Rubus lasiostylus

Focke

Rosaceae Edible: Fruit 4 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

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President and Fellows of Harvard College

gbif· cc0

President and Fellows of Harvard College

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Summary

A deciduous shrub reaching 1.8 m (6ft) tall. Hardy to UK zone 7. Flowers in June with seeds ripening July to August. Hermaphrodite flowers pollinated by insects. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils preferring well-drained conditions. Grows in mildly acid, neutral, or mildly alkaline pH. Suitable for semi-shade or full sun in moist soil.

Description

A shrub. It grows 2 m tall. The branches are brown and have needle-like curved prickles. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk and one at the end. There are usually 3 leaflets but can be up to 7. The leaflets are broadly oval and 3-10 cm long by 3-9 cm wide. They have a dense grey coating underneath. There can be several flowers at the ends of the branches and these are 2-3 cm across. The fruit is aggregate and red. It is 2 cm across.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It is palatable with an agreeable acid taste, though considered valueless. The red fruit measures 15–20mm in diameter.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows on the edges of forests between 1,000-3,000 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, China,

Cultivation

Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade. This species is a raspberry with biennial stems, it produces a number of new stems each year from the perennial rootstock, these stems fruit in their second year and then die. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation

Seed requires stratification and is best sown in early autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires one month stratification at about 3°c and should be sown as early as possible in the year. 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. Division is possible in early spring or just before leaf-fall in autumn.

Other Uses

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

Production

In China plants flower in May to June and fruit in July and August.

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

Rubus lasiostylus

President and Fellows of Harvard College

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

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

References (4)

Flora of China @ efloras.org Volume 9
Hooker's Icon. Pl. 20: t. 1951. 1891
JSTOR Global Plants edible
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/