Phil Bendle Collection:Rubus fruticosus (Blackberry)

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Subfamily: Rosoideae
Tribe: Rubeae
Genus: Rubus
Latin Name: Rubus fruticosus
Common Name: Blackberry

Blackberry is a very prickly, rambling vine. Grows in thickets <2m tall formed by arching stems or canes 7m long. It has dark green shiny leaves which are normally shed in winter. It has pink/white flowers (November to April) and produces edible black berries. It develops dense canopy cover in short time. Dominates native flora in swamps and pasture use and access are reduced. It spreads vegetatively via lateral suckering & from daughter plants. Seeds are spread by birds & waterways. The problem with blackberry is that it has an extensive rhizome system which can be difficult to get rid of. While the top part of the plant may be removed, the problem still exists if the rhizomes are left in the ground, hence blackberry control can be difficult. Dense thickets of blackberry of up to 2 meters tall can prevent stock and human access as well as providing refuges for other pests like possums and rabbits.

Flowering January.

Flowering October

The berries of  Rubus fruticosus. When black the berry is fully ripe

Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information     http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

 

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