Rubus rosaefolius Sm.

• Authority

  Britton, Nathaniel L. Flora Borinqueña.

• Family

  Rosaceae

• Scientific Name

  Rubus rosaefolius Sm.

• Description

  Species Description - There are a number of kinds of plants brought by man from one part of the world to another, for various reasons of utility or ornamentation, which have so completely and abundantly naturalized themselves in their new homes as to have become very interesting elements of the wild vegetation. In some cases, such as the introduction of Prickly Pears or Tunas (species of the Cactus genus Opuntia) into Australia, these foreigners have become, unfortunately, menaces to Agriculture. Through being separated from their natural insect or fungus enemies they have multiplied exceedingly, under favorable climactic conditions, and have become difficult, or impossible to eradicate. In other cases they are beneficial, or, at least harmless, and to this category the plant here illustrated belongs; it is an Asiatic species of the large genus Rubus, which has most of its species in the north temperate zone, but a few occur in the tropics; one is indigenous in the mountains of Porto Rico. Rubus rosaefolius is superabundant locally in moist or wet, upland parts of Porto Rico, and produces a food-fruit which is extensively collected and eaten fresh or preserved, under the Spanish name Fresas, although it is a Raspberry, not a Strawberry. We have no accurate knowledge as to the date of its introduction into Porto Rico; it is now widely distributed in many West Indian Islands, and also in parts of South America and in Hawaii. There is evidence that it grew in Guadeloupe prior to 1827; it may, therefore have reached Porto Rico many years ago. Rubus is the ancient name of the European Bramble, derived from the Latin ruber, meaning red. Its species are various, and very difficult to classify, authors differing widely as to the number of distinct ones; about 250 may be a conservative estimate. Their flowers are 5-parted, with many stamens, and the small, usually many ovaries are borne on an elevated receptacle, ripening into an aggregate fruit. Rubus rosaefolius is a weak, slender shrub, about 1 meter high or lower, armed with small prickles. Its thin leaves are compound, composed of from 3 to 15 rather strongly veined, broad, toothed, pointed leaflets, the end one stalked. The flowers are solitary or 2 or 3 together, from 2.5 to nearly 4 centimeters broad, borne on slender, hairy, usually prickly stalks; the sepals are narrow and long-pointed, as long as or longer than the broad, rounded white petals, the very numerous stamens much shorter. The red or sometimes orange fruit varies from globular to thimble-shaped, and from 1 to nearly 2 centimeters in diameter. The flowers are sometimes double, and this form of the plant is occasionally planted for ornament in gardens. Our illustration was first used in "Addisonia", plate 446, December 1928.

• Discussion

  Mountain raspberry Fresas Family rosaefolius J. E. Smith, Plantae Icones Ineditae, plate 60, 1791.