Flower ID: IMG_0637.JPG-06-06-2017 Flower name (scientific): Rubus allegheniensis Porter PY: 1896. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ROO-bus al-leh-gay-nee-EN-sis Flower name (common): Common Blackberry Family name (common): Rose Family name (scientific): Rosaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the ancient Latin for brambles. Specific epithet: For or of the Alleghany Mountains Common name origin: A name commonly used to denote any edible berry of the Rubus genus. The name originally referred to the species Rubus fruticosus. Flower description: Size: 0.7 to 1.0 inches (1.8 to 2.5 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: white Other: flower arrangement, Raceme Plant description: Size: 24 to 84 inches (61 to 213 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is compound Size: Leaflets up to 10 to 16 cm long and up to 9 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, palmate, leaflet, (terminal) ovate to lanceolate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): May to July Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woodlands, thickets, forests, prairies, meadows, disturbed areas, roadsides, dry to moist. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): The characteristics to look for to help ID Rubus allegheniensis are the glandular hairs on the peduncles and pedicels, petals longer than the sepals, and leaf undersides light green. Rubus occidentalis (Black Raspberry) has some resemblance. The latter species has petals shorter than the sepals, and the leaf underside is whitish in color. Rubus idaeus (Wild Red Raspberry) has some resemblance, but at maturity the berries are red, whereas those of R. allegheniensis are black. One characteristic to note that can help distinguish Rubus allegheniensis is that the drupes of the blackberries do not easily separate from their receptacles, whereas the drupes of raspberries detach easily and cleanly. The fruit of Rubus allegheniensis is a globose to cylindric berry, composed of an aggregate of 20 to 100 druplets. Ethnobotany: The Menominee used the root in a preparation to cure sore eyes and as an eyewash, and employed as a poultice. The berries were used as a food source during summer and also dried and stored as a winter food source (Smith, pp. 50, 71, 1923). The Meskwaki employed an extract of the root as a remedy for stomach problems. The Meskwaki eat the blackberries raw and also sun-dry them for winter use (Smith, pp. 243, 264, 1928). The Ojibwe prepared a tea from the roots and used it to treat flux, and also made a tea from the canes which was employed as a diuretic. They also eat the berries and prepare a jam from them for winter use (Smith, pp. 385-386, 409-410, 1932; Gilmore p. 133, 1933). The Potawatomi used the root bark for treating sore eyes, and they also utilized the plant as a food source (Smith, pp. 77-78, 110, 1933). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CA, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (BC, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FACU Wetland Status (MW): FACU