Northern Dewberry (Rubus flagellaris) Willdenow, 1809 |
Synonyms: Rubus alacer, Rubus ashei, Rubus cordialis, Rubus exemptus, Rubus procumbens, (see The Plant List for other synonyms), common dewberry |
Rubus flagellaris is found in central and eastern North America (from the Great Lakes and Atlantic Canada south to Texas and Florida), and northern Mexico (south to Hidalgo). It grows in a wide range of habitats, including woodlands, pine barrens, prairies, meadows, savannas, old fields, rocky outcrops, and disturbed areas; 0-1,000 m. Benefits from fires, but exhibits a low tolerance to droughts. Perennial subshrub, shrub or woody vine with biennial stems, creeping or low-arching, glabrous or densely hirsute, with few or abundant prickles; 2.5-4.5 m long; flowering stems up to 1.2 m in height. Leaves deciduous, ternate or palmately compound (3-5 ovate or elliptic leaflets with serrate margins). Flowers with 5 green sepals and 5 white petals; arranged in racemes (1-3 per inflorescence). Fruits are black or dark-purplish, with 10-40 drupelets. This species flowers in March-June. Hybridizes with Rubus allegheniensis.