Fragaria × Comarum hybrids

There are several commercially important hybrids between Fragaria and Comarum species in existence. A name for Fragaria × Comarum is available as × Comagaria Büscher & G.H. Loos in Veroff. [Bohumer Bot. Ver. 2(1): 6. 2010], along with the combination × Comagaria rosea (Mabb.) Büscher & G.H. Loos.

Fragaria x Comarum 'Frel' Pink Panda
Flower of 'Frel' Pink Panda

The first-generation hybrids have been recorded as heptaploid, i.e. with seven sets of chromosomes; four sets of chromosomes came from their octoploid strawberry parent, and three from their hexaploid Comarum parent.[1]

Commercial cultivars

All commercial cultivars resemble strawberries more closely than they do Comarum. They are all vigorous, and produce runners profusely.

  • 'Frel', also known as Pink Panda,[2] is a patented hybrid strawberry that is the result of crossing the garden strawberry Fragaria × ananassa subsp. cuneifolia (syn. Fragaria grandiflora)[3] with Marsh Cinquefoil, Comarum palustre (formerly Potentilla palustris), followed by backcrossing to strawberry.[4] The plant is grown for ornamental purposes. It has bright pink flowers (in contrast to the white flowers of naturally occurring strawberry species) and it produces a small number of strawberries.[4]
  • 'Franor' (marketed as Red Ruby) developed as a sport of 'Frel', and features a more intense red color in the flowers.[5]
  • 'Gerald Straley' is a seedling of 'Frel', selected at Heronswood in Washington for its bright red flowers. It was named after the former curator of the University of British Columbia Botanical Gardens.
  • 'Lipstick' is a variety developed in 1966 from a cross between the Marsh Cinquefoil, Comarum palustre and the Garden Strawberry, Fragaria × ananassa.[6] It has deep pink to red flowers, and slightly larger, more flavorful berries than 'Frel'. It, too, is grown for ornamental purposes.
'Lipstick' strawberry bloom
'Lipstick' strawberry plant with runners

References
  1. D. J. Mabberley 2002. Potentilla and Fragaria (Rosaceae) reunited. Telopea 9(4): 793-801.
  2. "Missouri Botanical Gardens, Gardens and Gardening".
  3. "ITIS report Fragaria grandiflora".
  4. "United States Patent PP7,598, Fragaria 'Frel'".
  5. "United States Patent PP12,169, Fragaria plant named 'Franor'".
  6. "Fragaria 'Lipstick'".
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