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: Wild Raspberry

General Information

Rubus calycinus is a low-growing perennial plant with creeping, semi-woody main stems up to 3 metres long that root at the nodes and form dense carpets of growth on the ground. The fruit is produced on erect, sparsely branched or unbranched lateral stems up to 20cm tall that grow from the leaf nodes[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its fruit, which is used locally.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - Himalayas to S.W. China, Myanmar and Indonesia.

Habitat

Moist shady banks and forests in the Himalayas, at elevations from 2,100 - 3,000 metres[, ]. Slopes, forests and forest margins in southern China; at elevations from 1,200 - 3,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade[, , ].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. The globose, red to dark red fruit is up to 14mm in diameter[]. It is possibly edible[] - it certainly is not poisonous[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

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[].
Tip layering in July. Plant out in autumn.
Division in early spring or just before leaf-fall in the autumn[].