaceae: Fragaria virginiana ssp. virginiana Duchesne
(Virginia strawberry, wild strawberry)
F. virginiana, commonly recognized as "wild strawberry", is one of two species in the genus Fragaria in Nova Scotia, the other being F. vesca (woodland strawberry).
The leaves, stems and runners of F. virginiana grow from a thick, underground rhizome. The almost spherical white flowers have 5 petals and 5 sepals and the resulting fleshy fruit is composed of many tiny seeds (achenes) located in deep pits on the surface of the fruit. The leaflets have short petioles with the terminal leaflet being wedge-shaped with the broad end at the apex. Lateral leaflets have rounded outer margins and all leaflets are toothed and hairy. F. vesca is taller and more slender with numerous runners; its flowers have shorter petals and rise above the leaves in a raceme on top of a long stem; also it has oval fruits with superficial achenes which give the fruit a smoother appearance.
F. virginiana is found in old fields, ditches, along roadsides and along borders of woods. It flowers in late April and May (F.vesca flowers in June). Virginia strawberry has wide coverage throughout North America with the exception of western coastal regions from Alaska to California.
Sources | Selected Web Resources | Line Drawing
| Apr. 30 and June 15, 2008. Digby County: Brier Island. Photographer: Ocotillo. | |
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Selected Web Resources
- Taxonomic Status (ITIS) Copy the species name above and paste it into a form on this ITIS Canada page to confirm the nomenclature and list synonyms.
- NatureServe Explorer Copy the species name above and paste it into a form on this page to view a map of its distribution within North America and its conservation status by province and state.