Rubus flagellaris
| Rubus flagellaris | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 7' |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Rubus flagellaris (common name: northern dewberry)
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 is best sown as early as possible in the year. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[1].
Tip layering in July. Plant out in autumn.
Division in early spring or just before leaf-fall in the autumn[1].
Cultivation: Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade[2][3][1].
A very polymorphic species[4], it is sometimes cultivated for its edible fruit and there are some named varieties[2][5][6].
This species is a blackberry with biennial stems, it produces a number of new stems each year from the perennial rootstock, these stems fruit in their second year and then die[1].
The plant produces apomictic flowers, these produce fruit and viable seed without fertilization, each seedling is a genetic copy of the parent[1].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[1].
Range: Eastern N. America.
Habitat: Dry fields, openings and borders of thickets[4] in slightly acid soils[7].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked in pies, preserves etc[8][9][10][11][5][6][12]. A rich flavour[4]. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter[1].
Young shoots - peeled and eaten raw[6]. They are harvested as they come through the ground in spring and whilst they are still young and tender.
The dried leaves make a fine tea[6].
Medicinal: The root is astringent, stimulant and tonic[12]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea, venereal disease and rheumatism[12]. An infusion has been used as a wash in the treatment of piles[12]. The root has been chewed as a treatment for a coated tongue[12].
The leaves are astringent[12]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea[12].
Usage: A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit[13].
A black dye is obtained from the green twigs[14].
Pollinators: Insects, apomixy
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Hill, Albert. Economic Botany. The Maple Press, 1952.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ McPherson, Alan and Sue McPherson. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press, 1977.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.
- ↑ Coffey, Timothy. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File, 1993.