The colors below indicate the kind of documentation available for this species
in the California counties where it occurs.
Beach Strawberry Fragaria chiloensis (Rosaceae)
The coastal Miwok Indians consumed the fruits of this species. The nodes of the red horizontal stems commonly give rise to new roots that help to anchor plants in the shifting sand and wind of its coastal dune habitat. The central portion of each flower consists of a dome of pistils surrounded by stamens. The many pistils are borne on a fleshy receptacle that enlarges into a juicy strawberry. The crunchy consistency of strawberries is due to the shell-like wall of the many achenes—the hard dry one-seeded fruits borne on the surface of the fleshy red pulp.
DISTRIBUTION: Ocean beaches, grasslands, and coastal bluffs along the Central and North Coast; < 200 m.
