Rubus argutus

Botanical Description

Rubus argutus is a deciduous shrub producing each year a cluster of erect to arching, prickly, biennial stems from a woody rootstock; the stems can be 100 - 300cm long. 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 can spread rapidly to form thickets. The plant is commonly harvested from the wild for use as a food and a medicine. It is sometimes cultivated for its fruit in N. America, where it is a parent of several cultivars[ 142 Title Plants Consumed by Man. Publication Author Brouk. B. Publisher Academic Press Year 1975 ISBN 0-12-136450-x Description Readable but not very comprehensive. , 171 Title Economic Botany. Publication Author Hill. A. F. Publisher The Maple Press Year 1952 ISBN - Description Not very comprehensive, but it is quite readable and goes into some detail about the plants it does cover. , 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. , 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ]. It can be used within its native range to stabilize soils and restore native woodland. Rubus argutus has been declared a noxious terrestrial weed in various countries, including New Zealand and Japan - in Hawaii it is listed among the 12 most significant environmental weeds It is capable of spreading both via seed and vegetative growth and competes with native vegetation. It spreads most rapidly with disturbance; seedling emergence is stimulated by soil disturbance and vegetative growth is much more rapid if the canopy is removed. Even when above-ground shoots are killed by cutting or spraying, it may re-sprout from well-developed roots. While it is effective in recolonizing areas with a moderate or opened canopy, growth of the plant is inhibited by deep shade[ 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ].