ROSE FAMILY 



ROSACEAE 



WILD BLACKBERRY 



Rubus allegheniensis Porter 



r The Wild Blackberry occurs in dry soil from Nova Scotia 

 to Ontario and south to North Carolina and Arkansas, and 

 will likely be found in recent clearings of what was upland forest. 



Its reddish to purple 

 stems grow 2-8 feet tall 

 and are covered with 

 prickles, which for- 

 tunately prevent people 

 from gathering them for 

 bouquets. Leaves of the 

 first year's growth usu- 

 ally have 5 leaflets, 

 whereas most of those on 

 the flowering canes, 

 which are i year old, 

 have 3 leaflets. 



The starry white 

 flowers are very con- 

 spicuous and exceeding- 

 ingly common in May 

 and June. The large 

 petals are about twice 

 as long as the green 

 sepals, and stamens and 

 pistils are numerous. 

 The delicious j uicy 

 fruits mature during July and August, being successively green, 

 red and black. Blackberry jam made from these fruits has long 

 been a favorite preserve with city and country folk alike. 



The Black Raspberry or Thimbleberry, Rubus occidentalis L., 

 is also common in the state, occurring quite generally from Georgia 

 and Mississippi to Quebec and Ontario. The stems are overcast 

 with a whitish waxy bloom, and they often bend over and root 

 at the tips. The flowers may easily be distinguished from those 

 of the Blackberry because they are smaller, and the petals are 

 shorter than the sepals. The purple-black fruits ripen early in 

 July. 



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