Wild Strawberry Fragaria virginiana Family: Rosaceae (ro-ZAY-see-ay) - From rosa or rose family. Genus: Fragaria (frag-AY-ree-uh) - From the Latin fraga, strawberry, which in turn may have come from fragrans, fragrant, for the pleasant odour from the fruit. Species: virginiana (vir-jin-ee-AN-uh) - Of or from Virginia, which in turn was named aft4er Queen Elizabeth I of England.

Creeping plants, like strawberries, have runners or stolons. These stems grow sideways on the surface of the soil and send up new strawberry plants. The two most common strawberry species bear long stalked typical rose-like flowers: white in the wild strawberry and yellow in the barren.

Wild Strawberry The strawberry is a prostrate member of the rose family characterized by long stalked compound basal leaves (three leaflets). Wild Strawberry is a common creeping plant that grows in Altona forest and can be found in the forest or in open areas. It can grow up to 15 cm tall. Notice the poison ivy in this picture and that it also has three leaflets but distinctly different. -- POISON IVY

Wild Strawberry The leaflet edges are entirely big toothed. The petioles are hairy.

Wild Strawberry The white flowers are five petalled. Wild Strawberries bloom from April to June. The flowers are small, about 2 cm wide.

Wild Strawberry The fruit contains dry seeds. The wild strawberry is found in the open fields of Altona Forest.

Wild Strawberry Birds and other animals can help Wild Strawberry spread by pooping seeds out in new places. The birds and animals of Altona Forest which eat wild strawberries include: Crow, sparrows, wild turkey, blue jay, robin,northern cardinal, skunk, chipmunk, vole and mouse. Altona Forest animals that eat strawberry leaves include rabbits, white-tailed Deer and some insects. Wild Strawberry flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees, flies, ants, and butterflies such as the cabbage white, and clouded sulphur.

Barren Strawberry Waldsteinia fragarioides Family: Rosaceae (ro-ZAY-see-ay) From rosa or rose family. Genus: Waldsteinia (wald-STINE-ee-uh) Named for Count Franz Adam von Waldstein-Wartenberg (1759 – 1823), who was an early 19th century Austrian botanist. He was part-author of the detailed illustrated book on the plants of Hungary. Species: fragarioides (fray-gare-ee-OY-deez) Like Fragaria which is from the Latin for strawberry. Barren Strawberry is native to Canada.

Barren Strawberries Barren strawberry has 3 leaflets on long stalks. They are roughly oval and 3-5 cm long. The margins are broadly toothed. The yellow flowers have 5 petals, 5 sepals and many stamens. They are 5-10 mm long, 3-6 mm wide and have several in loose clusters. The flowering stems are leafless. It flowers from April to May.

Barren Strawberry This strawberry is found in the woods of Altona Forest. The stem produces runners as a way to reproduce. The plant does not produce any fruit and is therefore barren.

To Return to the Plant List Click on the Trout Lily Below To end this program click on this box.