Rubus lanatus — Edible Plant Database

What to Eat

Edible parts: Fruit

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, though it is insipid in flavour.

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

Plains Blackberry

Rubus lanatus

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

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

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant.

Argentina, Asia, Himalayas, India, Nepal, South America,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bolivia, Brazil, Bhutan, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Georgia, French Guiana, Guyana, 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, Peru, Philippines, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Suriname, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A deciduous shrub with hermaphrodite flowers pollinated by insects. Adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils preferring well-drained conditions. Tolerates mildly acid, neutral, or mildly alkaline soils. Grows in semi-shade or full sun in moist soil.

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. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation: Seed requires stratification and is best sown in early autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires one month stratification at about 3°c and should be sown as early as possible in the year. Prick out seedlings when large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame, then plant out into permanent positions in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood can be taken in July/August in a frame. Tip layering can be done in July, with plants set out in autumn. Division is possible in early spring or just before leaf-fall in autumn.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Other Uses

A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit.

Wikipedia

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