142 KOSACE^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. — Kocky hills, and old, neglected fields. "Widely distributed, 

 but much less common than the preceding. 



Rubus trivia! is 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. 



Stems 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 OCcidentaSis Linne. — 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. strigosus and R. occidentalis is permitted by the Pharmacopoeia to be used 

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



Constituents. — Blackberry root contains tannin as its chief and most 

 important constituent. 



Easpberries 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. 



