Operation Plymstraw!

This weekend saw the planting of fifty Plymouth strawberry Fragaria vesca var. muricata plants back in their native habitat - the damp deciduous woodlands of Plymouth. The Plymouth area is home to many rare, local and unusual plant species (Pyrus cordata, Carduus pycnocephalus, Silene vulgaris ssp vulgaris to name a few), but the Plymouth strawberry is surely the strangest of it's fruits. Imagine a common woodland strawberry (not the chunky munchy Elsanta types, no the lovely little fragrant fruit which frequent our woodland rides), well this one, while similar, aint so lovely. No pure white petals here, no tasty summer treats - all floral parts have reverted to leaves (green leafy flowers) and the fruits are covered in green spines!

Fragaria vesca var. muricata

The original plant was found a few centuaries back by the famous plantsman John Tradescant, who rescued it from the clutches of a child bent on burning it as the Devil's fruit. He subsequently placed its progeny in nigh on every botanic garden in Europe.. where it slowly died out un-noticed. Fast forward a few hundred years and a couple of botany students at Plymouth Uni (me & Jessie) wonder whatever became of that particular local botanical cutiosity. The original site has long since succumbed to the sea of concrete and grey stone that is Plymouth city and no live plants could be found in any botanic gardens. Fortunately a few colonies have survived the years in private gardens, mainly in the Plymouth area, and plants of these were sought out and propagated..

The aim of 'Operation Plymstraw' is to increase the prevailence of this local variety within suitible habitat within Plymouth City district. On Sunday we planted 50 plants in eight secret and not-so-secret sites throughout Plymouth and its remaining wooded areas. It was surprisingly difficult to find sites which perfectly fitted it's various perculiarities, (which we have come to know and love over the propagation period), but we're confident that at least some will thrive. With luck some will soon establish good colonies so, I hope, it can truely be said to be once more part of the wonderful Plymouth flora.

If you know of any Plymouth Strawberry colonies, or would like a plant to start your own, please make contact.