Strawberry Biogeography, Genetics and Systematics

Based on chromosome numbers, branching of stolons, sex expression, pollen morphology and the geographic distribution, the species of the genus Fragaria and their phylogeny are discussed. Two groups can be distinguished. A Eurasian-American group with originally six diploid species, one tetraploid, one hexaploid and all octoploid species and a Southeast-East Asian group with four diploid species which are ancestral to four tetraploid species. A few remaining species can still not be attached to one of these groups.