Perennial herbs, with trailing branches often rooting at the nodes (leafy runners), 3-foliolate long-petioled leaves and axillary slender-peduncled yellow perfect flowers. Calyx 5-parted, 5-bracteolate, the bractlets larger than the calyx-segments and alternating with them, dentate or incised, often regarded like those in Fragaria and Potcntilla as an exterior calyx. Petals 5, obovate. Stamens numerous. Pistils numerous, borne on a hemispheric receptacle which greatly enlarges but does not become pulpy in fruit. Achenes superficial on the receptacle. [In honor of A. N. Duchesne, French botanist.]

Two species, natives of southern Asia, the following typical.

1. Duchesriea Indica (Andr.) Focke. Mock Or Indian Strawberry

Fig. 2251

Fragaria indica Andr. Bot. Rep. pl. 479. 1807.

D, indica Focke, in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pfl. Fam. 33: 33. 1888.

Silky-pubescent, tufted and forming leafy runners, dark green. Leaflets obovate or broadly oval, rather thin, crenate or dentate, obtuse at the apex, rounded or narrowed at the base, the terminal one generally cuneate; peduncles equalling or longer than the leaves; flowers 6"-12" broad; bractlets of the calyx dentate or incised, exceeding the ovate or lanceolate acuminate spreading calyx-lobes; fruit red, ovoid or globose, insipid.

In waste places, southern New York and Pennsylvania to Florida and Missouri. Also in California, Bermuda and Jamaica. Naturalized or adventive from India. April-July.