Wineberry, Rubus
phoenicolasius
Rosaceae or Rose Family
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An arching bramble. Leaves divided into
3-7 (but usually 3) leaflets, white beneath. The terminal
leaflet is larger, with a few lobes, and a heart-shaped base.
Flowers with 5 large green sepals and 5 much smaller,
heart-shaped, white petals that are bent backwards. Fruit
a pale red raspberry that comes readily off the plant when ripe,
leaving the base (top at right). Fruit is edible and
provides valuable food for the Park's wildlife. Stems and
sepals are covered with stiff reddish, gland-tipped hairs. An invasive exotic from eastern Asia. Occasional in sunny thickets throughout the Park. Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) is similar, but the flowers have larger petals, the fruits are purple-black, and the stems have strong, hooked thorns. Common blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) also has larger flowers and strong thorns, and the purple-black berry is elongated and harder to pick. Northern dewberry (R. flagellaris) is a low, trailing shrub with hooked thorns and black berries. |
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