Rosaceae FAMILY

Rubus occidentalis

Edibility

4/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Rubus occidentalis is a deciduous shrub producing a cluster of erect to arching, prickly, biennial stems from a woody rootstock; the plant can grow 50 - 250cm tall[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ] The stems only produce leaves, and do not flower, in their first year of growth; forming flowering branches in their second year and then dying after fruiting. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and sometimes also as a medicine. It is often cultivated as a fruit crop In Canada and the USA, occasionally also in Europe[ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ], and is sometimes grown as an ornamental[ 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEastern and Central N. America - Ontario to Quebec and New Brunswick, south to Colorado, Mississippi and Georgia

HabitatRich thickets, ravines and borders of woods[ 43 Title Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition Publication Author Fernald. M. L. Publisher American Book Co.; New York Year 1950 ISBN 0442222505 Description A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America. ], often in full shade[ 62 Title A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Publication Author Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. Publisher Van Nostrand Reinhold Year 1982 ISBN 0442222009 Description Very readable. ] and preferring moist positions[ 159 Title Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Publication Author McPherson. A. and S. Publisher Indiana University Press Year 1977 ISBN 0-253-28925-4 Description A nice pocket guide to this region of America. ]. Woodlands, fields, prairies, meadows, savannahs, in disturbed areas, dry to moist soil; at elevations up to 1,000 metres[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ].