Potentilla indica: Uses (Ethnobotany)
A poultice of the crushed leaves is used to treat skin ailments such as eczema
Plant Profile: Potentilla indica
Names
Indian Strawberry
Phonetic Spelling:poh-ten-TILL-uh IN-dih-kuh
Genus:Potentilla
Species:indica
Family:Rosaceae
Indian Strawberry is an introduced species commonly seen in lawns and other disturbed environments. While its fruit is technically edible, it tends to be rather bland and dry. The plant's flowers are frequently mistaken for those of Potentilla species, and its fruits bear a resemblance to those of Fragaria species. This plant propagates through stolons and can withstand mowing.
Potentilla indica Feature Summary
Potentilla indica Image Gallery
Tags
#yellow
#perennial
#yellow flowers
#red fruits
#dainty
#edible fruits
#miniature
#mini
#yard weed
#spring interest
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats
Similar Plants
Potentilla indica is often confused with:
Potentilla indica Feature Summary
Attributes
A poultice of the crushed leaves is used to treat skin ailments such as eczema
Afghanistan to Russian Far East and Malesia
Introduced to Eastern to mid and coastal North America
Perennial
Fruit
Bright red drupes are about ½" across and are spheroid or ovoid in shape. There are small red seeds scattered across its bumpy surface. They have a bland flavor and dry texture.
Drupe
Red/Burgundy
Summer
Fall
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Flowers
¾" across single yellow flowers, consisting of 5 yellow petals, 5 green sepals, numerous stamens with yellow anthers
Gold/Yellow
Spring
Summer
4-5 petals/rays
Star
< 1 inch
Leaves
3/4 to 1&3/4 inch 3-lobed leaves. The upper leaflet surfaces are medium to dark green and hairless. They have appressed hairs and form new plantlets at their tips. The plant has a trailing habit
Deciduous
Simple
Alternate
Ovate
Obovate
Serrate
Crenate
Whole Plant Traits
Wildflower
Ground Cover
Deciduous
Spreading
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Stem
Potentilla indica Image Gallery
Potentilla indica Attributes
Potentilla indica: Country Or Region Of Origin
Afghanistan to Russian Far East and Malesia
Potentilla indica: Distribution
Introduced to Eastern to mid and coastal North America
Potentilla indica: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Potentilla indica Fruit
Potentilla indica: Fruit Description
Bright red drupes are about ½" across and are spheroid or ovoid in shape. There are small red seeds scattered across its bumpy surface. They have a bland flavor and dry texture.
Potentilla indica: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Potentilla indica: Fruit Color
Red/Burgundy
Potentilla indica: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Potentilla indica: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Potentilla indica: Fruit Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Potentilla indica Flowers
Potentilla indica: Flower Description
¾" across single yellow flowers, consisting of 5 yellow petals, 5 green sepals, numerous stamens with yellow anthers
Potentilla indica: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Potentilla indica: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Potentilla indica: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Potentilla indica: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Potentilla indica: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Potentilla indica: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Potentilla indica Leaves
Potentilla indica: Leaf Description
3/4 to 1&3/4 inch 3-lobed leaves. The upper leaflet surfaces are medium to dark green and hairless. They have appressed hairs and form new plantlets at their tips. The plant has a trailing habit
Potentilla indica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Potentilla indica: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Potentilla indica: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Potentilla indica: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Potentilla indica: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Potentilla indica: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Potentilla indica Whole Plant Traits
Potentilla indica: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Potentilla indica: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Potentilla indica: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Potentilla indica: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Potentilla indica Cultural Conditions
Potentilla indica: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Potentilla indica: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Potentilla indica: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Potentilla indica Stem
Potentilla indica: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
