Fragaria virginiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fragaria virginiana |
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| In Deception Pass State Park, Washington (state) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Fragaria
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| Species: |
virginiana
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| Synonyms | |
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Fragaria ovalis (Lehm.) Rydb. |
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The Fragaria virginiana, often called the Virginia strawberry or wild strawberry, is a type of strawberry plant. It grows naturally across a large part of North America, including much of the United States and southern Canada.
This wild strawberry is very important! It's one of two wild strawberry types that were mixed together (or hybridized) long ago. This mixing created the sweet, big garden strawberry we all know today. That's the one you find in grocery stores!
Contents
Types of Virginia Strawberry
There are four main types, or subspecies, of the Virginia strawberry. Each one might have slightly different features or grow in different places.
- Fragaria virginiana subsp. glauca
- Fragaria virginiana subsp. grayana
- Fragaria virginiana subsp. platypetala
- Fragaria virginiana subsp. virginiana
How Virginia Strawberries Grow
The Virginia strawberry plant usually grows up to about 10 cm (4 in) tall. It has many leaves, each made of three smaller leaflets. The top of the leaves is green, and the bottom is a lighter green.
Each leaflet is about 8 cm (3 in) long and 4 cm (1.5 in) wide. They are oval-shaped with rough, jagged edges, except near the bottom.
Flowers and Fruit
The plant has white flowers with five petals. In the center of the flower, there are many tiny parts called pistils, surrounded by yellow stamens. Under the petals, there are ten small green parts called sepals.
The "seeds" you see on a strawberry are actually called achenes. They develop from the pistils in the center of the flower. As the fruit grows, these achenes become dark-colored.
The fruit of the wild Virginia strawberry is smaller than the big strawberries you buy in stores. Even though we call it a "berry," botanists (plant scientists) call it an aggregate accessory fruit.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Virginia strawberries can make new plants in two ways. They can grow from seeds, just like many other plants. They also send out special stems called runners (or stolons). These runners spread along the ground and can grow roots, forming new strawberry plants nearby. This helps them spread quickly!
Naming and History
The scientific name Fragaria virginiana was first used by Antoine Nicolas Duchesne in 1766. Another scientist, Philip Miller, also described this plant in 1768. There's a bit of debate among scientists about which name is the "official" one, but both refer to this same wild strawberry.
Uses of Virginia Strawberry
The berries of the Virginia strawberry are safe to eat and taste delicious! They are often smaller but have a strong, sweet flavor.
One special type of this strawberry, called "Little Scarlet," is grown in Great Britain. It was brought there from the United States in the early 1900s.
Similar Plants
The Virginia strawberry plant looks a bit like another plant called Hesperochiron pumilus. However, you can tell them apart by looking closely at their leaves. The Virginia strawberry also has more than five stamens in its flowers, which is another clue.
See also
In Spanish: Fresa de Virginia para niños
