Arching woody shrub or "cane" with small, weak thorns.  Leaves with three coarsely toothed leaflets, paler beneath.  Flowers five-parted, white.  Fruit a juicy, edible, berry, turning black through red as it ripens. Ripe berries separate easily from the stalk; the picked berry has a distinctive convex, bowl shape and leaves behind a concave pillow. 

Occasional in open areas along Wildwood Drive and under the power line.

Symmetrical 5-parted white flowers and thorns are common in the Rose Family.  Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) has more than 3 leaflets.  Common blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) has larger flowers and the fruit is elongated and does not separate readily.  Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius) has many stiff hairs instead of thorns, and a pale red berry.  Northern dewberry (Rubus flagellaris) is a low, creeping plant.