Mysore Black raspberry
Rubus niveus

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A very spiny scrambling shrub. It grows 1-2.5 m tall. Branches are purple or green. The leaves have 5 to 9 leaflets along the leaf stalk. The edges are toothed and the lower surface is whitish. The fruit occur in clusters near the ends of branches. They change from dark red to black at maturity. They are 0.8-1.2 cm across. They have a good flavour.

There are about 250 Rubus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They are abundant in areas of shrub from 1300 to 1600 m. They occur in Bontoc and Benguet, Mountain Province in the Philippines. In China it grows between 500-2800 m altitude on slopes and mountain valleys in S China. In Zimbabwe it grows between 1,260-1,890 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan. It occurs in the Western Ghats in India.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Bhutan, Brazil, China, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kashmir, Kenya, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Thailand, Tibet, USA, Vietnam, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are sour. They are also used for jam, juice, tarts, and jellies.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from root offshoots or seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Aakhe, Ainselu, Ancha, Balloo, Beri, Bla-mrep, Ceylon raspberry, Dum tuyet, Gowriphal, Gunacha, Hill raspberry, Hmu-pa, Hong pao ci teng, Hongpai, Huftoo, Kala hinure, Kala hisalu, Kalianchhi, Kali hinsar, Kalo ainselu, Kalo aselu, Kandiari, Karer, Katrya anselu, Kiblupum, Lal aakhre, Leogala, Mbolin-momoniyl, Pilai, Tu-lu-tse-gong, Woolly-berried bramble, Yokpo pongkung, Yongde

Synonyms

Rubus albescens Roxb.; Rubus distans D.Don; Rubus foliolosus D. Don; Rubus horsfieldii Miq.; Rubus lasiocarpus Sm.; Rubus micranthus D. Don; Rubus pauciflorus D.Don; Rubus pedunculosus D. Don; Rubus pinnatus D.Don; Rubus rosaeflorus Roxb.; Rubus bonatii H. Léveillé; Rubus boudieri H. Léveillé; Rubus incanus Sasaki ex Y. C. Liu & Yang; Rubus lasiocarpus var. ectenothyrsus Cardot; Rubus lasiocarpus var. micranthus (D. Don) J. D. Hooker; Rubus longistylus H. Léveillé; Rubus mairei H. Léveillé; Rubus micranthus D. Don; Rubus myosorensis F. Heyne; Rubus niveus var. micranthus (D. Don) H. Hara; Rubus pyi Léveillé; Rubus tongchouanensis H. Léveillé;