Rubus squarrosus

Fritsch

Leafless lawyer

Rosaceae Edible: Fruit 529 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

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Summary

Evergreen shrub reaching 0.3 m tall and spreading to 1 m wide. Produces male and female flowers on separate plants June to August; requires both sexes for seed production. Maintains foliage year-round. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils preferring well-drained conditions in mildly acid to basic soils. Grows in semi-shade or full sun and prefers moist soil. Hardy to UK zone 9.

Description

A creeping vine. The stems are like a bush of tangled barb wire. In forest locations it developed long leaves, flowers and fruit.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. The sap can also be used raw or cooked.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

New Zealand*,

Cultivation

Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade. When grown in a sunny position this plant does not flower or fruit, it also produces skeletonized leaves in such a position and looks very different from the woodland form. A large climbing plant in its native range but it is not very hardy in Britain, succeeding outdoors only in the mildest areas of the country where it makes a small shrub. Even there it is best grown against a sunny wall. A plant is growing outdoors in a sheltered position in light woodland at Cambridge Botanical Gardens, it has survived at least one cold winter outdoors there. This species is closely related to R. cissoides. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if fruit and seed is required. Fruit is seldom formed in Britain. 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.

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

Leafless lawyer

Rubus squarrosus

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

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

Synonyms

R. cissoides pauperatus.

References (3)

Crowe, A., 1997, A Field Guide to the Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Penguin. p 16
Oesterr. Bot. Z. 36:259. 1886
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/