Potentilla indica (Andrews) Th. Wolf
Duchesnea indica (Andrews) Teschem.
Mock strawberry, Indian strawberry
Mock strawberries are native to eastern and southern Asia. They were introduced to the United States as ornamental plants, becoming naturalized in the southern United States. In some areas, they are considered invasive.
Plants: 2–5″ (5–12 cm) high.
Leaves: In groups of three, dark green, heavily veined beneath, with rounded teeth. They are oval to elliptic, ¾–3 ⨉ ¼–1½″ (1.9–7.6 cm ⨉ 8.5–38 mm), and hairy.
Flowers: Yellow, with five petals, about ½–¾″ (1.3–1.9 cm) in diameter. They flower from April to August.
Fruits: The red berries are ¼–½″ (6.3–12 mm) in diameter, more spherical than strawberry-like in shape. The seedlike achenes on the berry are prominently raised, making the fruit resemble a tiny land mine.
Habitats: Open areas in woods, prairies, and fields.
 |
Somewhat similar species. |
Edibility: Mock strawberries are edible and high in vitamin C, but they lack flavor, and have no detectable odor. Some say the fruit has a mild watermelon taste. (Note: there are many recipes for “mock strawberry jam,” but they use figs or something else, not mock strawberries.)
Online References:
Fragaria indica Andrews
Potentilla indica (Andrews) Th. Wolf
Potentilla indica (Andrews) Th. Wolf
4/21/2008 · Memphis, Tennessee · By Tim Chandler 
4/21/2007 · Memphis, Tennessee · By Tim Chandler 
The little red bumps, achenes, are the true fruit. The rest is called the receptacle. · 6/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s, Phoenix, Maryland 
6/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s, Phoenix, Maryland 
6/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s, Phoenix, Maryland 
6/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s, Phoenix, Maryland 
6/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s, Phoenix, Maryland 
7/29/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 10 × 7″ (24 × 17 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Rosales | Rose family and eight others |
| Family | Rosaceae | Includes apples, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, roses, meadowsweets, photinias, firethorns, rowans, and hawthorns; many others |
| Genus | Duchesnea | For French botanist Antoine N. Duchesne |
| Species | indica | Of or from or referring in some way to India |
Duchesnea indica description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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