Rubus alceifolius

Description

A climbing shrub. It can be 6 m tall. The thorns on the stems are 4 mm long. The leaves have 5-7 lobes. The leaves are 5-20 cm long and wide. There on hairs on the top side and very hairy underneath. There are thorns along the midrib. The leaf stalks are 2-5 cm long and have thorns along the underside. The stipules are divided and spread out. The flowers can be single or in clusters in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The flowers are white and 7-10 mm long. They have 5 petals. The fruit is an aggregate berry. It is orange or red and 2-3 cm long. There are many seeds.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. Juicy. Used to make jam. The aggregate, subglobose, red fruit is up to 18mm in diameter. Young shoots.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The roots are astringent. They are boiled and used in the treatment of dysentery. The roots and leaves are used medicinally. The plant has been used in traditional medicine in La Réunion for the treatment of fever and inflammation. Alkaloids extracted from the roots may act to protect the liver. The extracts have exhibited high activity on the breast cancer tsFT210 cell line

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in warm regions. It grows in secondary undergrowth between 500 and 1800 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Cambodia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Although found as far north as the warm temperate zone of central southern China (hardiness zone 8), the range of Rubus alceifolius extends mainly through the tropical zone of southeast Asia. Grows best in a sunny position, though older plants can tolerate considerable shade. Succeeds in a wide range of soils, preferring one that is well-drained. Rubus alceifolius is a robust, aggressive perennial scrambling shrub, spreading by long arching spiny stems, rooting at their tips, as well as by bird-dispersed seeds. It can develop dense impenetrable thickets. It is native to tropical southeast Asia but has been introduced to a number of other territories, most notably the Indian Ocean island of La Réunion, where it is one of the eight most threatening plant invaders to become established on the island and occurs not only on sites disturbed by people but also in primary forest with minimal disturbance. It can behave as a liana, climbing into the canopy of forest trees and increasing the risk of wind damage. It has been classified it as highly invasive in the tropics. In a joint project between USDA and the Weed Science Society of America it was identified among the highest-ranked potential future invasive weeds in the USA.

Propagation

Seed - germinates best if given a period of cold stratification prior to sowing in containers. Stored seed requires one month stratification at about 3°c and is best sown as early as possible in the growing season. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow on until large enough to plant out. Cuttings of half-ripe wood in a frame. Tip layering towards the end of the growing season Division just before the plant comes into new growth or as it enters dormancy.

Other Uses

Most, if not all, thicket-forming species of Rubus have good erosion control value. They usually grow satisfactorily on barren and infertile soils and invade and occupy eroded areas. They also establish quickly on burns, old fields, and logged areas. Forming extensive and nearly impenetrable thickets, they can provide excellent cover for wildlife as well as nesting sites for small birds. They are often natural pioneer species, paving the way for woodlands to develop, but they should only really be used within their native range in order to avoid any risks of them invading other habitats.

Other Information

The ripe fruit are juicy and sweet.

Notes

It can become a weed. There are about 700 Rubus species.

Dangerous Lookalikes

This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.

DEADLY

Red Baneberry

Actaea rubra

Walter Siegmund (talk)

Safe

Giant bramble

Rubus alceifolius

(c) shibb, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

Red Baneberry: Short herbaceous plant (no thorns), berries on thick red stems, each berry has a single seed, compound sharply-toothed leaves.

Giant bramble: Thorny woody canes (brambles), aggregate berry made of many drupelets, berries pull easily from receptacle.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Akar kupur, Asam susoh, Dum ngay, Dumdum, Fa lep, Gabei, Gachai, Inshumaring, Jetulipoka, Krak, Leo, Lidah kuching, Mam-xoi, Pasi payi, Sial-inu-chhu, Tampu rengat, Tikisambak

References (20)

• Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 1420
• Baishya, S. Kr., et al, 2013, Survey of Wild Edible Fruits of Dhubri District, Assam, India. Plant Archives Vol 13 (1): 155-158
• Beasley, J., 2011, Plants of Tropical North Queensland - the compact guide. Footloose publications. p 125
• Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 431
• Encycl. 6:247. 1804 "alcaefolius"

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