2. Fragaria virginiana Mill. (wild strawberry)

F. virginiana ssp. grayana (E. Vilm. ex J. Gay) Staudt

F. virginiana var. illinoensis A. Gray

Pl. 532 j–m; Map 2446

Leaflets 1.5–11.0 cm long, sessile or more commonly short-stalked, firm-textured, the margins scalloped or toothed, the terminal tooth mostly less than 1/2 as wide as and with the tip not extended beyond those of the immediately adjacent lateral ones, the upper surface sparsely to moderately hairy, green to dark green or bluish green, the undersurface nearly glabrous to densely silky-hairy, sometimes yellowish- or grayish-tinged. Inflorescences usually shorter than the leaves at both flowering and fruiting, sometimes appearing umbellate, not appearing racemelike (the flower stalks all about the same length), the main stalk with appressed-ascending or more commonly spreading, fine long hairs (similar to those of the petioles). Sepals 5–10 mm long, ascending, spreading, or reflexed at fruiting. Petals (6–)7–10(–11) mm long. Fruits positioned in shallow pits in the surface of the receptacle. 2n=56. April–May.

Scattered nearly throughout Missouri (nearly throughout the U.S., including Alaska; Canada). Margins and openings of mesic to dry upland forests, savannas, upland prairies, ledges and tops of bluffs, and calcareous glades; also old fields, railroads, roadsides, and open disturbed areas.

As with F. vesca, Staudt (1999) subdivided F. virginiana into a series of weakly defined subspecies (and forms), which are not accepted here. Of these, the widespread eastern and northern ssp. virginiana and the less common ssp. grayana, mostly of the midwestern and south-central United States, were treated as occurring in Missouri. The ssp. grayana differs from ssp. virginiana in its petioles, as well as inflorescence and flower stalks, having only spreading pubescence, and in its leaflet margins with the teeth usually more sharply pointed. Overall, Missouri populations are quite variable morphologically, although plants within a given population usually are relatively uniform.