Rubus platysepalus
Hand-Mazz.
Tai Pau Tsz Lak
President and Fellows of Harvard College
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit
The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked.
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.
Tai Pau Tsz Lak: Thorny woody canes (brambles), aggregate berry made of many drupelets, berries pull easily from receptacle.
Where to Find It
It is a subtropical plant. It grows at low elevations.
Asia, China,
How to Identify
A shrub. It grows 2 m tall. It has a few recurved prickles. The leaves are simple and with lobes. They are 6-10 cm long by 5-9 cm wide. Flowers are in loose clusters near the ends of branches. The flowers are 1 cm across and the petals are white.
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 needs one month of stratification at around 3°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible. Prick out seedlings once large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame before planting into permanent positions in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood can be taken in July or August in a frame. Tip layer in July and plant out in autumn. Division can be done 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
A deciduous shrub with hermaphroditic flowers pollinated by insects. Adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils preferring good drainage. Tolerates mildly acidic, neutral, and mildly alkaline soils. Can grow in semi-shade or full sun and favors moist conditions.
Notes
There are about 250 Rubus species.
References (3)
- Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 1422
- Flora of China @ efloras.org Volume 9
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
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