Potentilla indica var. microphylla(T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku) H.Ohashi
Potentilla trifidaPall.
Potentilla indica, known commonly as mock strawberry, Indian strawberry, or snakeberry in North America,[2] is a flowering plant in the family Rosaceae.[1] It has ternate foliage and an aggregate accessory fruit, similar to true strawberries of the genus Fragaria.[3] Unlike the white or slightly pink flowers of true strawberries, Potentilla indica has yellow flowers, as do many other Potentilla species. It is native to eastern and southern Asia, but has naturalized in many regions worldwide. They are considered to be an invasive species and weed by some.[1]
Many sources consider this plant part of the genus Potentilla[1][2] due to evidence from chloroplast genetic sequence data that the genus Duchesnea is included within Potentilla,[4] though some still list it as Duchesnea indica.[3][5][6]
Description
Potentilla indica bloom
The herbaceous plant spreads along creeping stolons, rooting and producing plantlets at each node.[3] The leaves are trifoliate, dark green, and somewhat thick.[6] The flowers are produced singly on axillary peduncles. The yellow petals of Potentilla indica have a nectar guide near the center of each petal that absorbs UV light more strongly than the rest of the petal and is visible only in the UV spectrum.[7] The most common variety, Potentilla indica var. indica, has fruiting receptacles and achenes that are red and glossy.[8][9] The rare variety D. indica f. albocaput Naruh., with white receptacles and cream achenes, has been reported only in Argentina and Japan.[10]
The fresh berries are edible but considered less palatable than proper strawberries.[16][17] A survey conducted in Assam, India from 2018-2020 documented the use of Potentilla indica by traditional healers to treat asthma.[18] In traditional Chinese medicine, it is used for clearing heat, cooling blood, detumescence, and detoxication.[19]
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↑ Torsten Eriksson; Malin S. Hibbs; Anne D. Yoder; Charles F. Delwiche & Michael J. Donoghue (2003). "The Phylogeny of Rosoideae (Rosaceae) Based on Sequences of the Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) of Nuclear Ribosomal DNA and the trnL/F Region of Chloroplast DNA". Int. J. Plant Sci. 164 (2): 197–211. doi:10.1086/346163. S2CID22378156.
↑ Soják, Jiří (2012). "Potentilla L. (Rosaceae) and related genera in Asia (excluding the former USSR), Africa and New Guinea - Notes on Potentilla XXVIII". Plant Diversity and Evolution. 130 (1–2): 7–157. doi:10.1127/1869-6155/2012/0130-0060.
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Blossom
Mature fruit
Dried fruits
