Rubus simplex

Focke

Rosaceae Edible: Fruit

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

gbif· cc0

President and Fellows of Harvard College

gbif· cc0

President and Fellows of Harvard College

gbif· cc0

President and Fellows of Harvard College

Summary

A deciduous hermaphrodite shrub reaching 0.5 m tall with insect-pollinated flowers appearing June to July, seeds ripening August to September. Grows in light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Tolerates mildly acid to basic and mildly alkaline pH. Suitable for semi-shade or full sun and prefers moist soil.

Description

An erect shrub with creeping rhizomes. It keeps growing from year to year. The aerial stems are woody and 25-30 cm high. They have prickles. They do not have branches. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The end leaflet is largest and broadly sword shaped and 5-10 cm long by 1-5 cm wide. It has prickles on the midrib underneath. There are small teeth along the edge. The side leaflets are smaller. The flowers are near the ends of the shoots and in groups of 2 or 3. They are 2 cm across. The fruit are red.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. The orange-red fruit measures 7–9 mm in diameter.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It is native to western China growing in forests at altitudes of 1,200-2,500 m altitude. In Sichuan.

Where It Grows

Asia, China,

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 the 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. 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 in the year as possible. Prick out seedlings when large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame, then plant into permanent positions in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood can be taken in July/August in a frame. Tip layer in July and 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.

Production

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

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 simplex

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

References (5)

Flora of China @ efloras.org Volume 9
Hooker's Icon. Pl. 20: t. 1948. 1890
Hu, Shiu-ying, 2005, Food Plants of China. The Chinese University Press. p 461
JSTOR Global Plants edible
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/