Waldsteinia ternata

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Waldsteinia ternata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Waldsteinia
Species:
W. ternata
Binomial name
Waldsteinia ternata
(Stephan) Fritsch

Waldsteinia ternata, commonly referred to as barren strawberry, is an herbaceous perennial plant. It has a disjunct distribution, being native to Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia, namely the Changbai Mountains of China, Sakhalin and Siberia in Russia, and Japan.[1]

Both the leaves and the flowers of W. ternara are reminiscent of strawberry. The leaves are trifoliate (hence the specific epithet), arranged in rosettes,[2] glossy, and evergreen in climates with mild winters.[3] The yellow, five-petaled flowers appear in late spring or early summer.[2][3] The fruit is an inedible berry. The plant usually grows 4 inches (10 cm) to 6 inches (15 cm) tall and forms a thick foliage carpet by spreading via stolons and rhizomes.[2] The spread is slow and thus not seen as aggressive.[3]

W. ternata has been cultivated since at least 1803. The cultivated plants are, for the most part, based on W. ternata subsp. trifolia.[4] Undemanding of soil conditions, W. ternata is used in landscape and garden design as a groundcover or as an edger for the herbaceous border.[2][3] As it can grow in either sun or dappled shade, it is considered appropriate for shade gardens.[3] Neither pests nor diseases pose significant problems.[2] The 'Kronstadt' cultivar has enlarged flowers, while 'Variegata' has variegated leaves.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Li, Chaoluan; Hiroshi, Ikeda; Hideaki, Ohba. Peter H. Raven; Wu Zheng-yi (eds.). Waldsteinia Willdenow. Vol. 9. St Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press. p. 291. ISBN 1-930723-14-8. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e "Waldsteinia ternata". Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Waldsteinia ternata". North Carolina Extension. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  4. ^ a b Krautige Zier- und Nutzpflanzen (in German). Berlin: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)