Rubus archboldianus

Merr. & L. M. Perry

Rosaceae Edible: Fruit

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

gbif· cc-by

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

gbif· cc-by

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

gbif· cc-by

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Description

A climbing or scrambling shrub. The stems are up to 5 m long. The prickles are 2 mm long and curved. Often they are purplish. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaf stalks are 1-4 cm long. The leaflets are oval and the side ones are 5.5 cm long by 4 cm wide. The edges of the leaves have saw like teeth. The leaves are leathery. The flowerings stalks have 1 or 2 flower stalks below the end flower. These have 1 or 2 flowers each. The petals are red. The fruit or berry is 3 cm across made up of many small fruit. The fruit is dark red. The fruit are edible.

Edible Uses

The fruit are eaten.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. In mountain forests from 1,800 to 3,600 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG,

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.