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:

General Information

Rubus setosus is a deciduous shrub, producing each year a cluster of erect to arching (rarely creeping), slender, prickly, biennial stems from a woody rootstock; the plant is usually 20 - 100cm tall, occasionally to 150cm[]. The stems only produce leaves, and do not flower, in their first year of growth; forming flowering branches in their second year and then dying after fruiting. The stems do not form roots at their nodes or their tips[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Central and eastern N. America - Ontario to Newfoundland, south to Minnesota, Illinois and Maryland

Habitat

Open woodlands, savannahs, prairies, meadows, disturbed areas, dry to wet soil; at elevations up to 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	0.80 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus are generally easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade[, , ].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].
Rubus setosus is identified by erect to arching, rarely creeping, not tip-rooting, terete primocanes, always setose but variable in density, and deciduous primocane leaves that are often palmately compound with five leaflets. Cultivated plants sometimes alternate from erect to creeping (or vice-versa) in successive years, depending on changing soil conditions[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. The black, globose, fruit is around 7 - 15mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

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[].