Flower ID: IMG_1944.JPG-06-24-2019 Flower name (scientific): Fragaria vesca Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) frah-GAR-ee-ah VES-ka Flower name (common): Woodland Strawberry Family name (common): Rose Family name (scientific): Rosaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Fraga is Latin for strawberry, and fragrans for fragrant, referring to the smell of the fruit. Specific epithet: From the Latin vescus meaning thin or small, referencing the size of the berry. Common name origin: The origin of the name strawberry appears to be unknown. Suggestions connected with stringing the berries on straw, or using straw as a mulch for these berries, have not been widely accepted. Possibly derived from the old English streabariye, used by a Benedictine monk in 995 CE to refer to the straying habit of the plant due to its runners. The OED traces the word back to c. 1000 CE. Flower description: Size: 0.4 to 0.5 inches (10 to 13 mm) Petal count: 5 Color: white Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-flat Plant description: Size: 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is basal, type is compound Size: Leaflets are up to 5 to 6 cm long and up to 3 to 5 cm wide. Color: medium green Hairy: glabrous to glabrate Other: Shape: leaf, (basal) trifoliate, leaflet, ovate to obovate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon Bloom time (typical): April to June Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Open woodlands, meadows, average to moist soil. Fruit: Berries red, with seeds distributed on the surface in shallow pits. Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Very similar is Fragaria virginiana (Wild Strawberry). To distinguish F. vesca from F. virginiana look at the terminal tooth on a leaflet, if it extends past the adjacent teeth, or is of equal size to the adjacent teeth, you probably have F. vesca, but if the terminal tooth is smaller than the adjacent teeth, you probably have F. virginiana. When the fruit is available, the achenes (seeds) are raised on the surface for F. vesca, whereas for F. virginiana the seeds are present in shallow pits on the fruit surface. Ethnobotany: The Potawatomi used the roots of this plant to treat stomach problems. They also collect the fruit for food, some of which is dried and some preserved for winter use (Smith, pp. 75, 108, 1933). The Chippewa also used the fruit as an important food source (Gilmore, p. 132, 1933). Latitude: 44.799852 Longitude: -91.505918 Altitude: 253.80 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Ashland, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Green Lake, Grant, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 1 omotypic synonym for this species. Heterotypic Synonym(s): na Autonym:Fragaria vesca subsp. vesca (The other infraspecifics are Fragaria vesca subsp. americana (Porter) Staudt, Fragaria vesca subsp. bracteata (A. Heller) Staudt. Both of these subspecies occur in North America.) It is Fragaria vesca subsp.americana that is native to Wisconsin. Wetland Status (NC): UPL Wetland Status (MW): UPL