Brambles - Rubus spp. - Plant & Pest Diagnostics

Bramble plant showing leaves and red fruit.

Brambles - Rubus spp.

Rubus spp.

Rosaceae (Rose family)

Life cycle

Woody perennials. A plant that lives for more than a year, has hard rather than fleshy stems, and bears buds that survive above ground in winter. Trees, shrubs, many vines, and bamboos are examples of woody perennials.

Leaves

Alternate, typically compound with three to seven leaflets with toothed margins. Undersides of leaves are white to green.

Stems

Arching/trailing stems that root when in contact with the ground to form thickets. Stems have fine bristles or stiff prickles.

Flowers and fruit

Flowers have five usually white petals; may be solitary or in clusters. Fruit are red or black berries with numerous seeds.

Reproduction

Seeds, rooting stems, root sprouts and rhizomes.

Image is of a bramble with alternate and compound leaves. They are composed of three to seven leaflets with serrate margins. — Bramble Leaf

Image of bramble fruit. Plants produce red or black aggregate fruit composed of a cluster of smaller fruits called drupes. — Bramble Fruit

Bramble stems with bristles or prickles. — Brambles Stem

The underside of a bramble leaf appears pale gray to whitish due to dense, fine hairs covering the surface — Brambles Leaf Underside

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Plant & Pest Diagnostics