Rubus runssorensis
Engl.
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc-sa
(c) Marco Schmidt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Marco Schmidt
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc-sa
(c) Marco Schmidt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Marco Schmidt
Description
A scrambling shrub. It grows 6 m tall. It has long hanging branches. The flowering stems have hooked prickles. The leaves have leaflets with one at the end. The leaflets are broadly oval and 4-12 cm long by 3-7 cm wide. The flower petals are white to pale red. The fruit are 2 cm long and deep red but turning black as they ripen.
Edible Uses
The ripe fruits are edible.
Distribution
A tropical plant.
Where It Grows
Africa, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa,
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.
Red Baneberry
Actaea rubra
Walter Siegmund (talk)
Rubus runssorensis
Rubus runssorensis
(c) Marco Schmidt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Marco Schmidt
Red Baneberry: Short herbaceous plant (no thorns), berries on thick red stems, each berry has a single seed, compound sharply-toothed leaves.
Rubus runssorensis: Thorny woody canes (brambles), aggregate berry made of many drupelets, berries pull easily from receptacle.
References (1)
- Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 159
