Duchesnea indica (Andrews) Teschem. Duchesnea indica (Andrews) Focke nom. illeg. Fragaria indica Andrews Potentilla indica (Andrews) Th. Wolf 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. Identification: Plants are 2-5" (5-12 cm) high. Leaves are in groups of three, dark green, heavily veined beneath, with rounded teeth. They are oval to elliptic, ¾-3" (1.9-7.6 cm) × ¼-1½" (8.5-38 mm), and hairy. Flowers are yellow, with five petals, about ½-¾" (1.3-1.9 cm) in diameter. They flower from April to August. 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. Mock strawberries most resemble barren strawberries, since the flowers of both are yellow. They also resemble common strawberries and wild strawberries: |
4/21/2008 · Memphis, Tennessee · By Tim Chandler 4/21/2007 · Memphis, Tennessee · By Tim Chandler |
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You are here Duchesnea indica |
Waldsteinia fragarioides |
Fragaria vesca |
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Plant | Plants are 2-5" (5-12 cm) high. | 3-8" (7.6-20 cm) high | Plants are low-growing, typically 3-6" (7.6-15 cm) tall. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flowers | Flowers are yellow, with five petals, about ½-¾" (1.3-1.9 cm) in diameter. They flower from April to August. | Yellow, on a leafless stalk, with five petals, ¼-¾" (8.4-19 mm) around, blooms April-May. | Flowers are white, about ½" (1.5 cm) across. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leaves | Leaves are in groups of three, dark green, heavily veined beneath, with rounded teeth. They are oval to elliptic, ¾-3" (1.9-7.6 cm) × ¼-1½" (8.5-38 mm), and hairy. | Near the base of the plant, three-lobed, with rounded teeth and shallow lobes. Each leaflet is narrow at the base, widening to rounded ends. | Leaves occur in groups of three; each leaflet is ½-2½" (1.5-6.3 cm) long. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fruit | 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. | Dry, inconspicuous seeds. | Up to ⅜" (1 cm) across. Red or white in color. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Habitats | Pine forests, clearings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type | Wild | Wild | Wild |
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:
Duchesnea indica on Wildflowers of the United States
Duchesnea indica on spes.vt.edu
Duchesnea indica on the Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site
Duchesnea indica on Delaware Wildflowers
Duchesnea indica at the University of Michigan Herbarium
Duchesnea indica at the University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium
Duchesnea indica on eFloras
7/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s
7/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s
7/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s
Duchesnea indica description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.
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7/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s
7/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s
7/29/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts
≈ 11 × 7" (27 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain
Range: