Rubus tsangorum

Hand-Mazz.

Rosaceae Edible: Fruit

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

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President and Fellows of Harvard College

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President and Fellows of Harvard College

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Summary

A deciduous shrub reaching 1 m tall with hermaphrodite flowers blooming July-August and seeds ripening August-September. Grows in light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils with good drainage. Tolerates mildly acid to basic pH and can grow in semi-shade or full sun. Prefers moist soil.

Description

A shrub or creeper. It grows up to 1.5 m tall. It can have sparse needle-like prickles. The leaves are simple and 6-14 cm across. There can be 5-20 flowers in a group at the ends of branches or in the axils of leaves. The flowers are 1-2 cm across. The petals are white. The fruit is aggregate and red.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a warm temperate plant. It grows in SE China between 200-1,200 m above sea level.

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. 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 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. Cuttings of half-ripe wood can be taken in July or August and rooted 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 can be obtained from the fruit.

Production

In China plants flower in May to July and fruit 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 tsangorum

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

References (4)

Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 1423
Flora of China @ efloras.org Volume 9
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Symb. sin. 7:485. 1933 "tsangorum"