Indian strawberry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• yellow-strawberry
• false strawberry
• mock strawberry
• Yellow-Flowered Strawberry
• Indian-strawberry
• wild strawberry
• yellow-flower-strawberry
• Indian strawberry
• Yellow Strawberry
• mock-strawberry
• snake berries

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Potentilla khasiana
• Potentilla trifida
• Potentilla fragariifolia
• Fragaria nilagirica
• Fragaria roxburghii
• Potentilla indica f. albicaput
• Fragaria indica
• Potentilla indica var. microphylla
• Fragaria malayana
• Potentilla indica var. serrulata
• Fragaria arguta
• Duchesnea indica var. microphylla
• Duchesnea major
• Potentilla wallichiana var. ternata
• Duchesnea indica
• Potentilla denticulosa
• Duchesnea indica var. albicarpa
• Potentilla durandii
• Duchesnea indica f. albocaput
• Duchesnea indica var. major

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Rosales, falling under the family Rosaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Potentiella.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented in both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found within the borders of Austria and Belgium. Furthermore, it extends its range into the territories of Czechia and Slovakia. This pattern highlights the plant's ability to inhabit diverse environments across the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Potentiilla indica is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environments and a broad altitudinal distribution. It thrives in varied habitats ranging from anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) to specialized ecosystems such as Campinarana, high-altitude grasslands (Campo de Altitude), and Ombrophilous Forests (Floresta Ombrófila/Floresta Pluvial). This species exhibits a vast elevational range, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to an impressive maximum of 4400 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 1800 m AMSL. This wide vertical gradient allows the plant to occupy ecological niches across multiple climatic zones, from lowland tropical settings to extreme high-altitude montane environments.

Elevational range max:

4400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campinarana, Campo de Altitude, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Potentiella indica is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or the upper layer of the substrate, which aids in its survival during unfavorable environmental conditions. This species maintains an evergreen habit, retaining its foliage throughout the year to facilitate continuous metabolic processes.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Potentiilla indica is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This plant is primarily terrestrial in its habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than an epiphyte or parasite. It exhibits a prostrate shoot orientation and is a self-supporting species, lacking any climbing or vine-like tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant is relatively low-growing, with a height that ranges from a minimum of 0.03 m to a maximum of 1 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.1 m

Plant height min:

0.03 m

Shoot orientation :

prostrate

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Potentiilla indica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a carbon fixation process typical of many temperate species. The plant is non-carnivorous and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability. Its leaf morphology is defined by an alternate arrangement, with leaf forms described as ovate. The dimensions of the foliage show significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a maximum of 9 cm, maintaining a mean length of 2.75 cm. Similarly, leaf width varies from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 3 cm, with a mean width of 2.1 cm. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 302.8 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its physiological strategy for light interception and resource management.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length mean:

2.75 cm

Leaf length min:

0.1 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.1 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

302.8 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Potentiilla indica is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being entirely absent. The flowering period typically begins in May and concludes in June, producing yellow flowers that range in length from a minimum of 0.6 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm. These flowers rely on biotic pollination, specifically through an insect pollination syndrome, while self-fertilization is noted as absent. Following successful pollination, the plant develops red, indehiscent fruits categorized as achenes. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 0.675 cm (ranging from 0.15 cm to 0.15 cm) and contain a high density of seeds, typically between 101 and 1000 seeds per fruit. The individual seeds are quite small, possessing a mean mass of approximately 0.000302222333333333 g, with a minimum of 0.0002 g and a maximum of 0.000332 g. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via endozoochory, which aids in the distribution of the species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

2.5 cm

Flower length min:

0.6 cm

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit colour :

red

Fruit length max:

0.15 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.675 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.000332 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000302222333333333 g

Seed mass min:

2e-04 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Potentilla indica has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. BioMed research international

Chemicals

Potentilla indica has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2-Methyl-6-(4-methylphenyl)-2-hepten-4-one, Agrimoniin, BETA-SITOSTEROL, Daucosterol, Ducheside A.

2-Methyl-6-(4-methylphenyl)-2-hepten-4-one

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Agrimoniin

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Daucosterol

1. Dr. Duke

Ducheside A

1. Dr. Duke

Ducheside B

1. Dr. Duke

Euscaphic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Kaempferitrin

1. Dr. Duke

Lupeol

1. Dr. Duke

Pomolic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Potentilla indica has 233 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, ACE-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biochemistry and biophysics reports
3. Natural product research

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations