Huangmao strawberry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Huangmao strawberry
• Nilgiri Strawberry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Potentilla nilgerrensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Rosales, specifically being a member of the Rosaceae family. Finally, its taxonomic placement is completed within the genus Fragaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide and varied geographical distribution across several key regions. In China, its presence is noted in the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast areas. The species also extends into the Indian Subcontinent, specifically found within the state of Assam. Furthermore, it can be located throughout the East Himalaya region. Together, these locations highlight the diverse habitats where the plant thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Fragaria nilgerrensis is characterized by its specific distribution across varying altitudinal gradients, reflecting its adaptation to diverse montane environments. This species thrives within a broad elevational range, occupying habitats from as low as 700 m AMSL to extreme high-altitude reaches of up to 4200 m AMSL. The distribution shows a notable preference for mid-to-high elevation zones, with a mean elevational range centered around 1850 m AMSL. This wide vertical span suggests the plant is capable of navigating significant fluctuations in temperature, atmospheric pressure, and moisture availability, allowing it to persist in both temperate lower slopes and more rugged, alpine-adjacent terrains.

Elevational range max:

4200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1850 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

700 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Fragaria nilgerrensis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. Unlike annuals that complete their cycle in a single year or biennials that require two, this perennial plant establishes a long-term presence in its habitat, often spreading via stolons or rhizomes to form dense mats. This life cycle enables the plant to survive seasonal fluctuations and accumulate energy stores, facilitating repeated flowering and fruiting cycles over several years. Through this continuous growth pattern, it can effectively colonize its environment and maintain population stability across successive growing periods.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Fragaria nilgerrensis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, existing primarily as a low-growing forb. The plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber, maintaining a compact stature within its habitat. In terms of vertical development, it exhibits a relatively short height, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.25 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.15 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Plant height max:

0.25 m

Plant height mean:

0.15 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Fragaria nilgerrensis is characterized by distinct morphological variations in its foliar structure, which play a critical role in its metabolic and photosynthetic processes. The leaf dimensions exhibit significant plasticity, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 4.5 cm, maintaining an average length of approximately 2.75 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width demonstrates a broad physiological range, starting from a minimum of 0.8 cm and reaching a maximum of 3 cm, with a mean width recorded at 1.9 cm. These quantitative variations in leaf surface area influence the plant's capacity for gas exchange, transpiration rates, and light interception, which are fundamental to its overall physiological efficiency and adaptation to its environment.

Leaf length max:

4.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

2.75 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.9 cm

Leaf width min:

0.8 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Fragaria nilgerrensis involves a complex combination of sexual and asexual mechanisms to ensure species survival and dispersal. Sexual reproduction is facilitated through the development of flowers, which serve as the primary reproductive organs; these blossoms are characterized by a flower length that typically ranges from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 2 cm. Within these flowers, pollination leads to the formation of small, aggregate fruits known as achenes, which contain the seeds necessary for genetic recombination and colonization of new territories. Complementing this sexual process, the plant often utilizes vegetative reproduction through the extension of stolons or runners. These specialized horizontal stems grow along the soil surface, rooting at specific nodes to establish genetically identical daughter plants, allowing the species to spread efficiently across its habitat and recover from environmental disturbances.

Flower length max:

2 cm

Flower length min:

1 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Fragaria nilgerrensis has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside, Pelargonidin 3-O-rutinoside.

Pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside

1. BMC plant biology

Pelargonidin 3-O-rutinoside

1. BMC plant biology