ROSACEAE 109 



dark green above but white-tomentose beneath. Lateral leaflets 

 are ovate and somewhat smaller than the terminal ones. 



The flowers are grouped in short racemes which are terminal 

 or arise from the upper axils. The peduncles and pedicels are 

 finely tomentose and armed with small recurved prickles. The 

 oblong or conical fruit is commonly dark red but sometimes 

 yellowish to whitish. It is variable in quality and size, but 

 usually edible. 



Distribution. — This is the common cultivated Red Rasp- 

 berry-. It is native in Eurasia and has been widely introduced 

 into North America as a cultivated plant valuable for its fruit. 

 In Illinois, as elsewhere, it has escaped to some extent from 

 cultivation, and one may expect to encounter it in any part of 

 the state. 



RUBUS STRIGOSUS Michaux 

 American Red Raspberry Common Wild Raspberry 



The American Red Raspberry, fig. 24. a shrub which grows 

 1 to 6 feet high, has more or less bristly, but not tomentose, 

 brownish or reddish stems. The leaves on new shoots are pin- 

 natelv 5-foliate and those on the flowering branches are 3-foliate. 

 The ovate terminal leaflet is 2 to 4 inches long, doubly serrate, 

 abruptly acuminate at the apex, rounded or cordate at the base, 

 and sometimes 3-lobed. Lateral leaflets are obliquely ovate and 

 smaller. The leaf blades are dark green and short-hairy to 

 glabrate above but white-tomentose beneath. The narrow stip- 

 ules are deciduous. 



The flowers are borne in terminal and axillary, few-flowered 

 racemes on slender pedicels which are curving in fruit. The 

 petals are white, and the sepals are spreading, acuminate, mostly 

 hispid, and velvety. The fruit when ripe is elongate-hemispheric, 

 bright red or, rarely, white, and edible. 



Distribution. — The American Red Raspberry generally 

 prefers moist soil rich in humus and is therefore found often 

 in old bogs and marshes that are being invaded by timber. It 

 ranges from Newfoundland westward to British Columbia and 

 southward to Virginia and Wyoming. In Illinois, it is undoubt- 

 edly much more widespread than the records for Joliet, Cass 

 and Hancock counties indicate. Taxonomically, it is perhaps 

 better to regard the American Red Raspberry as a variety. 



