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Rubus moluccanus var. dendrocharis

(Focke) P Royen

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

Rubus moluccanus, the Molucca bramble or broad-leaf bramble, is a scrambling shrub or climber, native to moist eucalyptus forest and rainforest of eastern Australia, distributed from Queensland to Victoria, and to the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Malesia, Papuasia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and the Caroline Islands. Molucca bramble leaves are simple with 3–5 lobes, 2–15 cm long, and 3–10 cm wide, and the lower surface is tomentose. Flowers are pinkish red or white. Its red fruit are 1.2 cm wide.

Description

A herb or bramble.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

It is regarded as a tasty edible fruit, eaten out-of-hand, and used commercially to a limited extent in jams and sauces. It is used in traditional health care practices and is high in vitamin C.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant.

Where It Grows

Pacific, Solomon Islands,

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

Rubus moluccanus var. dendrocharis

Rubus moluccanus var. dendrocharis

GBIF

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

Rubus moluccanus var. dendrocharis: Thorny woody canes (brambles), aggregate berry made of many drupelets, berries pull easily from receptacle.

Synonyms

Rubus dendrocharis (Focke) FockeRubus hasskarlii subsp. dendrocharis Focke

References (3)

  • French, B.R., 2010, Food Plants of Solomon Islands. A Compendium. Food Plants International Inc. p 243 (As Rubus dendrocharis)
  • Focke, 1916, Bot. Jahrb. Syst 54:70
  • Royen, P., 1969, Phanerog. Monogr. 2:106 f. 28, 106

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