ROSACEA 363 



Principal Fnxit-bearing Species. — The evolution of the 

 strawberry has been given to us by Bailey. Most of our 

 cultivated varieties of strawberries belong to the species 

 Fragaria chiloensis. This plant is a native of western Chile, 

 from which country it was brought to Europe at the begin- 

 ning of the eighteenth century. The Chilean strawberry is 

 also a native of the western coast region of North America, 

 as well as of South America. However, some botanists 

 would refer the forms as found in this continent to the species 

 Fragaria calif ornica and F. glauca. 



The early settlers in the Eastern States cultivated the 

 common wild strawberry {Fragaria virginiana) which they 

 found growing in their fields. But few cultivated varieties 

 belong to it. Varieties of the wild strawberry of Europe 

 (Fragaria vesca) have also been cultivated in America, but 

 only to a sKght extent. These varieties are the Everbearing 

 or Perpetual strawberries. 



Hence, the varieties of strawberries in America fall into 

 three groups, as follows: 



1. Chilean group iiova. Fragaria chiloensis. 



2. Scarlet or Virginian group from Fragaria virginiana. 



3. Perpetual or European group from Fragaria vesca. 

 These three species may be distinguished by the following 



key: 



Key to Principal Species of Fragaria 



Leaves usually projecting above the flowers and fruit; achenes sunken in the 

 flesh. 

 Runners appearing after the fruit; berry dark; calyx large; leaves shining 



above, bluish-white beneath, F. chiloensis (Chilean strawberry). 



Runners appearing with the fruit; berry scarlet; calyx medium; leaves light 



green on both surfaces, F. virginiana (scarlet or Virginian strawberry). 



Leaves usually not projecting above the flowers and fruit; achenes not 



sunken in the flesh, F. vesca (perpetual or European strawberry) . 



Fragaria virginiana (Virginia or Scarlet Strawberry). — This is a stout, dark 



