142 ROSACE^E. 



than the preceding. Leaves 3-foliate, or pedately 5- to 7-foliate ; leaflets 

 oval or ovate-lanceolate, mostly acuminate, thin, nearly smooth, sharply 

 cut-serrate. Flowers racemose, appearing in May ; the fruit ripens in July 

 and August. 



Habitat Rocky hills, and old, neglected fields. Widely distributed, 

 but much less common than the preceding. 



Rubus trivialis Michaux. Low-Bush Blackberry. 



Description. Calyx : teeth reflexed. Corolla : petals broadly obovate, 

 more than twice the length of the calyx, white. Fruit large. 



Stem shrubby, procumbent, armed with bristles and prickles. Leaves 

 3-foliate or pedately 5-foliate, evergreen, coriaceous, nearly glabrous ; leaf- 

 lets ovate-oblong or lanceolate, sharply serrate. Peduncles 1- to 3-flow- 

 ered ; flowers large, appearing in March ; the fruit ripens in May. 



Habitat. In sandy soil from Virginia to Florida and westward. 



Rubus strigOSUS Michaux. Red Raspberry . 



Description. Calyx spreading. Corolla : petals erect, about as long as 

 the calyx, white. Fruit an aggregation of drupes, which falls from the 

 spongy, conical receptacle at maturity ; light red, sweet and juicy. 



Steins biennial, upright, armed with stiff bristles. Leaves 3- to 5-foliate ; 

 leaflets oblong-ovate, acuminate, cut-serrate, whitish-downy underneath. 

 Peduncles axillary and terminal ; the flowers appear from June forward, 

 and the fruit ripens throughout the summer. 



Habitat. Common everywhere along the borders of woods and in old 

 fields. 



Rubus OCCl'dentalis Linnc. Black Raspberry, Thimbleberry. 



Description. Calyx : teeth reflexed. Corolla: petals shorter than the. 

 sepals, white. Fruit similar to the preceding, but composed of smaller 

 drupes, purple-black, sweet and juicy. 



Stems biennial, recurved, armed with hooked prickles. Leaves 3-foli- 

 ate, rarely 5-foliate ; leaflets ovate, acuminate, doubly serrate, whitish- 

 downy underneath. Flowers in axillary and terminal clusters, appearing 

 in May ; the fruit ripens in June and July. 



Habitat. Common along old fences and in clearings from Canada to 

 Georgia and westward. 



Parts Used. The bark of the root of R. villosus, R. Canadensis, and R. 

 trivialis official name : Rubus United States Pharmacopoeia. The fruit of 

 R. stricjosus and R. occidentalis is permitted by the Pharmacopoeia to be used 

 instead of that of the official species, R. Idceus Linne. 



Constituents. Blackberry root contains tannin as its chief and most 

 important constituent. 



Raspberries and blackberries are among the most important of indigen- 

 ous small fruits. Though possessed of no strictly medicinal virtues, the 

 former are used in the preparation of a syrup which is employed as a pleas- 

 ant vehicle. 



