Rubus parviflorus subsp. velutinus
(W. H. Brewer) Roy L. Taylor & MacBryde
Western thimbleberry
UCSC Herbarium - Kenneth S. Norris Center for Natural History, University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC-UCSC)
UCSC Herbarium - Kenneth S. Norris Center for Natural History, University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC-UCSC)
UCSC Herbarium - Kenneth S. Norris Center for Natural History, University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC-UCSC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit
Thimbleberry fruits are flatter and softer (more fragile) than raspberries, but similarly have many small seeds. Because the fruit is so soft, it does not pack or ship well, so thimbleberries are rarely cultivated commercially. Wild thimbleberries can be eaten raw or dried (the water content of ripe thimbleberries is quite variable), and can be made into a jam which is sold as a local delicacy in some parts of their range, notably in the Keweenaw Peninsula of Upper Michigan.
Dangerous Lookalikes
This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.
Red Baneberry: Short herbaceous plant (no thorns), berries on thick red stems, each berry has a single seed, compound sharply-toothed leaves.
Western thimbleberry: Thorny woody canes (brambles), aggregate berry made of many drupelets, berries pull easily from receptacle.
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant.
North America, USA,
How to Identify
A shrub.
Medicinal Uses
Many parts of the plant were used in folk medicine by Native Americans. A tea made from its leaves or roots was thought to be a treatment for wounds, burns, acne, or digestive problems; a tea made from the canes was thought to be useful as a diuretic. As of 2019, there is no evidence from modern clinical research or practice that R. parviflorus is effective for treating any disease. Thimbleberry leaves can be used in place of toilet paper when in the wilderness.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Rubus parviflorus, the fruit of which is commonly called the thimbleberry or redcap, is a species of Rubus with large hairy leaves and no thorns. The species is native to northern temperate regions of North America. It produces red aggregate fruit similar in appearance to a raspberry; although edible, it is too soft for major commerce. It is cultivated as an ornamental.
Names & Synonyms
References (1)
- Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 492
More from Rosaceae
