The genus Rubus, (especially the blackberries, which are often loosely referred to as Rubus fruticosus agg.) presents some of the most difficult taxonomic problems. This is partly due to the frequency of polyploidy; also to the frequent occurrence of hybridization; and also due to apomixis, where minor differences between plants are preserved because seedlings are genetically identical to their parent. As a result, differences of opinion on the number of species to be recognized from a given region can vary tremendously (for example, a treatment by M. L. Fernald[] in 1950 recognized 205 species for the northern half of the eastern United States plus parts of southeastern Canada, whilst H. A. Gleason and A. Cronquist in 1991 recognized only 25)[]. Where possible, a relatively conservative approach is taken here[].

Common Name: Stone Bramble

General Information

Rubus saxatilis is a deciduous plant with creeping, weakly armed stems that can become more or less woody and persist, at least at their base; it can grow up to 40cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to the Pyrenees and temperate Asia to Japan.

Habitat

Stony woods and by shady rocks, especially on basic rocks[]. Birch scrub, talus slopes at elevations up to 1,300 metres in Greenland[]. Forests (usually shady), shrubby formations, bluffs, stony mountain slopes, bogs[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade[, , ]. A calcicole plant, requiring an alkaline soil if it is to thrive[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].
Rubus saxatilis is defined by its creeping, unarmed or weakly armed stems, ternate leaves, and relatively small white petals. It has very weak prickles that detach easily, sometimes giving plants an unarmed appearance. The species is known in the N. American flora area from only two sites in southern Greenland[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , ]. An acid flavour[], but agreeable to the palate[]. Used for making jam and juice[]. The red, globose fruits are 5 - 15mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

A decoction of the root is useful in the treatment of relaxed bowels and dysentery, and also in treating the spasmodic stage of whooping cough[].

The leaves are astringent; a decoction is used to treat dysentery and some types of bleeding[].

Other Uses

The plant is used in Rubus breeding programmes in Scandinavia because of its tolerance to frost and rust diseases[].

A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit[].

Propagation

Seed - requires stratification and is best sown in early autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires one month stratification at about 3°c and is best sown as early as possible in the year. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame[].
Division in early spring or just before leaf-fall in the autumn[].