Fragaria orientalis

Fragaria orientalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Subfamily:	Rosoideae
Genus:	Fragaria
Species:	F. orientalis
Binomial name
Fragaria orientalis Losinsk.

Fragaria orientalis is a diploid species of wild strawberry native to E. Asia - Eastern Siberia. It is occasionally cultivated as a novelty edible. It is called 东方草莓 (dong fang cao mei) in at least part of its native range.

Key Features

Fragaria orientalis is a perennial, averaging 8 in (.2m) tall; it blooms from Apr to May. It vigorously produces runners, like many herbaceous members of Fragariinae.

Distinguishing Features

• Fruit ripen purple-red with deeply inset ovoid achenes
• Hemispheric to obviate fruit
• Leaflets highly variable- 1–5 × 0.8–3.5 cm
• obovate or rhombic-ovate shape with slightly acute (pointed) tip
• abaxially pilose (fuzzy on the underside), especially near veins, slightly adaxial (near the stem/major midrib) pilose
• cuneate central leaflets, lateral (side) leaflets oblique (asymmetric)
• Flowers bisexual, rarely unisexual, 1–1.5 cm in diameter

Cultivation

This plant is cultivated as an edible herb. However, it is relatively rare in cultivation. However, Plants for a Future offers a preliminary method of cultivation. Prefers a sunny position with moist, fertile soil for maximum production. However, plants can tolerate partial shade. Fragaria orientalis prefers a mulch of coniferous needles. They can be vigorous, spreading via runners. However, there is little invasive threat.

Distribution

Fragaria orientalis is native to China and E Siberia, specifically the Chinese provinces of Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, as well as in Korea, Mongolia, and E Russia. These plants can be found in forests and meadows on mountain slopes, usually in the shade of forest trees at elevations of 600 – 4000 meters.