Rubus alexeterius — Edible Plant Database

What to Eat

Edible parts: Fruit

Yellow fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, measuring 12–15 mm diameter with some fruits reaching 20 mm.

Dangerous Lookalikes

This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.

DEADLY

Red Baneberry

Actaea rubra

SAFE

Rubus alexeterius

Red Baneberry: Short herbaceous plant (no thorns), berries on thick red stems, each berry has a single seed, compound sharply-toothed leaves.

Rubus alexeterius: Thorny woody canes (brambles), aggregate berry made of many drupelets, berries pull easily from receptacle.

Where to Find It

In the Himalayas it grows between 2,400-2,500 m altitude. In China it grows between 2,000-3,700 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, Nepal, Tibet,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A shrub. It grows 1-2 m tall. It has curved prickles. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are oval and 3-4 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. The flowers are in clusters or 3-4. The flowers are 2 cm across and white. The fruit are aggregate and round and yellow. They are 1.5 cm across.

How to Grow

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade.

Propagation: Seed requires stratification; sow in early autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed needs one month at 3°C, then sow as early as possible in spring. Prick out seedlings when large enough and grow in a cold frame, planting out in late spring. Alternatively, take half-ripe cuttings in July/August, use tip layering in July and plant out in autumn, or divide plants in early spring or before autumn leaf-fall.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Other Uses

Fruit yields a purple to dull blue dye.

Wikipedia

A deciduous shrub reaching 2 m tall. Hermaphrodite flowers bloom April to May, pollinated by insects, with seeds ripening July to August. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Grows in mildly acid, neutral, or mildly alkaline pH. Adapts to semi-shade or full sun and prefers consistently moist soil.