Photo © Robert Moseley CLICK PHOTO FOR A LARGER IMAGE

Waldsteinia idahoensis Piper

Idaho Strawberry; Idaho Barren Strawberry

Rosaceae (Rose family)

General Description: A strongly rhizomatous, sparsely hirsute perennial with flowering stems 15-40 cm tall. The heart-shaped to nearly circular basal leaves are shallowly 3- to 5-lobed, coarsely toothed, and mostly 3-5 cm broad. The basal leaves have membranous stipules that form a broad base to the slender, 5-12 cm long petioles. Flower stalks are sparsely glandular above, and have 1 or 2 small, simple to 3-lobed bracts below the open, 2-7 flowered inflorescence. Petals are cream or yellowish in color, nearly round in shape, and 4-5 mm long. There are approximately 70 stamens and 2-7 ovularies. The filaments are persistent and stiffly erect in fruit, and the ovaries and achenes have a fine, pale pubescence. The calyx is free of the ovaries, but encloses them.

Photo © H. Wallace CLICK PHOTO FOR A LARGER IMAGE

Illustration.

Field Identification Tips: This species has a strongly rhizomatous habit, and simple leaves, few-bracted peduncles, and non-fleshy fruits.

Phenology: Flowers in June. It can be identified in the field as long as some fruits are present.

Similar Species: The basal leaves could be mistaken for a number of species in the Saxifrage family except for the presence of leaf stipules. The numerous stamens also help distinguish it from members of the Saxifrage family. The leaves can also resemble a Coptis occidentalis leaflet. It is differentiated from many other Rose family genera by having the calyx free of the ovaries, but enclosing them. Idaho barren strawberry's simple leaves readily distinguish it from many other common rosaceous forbs or low trailing shrubs in genera such as Potentilla, Fragaria, and Rubus.

Habitat: Most common in open, cool, moist forest sites, from toe to mid-slopes in the grand-fir, upper western redcedar, and subalpine fir zones. It is rare in poorly drained sites. Populations are known to occur in timber harvest areas.

Global Distribution: Nearly endemic to north-central Idaho, but with at least one population also known from adjacent Missoula County, Montana.

Idaho Distribution: Populations have been documented from four areas in north-central Idaho - around Elk City in central Idaho County; the upper Lochsa River area near Powell in the very northeastern corner of Idaho and adjacent Clearwater counties; the Kelly Creek area in central Clearwater County; and near the Shoshone Work Station in northeastern Shoshone County.

References:

Crawford, R. C. 1980. Ecological investigations and management implications of six northern Idaho endemic plants on the proposed endangered and threatened lists. Unpublished thesis, University of Idaho, Moscow. 200 pp.

Lorain (Ebrahimi), C. 1991. Rare plants on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Unpublished pamphlet prepared for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Coeur d'Alene, ID. 49 pp.