| Practical ecological knowledge for the temperate reader. |
Family: Rosaceae - Rose [E-flora]
"Perennial herb, ± nonglandular, rhizomes short, stolons leafless.
Leaf: basal, 1-ternately compound; leaflet teeth generally entire.
Inflorescence: cyme, ± umbel-like, open, 1–several-flowered; pedicels recurved in fruit, bractlets 0.
Flower: hypanthium shallow, bractlets 5, narrower than sepals; sepals, petals ± obovate, generally white; stamens 20–35, filaments ± flat, pollen sac 1, horseshoe-shaped; pistils many, ovaries superior, jointed to stout style on side.
Fruit: achenes many on enlarged, fleshy, red receptacle.
± 20 species: generally northern temperate. (Latin: fragrant) [Hancock et al. 2004 Canad J Bot 82:1632–1644] Species intergrade.
Unabridged note: Characters include calyx orientation, fruit size used to define subspecies despite evident lack of taxonomic value." [Jepson]
Key to the Species and Taxonomic Notes
1. Leaves thick, strongly veined beneath, wrinkled above; plants strictly maritime..............F. chiloensis
1. Leaves thin, not strongly veined beneath, not wrinkled above; plants generally distributed
2. Terminal tooth of leaflets usually surpassing the adjacent lateral ones; leaflets generally unstalked; fruiting shoots longer than the leaves................F. vesca
2. Terminal tooth of leaflets usually much narrower and shorter than adjacent lateral ones; leaflets short-stalked; fruiting shoots shorter than the leaves..............F. virginiana [IFBC-E-flora]
Local Species;
Species Mentioned:
Hazards
Edible Uses
Other Uses
Medicinal Uses
"If you want some old-fashioned good tasting straw- berries, go into some old fields and find some of the wild ones. And that's more like what our early American ancestors ate, rich, and probably better endowed with ellagic acid, that cancer preventive. But for now, there's more ellagitannins in the leaves which make a pleasant tea. According to Dan Moerman, the Coastal Salish and Winnebago did make a tea from the leaves. Blackfoot Indians used the tea for diarrhea and Carrier for stomach bleeding. Cherokee take the tea for diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis, jaundice, nerves, and scurvy. They held the fruits in the mouth to remove tar- . Chippewa took the root infusion for infantile cholera. Iroquois took the whole plant in tea to regulate the menses, the root tea for bloody diarrhea, chancre sores, to purify the blood and as a collyrium for sties. They also used the plant for colic and teething in chil- dren and gonorrhea and stroke in adults. Maine's Malecite and Micmac made tea of strawberry and dwarf raspberry for irregular periods. Navajo consider the whole plant "life medicine". Ojibwa use the tea for stomachache, even in children. Okanagan-Colville applied powdered leaves in deer fat to sores, consider- ing, appropriately, the powdered leaves antiseptic. They dusted the powdered leaves into childrens' mouths to treat sore mouth. Potawatomi used the root for stomach distress. Quileute chewed the leaves and poulticed them onto burns. Ramah, like the Navajo, consider the whole plant "life medicine". Thompson Indians take tea of the root. or whole plant for diarrhea and dysentery, even with children. They made under- arm deodorant pads from the leaves. Elsewhere we read that they used the berries as a deodorant. (Moerman, 1998)" [Duke-WFF]
"ARS (USDA) fruit scientists John L. Maas, Gene J. Galletta, and Shiow Y. Wang evaluated 36 strawberry varieties for their ellagic acid content. Most was found in leaves, followed by seeds, green immature fruits, and red ripe fruits. So if ellagitannins are your target, you might do better with the leaves (and don't scrape the seeds off the outside of the fruit.) Leaves of the varieties "Tribute" and "Delite," both introduced by ARS, had more ellagic acid than other varieties tested. The strawberries could be bred to maximize ellagic acid in the fruits, where it is most needed, from a human dietary point of view. Pure ellagic acid is highly insoluble and biologically unavailable. When ellagic acid is synthesized by plants, it usually occurs combined with glucose as bioavailable water-soluble ellagitannins. Strawberry fruits produce at least 5 different ellagitannins, but their chemical structures and effectiveness as anti- carcinogens have yet to be determined. [This synergistic mix, speculates Jim Duke, would do much more to prevent cancer than the silver bullet, ellagic acid, insoluble and unavailable. JAD]" [Duke-WFF]
Propagation
F. vesca, F.virginiana, F. chiloensis; Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. The seed can take 4 weeks or more to germinate. The seedlings are very small and slow-growing at first, but then grow rapidly. Prick them out into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out during the summer. Division of runners, preferably done in July/August in order to allow the plants to become established for the following years crop[200]. They can also be moved in the following spring if required, though should not then be allowed to fruit in their first year. The runners can be planted out direct into their permanent positions." [PFAF]
Cultivation
F. virginiana; "Prefers a fertile, well-drained, moisture retentive soil in a sunny position[27, 200]. Tolerates semi-shade though fruit production will be reduced when plants grow in such a position. The plants appreciate a mulch of pine or spruce leaves[18]. Along with F, chiloensis, this species is probably a parent of the cultivated strawberries. The cultivar 'Little Scarlet' is a form of this species and this is still occasionally cultivated for its fruit in Britain[119]." [PFAF]
Growing: "Plant from root cuttings in a moist, shady, and slightly acidic area; sidedress with manure in the fall." [Schofield]
Compantion Planting:
Dynamic Accumulator: (Fe) [DynamicAccumulator]
References
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Subtaxa Present in B.C.
Origin Status: Native [E-flora]
"Fragaria chiloensis is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft).
It is hardy to zone (UK) 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from Apr to May, and the seeds ripen from Jun to July. The flowers are dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required) and are pollinated by Insects.The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure." [PFAF]
"General: Perennial herb from a fibrous root and short, thick rhizome, with short, leafless runners; stems trailing, rooting at the nodes; runners, leaf stalks and flower shoots silky-long-hairy and reddish." [IFBC-E-flora]
"Notes: The garden strawberry, Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne (a complex group of hybrids involving F. chiloensis and F. virginiana) is sometimes found as a garden escape in SW BC. Plants intermediate to F. chiloensis or F. virginiana have been called F. crinita Rydb. Two sympatric subspecies occur in BC:" [IFBC-E-flora]
1. Hairs on stems and leaf-stalks appressed.............. ssp. lucida (Vilm.) Staudt
1. Hairs on stems and leaf-stalks spreading.................... ssp. pacifica Staudt [IFBC-E-flora]
Habitat / Range
"Dry to mesic sand dunes and rocky coastal bluffs, just above high tide, in the lowland zone; frequent in coastal BC; N to AK and S to CA; disjunct to South America." [IFBC-E-flora]
Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Cultivation
"Prefers a fertile, well-drained, moisture retentive soil in a sunny position[27, 200]. Tolerates semi-shade though fruit production will be reduced. Grows best near the coast[27]. Plants like a mulch of pine or spruce leaves[18]. Cultivated for its edible fruit in the Andes[61]. This species, along with F. virginiana, is probably a parent of the cultivated strawberries[46]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required." [PFAF]
"Groundcover Plants spread by means of runners and can be grown as a ground cover[208]." [PFAF]
Synonyms
Subtaxa Present in B.C.
"Fragaria vesca is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft).
It is not frost tender. It is in flower from Apr to May, and the seeds ripen from Jun to July. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil." [PFAF]
"General: Perennial herb from a fibrous root and short, thick rhizome, with long, leafless runners; stems trailing, rooting at the nodes; runners, leaf stalks and flower shoots greenish or very lightly tinged with reddish purple, lightly to densely hairy." [IFBC-E-flora]
"Notes: Two varieties with overlapping ranges occur in BC:
1. Flowers to 1.5 cm across; achenes not sunken; leaf-stalks with appressed-ascending hairs; flower-shoots rarely with a leafy bract below inflorescence..................... var. americana Porter
1. Flowers to 2 cm across; achenes in shallow pits; leaf-stalks with spreading or reflexed hairs; flower-shoots commonly with a leafy bract below inflorescence..................... var. bracteata (Heller) R.J. Davis" [IFBC-E-flora]
Origin Status: Native [E-flora]
"Habitat / Range Dry to moist open forests, sandy fields, clearings and meadows in the lowland to subalpine zones; common in S BC south of 53degreeN, rare northward; N to NT, E to NF and S to CA, NM, MO and VA." [IFBC-E-flora]
"This plant appears to have been introduced from Europe; but that is questionable, as there is a native variety, somewhat smaller, that is found in open rocky woods from New Brunswick to New Jersey and west to Oregon." [EWP]
Ecological Indicator Information
"A shade-tolerant/intolerant, submontane to montane, circumpolar forb (transcontinental in North America). Occurs on moderately dry to fresh, nitrogen-medium soils within boreal, wet temperate, and cool mesothermal climates; its occurrence increases with increasing continentality, and decreases with increasing elevation. Inhabits exposed mineral soils on water-shedding sites; common in early-seral, meadow-like communities; sporadic in open-canopy, young-seral forests. Characteristic of disturbed sites." [IPBC]
Medicinal Uses
"The medicinal parts are dried leaves collected during the flowering season, the dried rhizome and ripe fruit." [PDR]
"Strawberry leaf consists of the dried leaf of Fragaria species, mainly Fragaria vesca. The leaves are collected in the wild and air-dried in a shady place" [PDR]
Select Indications (Strawberry) - Cancer (1; DAD; FNF; JLH; JNU); Cancer, larynx (1; FNF; JLH); Carcinoma (f; JLH); Catarrh (f; JFM; PH2); Cystosis (f; DAD; JFM); Dysentery (f; DAD; JFM); Fever (f; DAD; DAV; KOM); Gastrosis (f; DAD; JNU; PH2); Gout (f; CEB; PH2); Hepatosis (f; JNU; PH2); Inflammation (f; JFM; PH2); Jaundice (f; DAV; HHB; PH2); Nephrosis (f; JFM; PH2); Sore Throat (f; DAD; PH2); Stomatosis (f; DEM; PH2); Water Retention (f; CEB; EFS; HHB; PH2). [HMH Duke]
Pharamacology
"Activities (Strawberry) - Alterative (f; DAD; EFS); Antinitrosaminic (1; JNU); Antioxidant (1; JNU); Antipyretic (f; DAD); Antiseptic (f; DEM); Antitumor (f; JNU); Aphrodisiac (f; JNU); Astringent (1; CEB; EFS; PH2); Catabolic (f; KOM); Depurative (f; CEB; DAD; EFS); Discutient (f; DAD; EFS); Diuretic (f; CEB; EFS; PH2); Laxative (f; EFS); Nervine (f; EFS); Tonic (f; KOM)." [HMH Duke]
"Strawberry leaf has astringent and diuretic properties; but no studies are available." [PDR]
Phytochemistry
"Caffeic acid derivatives: including chlorogenic acid" [PDR]
"Flavonoids: including rutin, quercetin" [PDR]
"Tannins: ellagic acid tannins, oligomeric proanthocyanidins" [PDR]
Veterinary Use: "Fragaria vesca, wild strawberry (Plate 11). Red-water fever (Cavan65); constipation in rabbits and guinea pigs (Cambridgeshire66)." [MPFT]
Lore
"Another ‘astringent’, Fragaria vesca resembles silverweed (Potentilla anserina) in having been valued as a cosmetic: in Cornwall girls rubbed their faces with its leaves to improve their complexions, a use reflected in a folk song fragment in Cornish collected in 1698.166
Ireland has produced the only other record of a non-veterinary use: from Antrim, of a belief that excessive ardour can be cooled with strawberry-leaf tea167; but the leaves for that may have come from a garden species and not this native one." [MPFT]
"It is said that strawberries grow best when planted near nettles (Notes and Queries. 4th series. vol 19; 1872), and gardeners say also that BORAGE is a good companion plant for strawberries (Boland & Boland)." [DPL Watts]
"Cornish girls believed that their complexion could be improved if they rubbed their skin with wild strawberry leaves. Actually, the belief is widespread" [DPL Watts]
"There may have been some reasonably sound reason for this; the leaves are obviously astringent, as indeed are many of the Rosaceae, of which the strawberry is a member. Hill described the infusion of the fresh leaves as a “good liquor to wash a sore mouth or throat”. It was also said to keep tartar off the teeth (Fairweather). But we find the fruits themselves connected with receipts for the complexion. “The ripe strawberries quench thirst, and take away, if they be often used, the rednesse and heate of the face” (Gerard)." [DPL Watts]
Cultivation
"Prefers a fertile, well-drained, moisture retentive soil in a sunny position[200]. Tolerates semi-shade though fruit production will be reduced. A vigorous plant, spreading rapidly by means of runners. It flowers freely with us, but has not set fruit on our Cornwall trial ground as yet, possibly because all our plants are one clone[K]." [PFAF]
Synonyms
Subtaxa Present in B.C.
"Fragaria virginiana is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft).
It is hardy to zone (UK) 3 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from Apr to May, and the seeds ripen from Jun to July. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil." [PFAF]
"General: Perennial herb from a fibrous root and short rhizome usually from a single crown, with several leafless runners; stems trailing, rooting at the nodes; runners, leaf stalks and flower shoots with long spreading to appressed hairs and usually greenish not reddish-tinged." [IFBC-E-flora]
Notes:
Two varieties with overlapping ranges occur in BC:
1. Leaf-stalks and flower-shoots with appressed hairs; petals mostly 4-10 mm long, narrowly egg-shaped....................... var. glauca S. Wats.
1. Leaf-stalks and flower-shoots with spreading hairs; petals mostly 8-12 mm long, nearly circular....................... var. platypetala (Rydb.) Hall [IFBC-E-flora]
"Habitat / Range Moist to dry fields, roadsides, meadows, grassy slopes, thickets, forest edges and open forests in the lowland to subalpine zones; common throughout BC; N to AK and NT, E to NF and S to CA, CO, TN and GA."[IFBC-E-flora]
"The range of the Scarlet Strawberry is from New Brunswick to Saskatchewan and on south to Florida, Texas, and Arizona. A northern form with narrower leaflets and more oblong fruit has been described as a separate species (Fragaria canadensis). I find apparently no difference in the flavor of the fruit." [EWP]
Origin Status: Native [E-flora]
Ecological Indicator Information
"A shade-intolerant. submontane to subalpine. circumpolar forb (transcontinental in North America). Occurs on nitrogen-medium soils within boreal,. temperate, cool semiarid, and cool mesothermal climates. Its occurrence increases with increasing continentality, and decreases with increasing elevation. Frequently inhabits exposed, calcium-rich. mineral soil watershedding sites. Common in non-forested (grassy) communities, less frequent in opencanopy forests. Characteristic of young-seral forests" [IPBC-E-flora]
Other Uses
Medicinal Uses
Other Medicinal Uses
Select Indications (Wild Strawberry) - Bleeding (1; APA; FAD); Diarrhea (1; APA; DEM); Dysentery (1; DEM; MIC); Dysmenorrhea (f; DEM; FAD); Dyspepsia (f; APA; FAD);Gastrosis (f; FAD; MIC); Gout (1; FAD; FNF); Jaundice (f; DEM; FAD); Nephrosis (f; DEM; FAD); Scurvy (f; DEM; FAD); Sore Throat (1; APA; FAD); Stomachache (f; DEM; FAD); Sunburn (1; APA; FAD); Tartar (f; APA; DEM); [HMH Duke]
"Dosages (Wild Strawberry) — 1 tsp chopped leaf/cup water several ×/day (APA)." [HMH Duke]
Pharmacology
"Activities (Wild Strawberry) — Abortifacient (f; DEM); Analgesic (f; DEM); Antiinflammatory (1; APA); Antiseptic (f; DEM); Antiulcer (1; APA); Astringent (1; APA; FAD); Deodorant (f; DEM); Deobstruent (f; DEM); Depurative (f; FAD; MIC); Diuretic (f; FAD); Digestive (f; APA); Hemostat (1; APA; FAD); Neurotonic (f; FAD); Tonic (f; FAD; MIC); Urinary Antiseptic (f; MIC)." [HMH Duke]