Rubus eriocarpus

Liebm.

White raspberry

Rosaceae Edible: Fruit 10 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

iNaturalist· cc-by

Summary

Rubus eriocarpus is a Mesoamerican species of brambles in the rose family. It grows in Central America and in central and southern Mexico, from Panama to Puebla. Rubus eriocarpus is a prickly, hairless shrub. Leaves are palmately compound with 3 or 5 leaflets, the undersides appearing whitish because of a coating of wax. Flowers are white. Fruits are cylindrical or spherical.

Description

A shrub in the Rosaceae family found at high altitudes in tropical Costa Rica, producing white raspberries.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. Of very good quality. The red-purple to dark purple fruit is 12 - 20mm long and 8 - 15mm wide, sometimes larger.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten. They are also used to make drinks.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in high altitudes in Costa Rica,

Where It Grows

Central America, Costa Rica*, Mexico,

Cultivation

Species in this genus are generally easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade.

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.

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

White raspberry

Rubus eriocarpus

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

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

Also Known As

Mora, Sakil makum

References (4)

Kapelle, M., et al, 2000, Useful plants within a Campesino Community in a Costa Rican Montane Cloud Forest. Mountain Research and Development, 20(2): 162-171
Mansfield's Encyclopedia of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops p 424
Segura, S., et al, 2018, The edible fruit species in Mexico. Genet Resour Crop Evol (2018) 65:1767–1793
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew