Rubus idaeus
Common name
raspberry
Family
Rosaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
RUBIDA
Habitat
Terrestrial. Roadsides, wasteland, streambanks, scrub edges.
Features
Erect shrub to about 2 m high with dense suckering habit, stems often growing horizontally when older. Stems are armed with numerous weak prickles. Leaves usually with 2 pairs of leaflets (occasionally 3). Leaflets are ovate, with obvious white tomentum beneath and serrate margins. The inflorescence consists of a few white flowers up to 25 mm diameter. Fruit are red or orange drupelets, up to 15 mm long.
Similar taxa
The lower surface with dense white tomentum is characteristic of R. idaeus, the fruit (rasberries) are also familiar to most people.
Flowering
November, December, January
Flower colours
White
Fruiting
January, February, March
Year naturalised
1870
Origin
N. temperate, E. Asia
Etymology
rubus: From the Latin meaning bramble
Reason For Introduction
Agricultural
Reproduction
Spreads by suckers but can also set viable seed.
Seed
Seed is produced.
Dispersal
People, birds.