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 tephrodes is a deciduous shrub producing each year a cluster of sparsely-prickly, biennial, scrambling stems from a woody rootstock; the plants can be 300 - 400cm tall[]. The stems only produce leaves in their first year, producing flower and fruit-bearing branches in their second year of growth and then dying after fruiting. Plants can form dense thickets in the wild.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southeastern China.

Habitat

Mountainous regions and summits, foothills, slopes, roadsides, thickets, montane valleys; at elevations up to 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	3.50 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects
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[, , ].
When growing in acidic soils, the leaves gain brown markings along the veins.
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. A reasonable flavour. The purplish black, globose fruit is 10 - 15mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

The leaves and the root are astringent and styptic. Stimulates the circulation[].
A decoction of the leaves and roots is used in the treatment of amenorrhoea, diarrhoea, dysentery, myalgia etc[].

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[].