Rubus armeniacus

Botanical Description

Rubus armeniacus is an evergreen shrub producing each year a cluster of very vigorous, spiny, arching, usually biennial stems from a woody rootstock; the stems can be 6 - 12 metres long[ 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). ]. Although it is a blackberry (usually with biennial stems), the stems of this species are often perennial and can fruit for more than one year[ 50 Title Flora Europaea Publication Author ? Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1964 ISBN - Description An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader. ]. The plant may lose its leaves in very cold winters[ 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). ]. The plant has been widely cultivated in temperate zones throughout the world for its relatively large, sweet-tasting fruits[ 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). ]. Rubus armeniacus was introduced outside of its native range as a cultivated crop for the production of sweet fruits. It soon escaped cultivation and has since naturalized in many temperate areas around the world. It can reproduce both vegetatively and by the production of seed, which can be transported to new locations after ingestion by birds. This species is highly invasive and can form impenetrable thickets which have a negative impact on native flora and fauna. In addition to this, it has been reported as highly invasive in Central Europe, and has been identified as one of the 10 most problematic invasive plants or bryophytes in Sweden, and noted as a threat to vegetation in Pannonian sandy habitats in Hungary[ 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). ].