Shade-loving blackberry
Rubus mesogaeus

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. The branches are long and slender. They have a dense covering and a few prickles. The leaves have 3 leaflets and the end leaflet is broadly oval. It is 6-7 cm long by 5-6 cm wide. There are shallow lobes above the middle. The side leaflets are smaller. The flowers are white or pink and 1 cm across. They are in loose clusters. The fruit are blue to black and 1 cm across.

There are about 250 Rubus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In the Himalayas it grows between 2,200-2,800 m altitude. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Japan, Nepal, Northeastern India, Sikkim, Russia

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

In China plants flower April to May and fruit July to August.

Its other names

Local names

Hei mao zi

Synonyms

Rubus niveus var. microcarpa Hook. f.;