Rubus ursinus
Encyclopedia
Rubus ursinus is a species of blackberry
or dewberry
known by the common names California blackberry/dewberry, Douglas berry, and Pacific blackberry/dewberry. It is native to western North America. This is a wide, spreading shrub or vine-bearing bush with prickly branches that can tip layer to spread vegetatively. Its white flowers may be distinguished from those of other blackberries by their narrow petals. The species is dioeocious, with male and female plants. As with other Rubus, the canes are typically vegetative the first year, primocanes, and reproductive in the second, floricanes. The sweet, very aromatic, edible fruits are dark purple to black and up to 2 centimeters in length.
They need conisistent amounts of moisture to set large fruit. In coastal areas of Washington state they are called "little wild blackberries" and are a favored fruit for commercial pies at restaurants and bakeries. The fruit freezes well.
Seed size seems to be related to fruit "cell" size, and the smallest (1 cm) fully formed berries are most highly prized.
A selected plant of this species called the 'Aughinbaugh' blackberry was a parent of the 'Loganberry
'. The species is also an ancestor of the 'Boysenberry
', and the Marionberry
(also called 'Marion' blackberry).
'Wild Treasure', released by the USDA-ARS in 2010 is a hybrid between a selection of R. ursinus and 'Waldo' (another cultivar that is a second generation descendant of 'Marion' that has no prickles); it has the fruit size and flavor of the wild species, but without prickles, and the fruit are machine harvestable.
Blackberry
The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by any of several species in the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. The fruit is not a true berry; botanically it is termed an aggregate fruit, composed of small drupelets. The plants typically have biennial canes and perennial roots. Blackberries and...
or dewberry
Dewberry
The dewberries are a group of species in the genus Rubus, section Rubus, closely related to the blackberries. They are small trailing brambles with berries reminiscent of the raspberry, but are usually purple to black instead of red.Dewberries are common throughout most of the Northern Hemisphere,...
known by the common names California blackberry/dewberry, Douglas berry, and Pacific blackberry/dewberry. It is native to western North America. This is a wide, spreading shrub or vine-bearing bush with prickly branches that can tip layer to spread vegetatively. Its white flowers may be distinguished from those of other blackberries by their narrow petals. The species is dioeocious, with male and female plants. As with other Rubus, the canes are typically vegetative the first year, primocanes, and reproductive in the second, floricanes. The sweet, very aromatic, edible fruits are dark purple to black and up to 2 centimeters in length.
They need conisistent amounts of moisture to set large fruit. In coastal areas of Washington state they are called "little wild blackberries" and are a favored fruit for commercial pies at restaurants and bakeries. The fruit freezes well.
Seed size seems to be related to fruit "cell" size, and the smallest (1 cm) fully formed berries are most highly prized.
A selected plant of this species called the 'Aughinbaugh' blackberry was a parent of the 'Loganberry
Loganberry
The loganberry is an hexaploid hybrid produced from crossing an octaploid blackberry and a diploid red raspberry. The plant and the fruit resemble the blackberry more than the raspberry, but the fruit colour is a dark red, rather than black...
'. The species is also an ancestor of the 'Boysenberry
Boysenberry
A boysenberry is a cross between a European Raspberry , a Common Blackberry , and a Loganberry ....
', and the Marionberry
Marionberry
The Marion cultivar or Marion blackberry, marketed as , is a hybrid caneberry developed by the USDA ARS breeding program in cooperation with Oregon State University. It is a cross between the 'Chehalem' and 'Olallie' berries...
(also called 'Marion' blackberry).
'Wild Treasure', released by the USDA-ARS in 2010 is a hybrid between a selection of R. ursinus and 'Waldo' (another cultivar that is a second generation descendant of 'Marion' that has no prickles); it has the fruit size and flavor of the wild species, but without prickles, and the fruit are machine harvestable.