Fragaria cascadensis facts for kids
The Fragaria cascadensis, also known as the Cascade strawberry, is a special type of strawberry plant. Scientists officially described it in 2012. It grows naturally in the Cascades Mountains.
Quick facts for kids Fragaria cascadensis |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Fragaria
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| Species: |
cascadensis
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Contents
What It Looks Like
The Cascade strawberry is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for many years. It has the typical white flowers you see on most strawberry plants. However, it's different from other strawberries in a few ways.
One unique feature is that it has tiny hairs on the top side of its leaves. Most other strawberry species have hairs on the underside of their leaves, or no hairs at all. Its middle leaflet also looks a bit different from other strawberries.
This plant starts to grow after the snow melts, usually in May or early June. Its flowers appear around early July. The small fruits ripen in August and are ready to pick for about two weeks. The fruits are about 1 centimeter (less than half an inch) wide. They have soft flesh and are white inside.
Where It Grows
The Cascade strawberry grows on the western slopes of the Oregon Cascades Mountains. You can find it from the Columbia River in the north all the way south to Crater Lake.
It grows at high elevations, from about 3,000 feet up to the tree line. This plant likes sandy-clay soil that comes from volcanoes. You can often spot it in clearings within forests or in open, grassy areas high up in the mountains.
How It Was Discovered
The Cascade strawberry was first officially described in 2012. A scientist named Kim E. Hummer from the USDA ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository in Corvallis, Oregon, identified it.
The very first plant used for its description, called the holotype, was found near a road in Lane County, Oregon. It was growing in a sunny spot, facing south, alongside Douglas fir trees. The species was named Fragaria cascadensis because it grows in the Oregon Cascade Mountains.
Growing This Strawberry
Currently, the Cascade strawberry is not grown on farms or in gardens. It only grows in the wild.
Why It's Important
Even though you can't buy Cascade strawberries in stores, they are important to scientists. This strawberry has a different number of chromosomes than the common strawberry we usually eat.
Scientists can cross this strawberry with other types, like Fragaria iturupensis or Fragaria × vescana. This crossing can help create new kinds of strawberries. These new strawberries might have exciting new flavors or be stronger against plant diseases.
Ploidy
This species is a decaploid. See Fragaria.
