Fragaria chiloensis (USA)

Fragaria chiloensis (L.) Duchesne, Hist. Nat. Frais. 165-166 165 1766. (Syn: Fragaria vesca var. chiloensis L.);

Fragaria chiloensis, the beach strawberry, Chilean strawberry, or coastal strawberry, is one of two species of strawberry that were hybridized to create the modern garden strawberry (F. × ananassa). It is noted for its large berries.

Its natural range is the Pacific Ocean coasts of North and South America, and also Hawaiʻi. Migratory birds are thought to have dispersed F. chiloensis from the Pacific coast of North America to the mountains of Hawaiʻi, Chile, and Argentina.^[1]

It is an evergreen plant growing to 15–30 centimetres (5.9–12 in) tall, with glossy green trifoliate leaves, each leaflet around 5 centimetres (2.0 in) long. The flowers are white, produced in spring and early summer. The fruit is edible, red on the surface, white inside.

Its fruit is still sold as a local delicacy in some South American produce markets.

(From Wikipedia on 9.6.13)