Plant of the day: beach strawberry

Fragaria_chiloensis1A rugged little beachgoer, this wild strawberry spreads across the sand via long stems called runners. Where these stems touch down and root, a new little plant will start up–spreading its small scalloped leaflets toward the sun.

Beach strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) is a common sight in sandy seaside spots. Its cousin, wood strawberry, looks similar but has leaves that are thin and slightly hairy on the top. By contrast, beach strawberry has thicker, hairy, and distinctly glossy leaves. As their names suggest, the two also grow in different habitats. Both are edible.

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