Rubus calycinus

Wall. ex D. Don

Wild raspberry

Rosaceae Edible: Fruit 6 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

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Summary

Rubus calycinus is a species of flowering plant in the rose family. Is a low-growing perennial plant with creeping, semi-woody main stems up to 3 metres long that root at the nodes and form dense carpets of growth on the ground. The fruit is produced on erect, sparsely branched or unbranched lateral stems up to 20cm tall that grow from the leaf nodes.

Description

A shrub. It has creeping somewhat woody stems 3 m long. They form roots at the nodes. The fruit are dark red and 14 mm across.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The red to dark red fruit, up to 14mm in diameter, can be eaten raw or cooked. It is possibly edible — it is certainly not poisonous.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw or cooked.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in moist shady banks. In the Himalayas it grows between 2,200-2,800 m altitude. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim,

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade.

Propagation

Seed requires stratification and is best sown in early autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed needs one month of stratification at around 3°C and should be sown as early in the year as possible. Prick out seedlings when large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame, then plant out into permanent positions in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood can be taken in July or August in a frame. Tip layering in July; plant out in autumn. Division can be done in early spring or just before leaf-fall in autumn.

Other Uses

A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit.

Notes

There are about 250 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

Wild raspberry

Rubus calycinus

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

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

Synonyms

Rubus lobatus Wall.

Also Known As

Bhalu aisilo, Bhuin ainselu, Bin aselu

References (7)

Fern, K., 2012, Tropical Species Database http://theferns.info/tropical/ Manandhar, N.P., 2002, Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press. Portland, Oregon. p 403
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Prodr. fl. nepal. 235. 1825
Sundriyal, M., et al, 1998, Wild edibles and other useful plants from the Sikkim Himalaya, India. Oecologia Montana 7:43-54
Sundriyal, M., et al, 2004, Dietary Use of Wild Plant Resources in the Sikkim Himalaya, India. Economic Botany 58(4) pp 626-638

Show all 7 references