Bramble Biology

Patrick Byers MU Extension – Greene County

University of Missouri 2015 NARBA Conference

Outline

• What is a bramble or caneberry? • Raspberries and blackberries • Origins of brambles • Bramble growth habits • Types of brambles, horticulturally speaking

What is a Bramble?

• Genus Rubus • Family Rosaceae • Lots of confusion in this genus

– How many species?

• Growth habits: shrubs, rigidly erect, arching, trailing

http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/R-Flowers/Rubus%20caesius.htm http://tcpermaculture.blogspot.com/2012/02 /permaculture-plants-groundcover.html

Rubus pentalobus Rubus caseius

http://www.darwinfoundation.org/datazone/checklists/706/

Rubus niveus Rubus nepalensis

http://tcpermaculture.blogspot.com/2012/02 /permaculture-plants-groundcover.html

Raspberries and Blackberries

• Genus : Rubus – 12 subgenera – Subgenus: Ideobatus - raspberry – Subgenus: Eubatus – blackberry – Hybrids between the groups

Subgenus: Eubatus Subgenus: Ideobatus (Raspberries) (Blackberries)

R. occidentalis black

R. idaeus red & yellow

R. parvifolius and others

R. neglectus purple

Family: Rosaceae Genus: Rubus

Erect types

Eastern semi-erect types

Southeastern trailing types

Western trailing types

Evergreen types

Blackberry – torus remains in fruit

Raspberry – fruit separates from torus

Origins of Brambles

• Raspberry – center of origin eastern Asia • Blackberry – centers of origin eastern North

America and Europe • Rubus species are found worldwide, with greater

abundance in the northern hemisphere • America – native types of raspberry and

blackberry important for horticulture – Red raspberry – R. idaeus – Black raspberry – R. occidentalis – Blackberries – R. ursinus, R. allegheniensis, others

Rubus allegheniensis

Rubus occidentalis Rubus idaeus

Rubus ursinus

Native Rubus species

Source: http://plants.usda.gov/

Bramble Growth Habits

• Perennial crowns and roots

• Biennial canes – Primocanes

• First year growth • Usually no blossoms

or fruit – Floricanes

• Second year growth • Produce blossoms

and fruit, then dies

Bramble Growth Habits

• Bearing habit – Floricane bearing (summer bearing)

• First year – vegetative growth of cane

• Second year – flowering and fruiting – followed by cane death

– Primocane bearing (everbearing) • First year –

– bear fruit in upper 1/3 to ½ of cane in late summer and fall

– Fruiting portion of the cane dies in fall/winter

• Second year – Lower portion of cane produces

flowers and fruit – Entire cane dies after fruiting

Bramble Growth Habits • Bramble floral and fruit structure

– Flower includes 60-160 ovaries – Aggregate fruit composted of small drupelets

www.biology-resources.com

www.biology-resources.com

Bramble Growth Habits

• Prickles (or thorns) – Much variability in

bramble species

http://identifythatplant.com/

Types of Brambles

• Raspberry – Red and yellow raspberry – Black raspberry – Purple raspberry

• Blackberry – Erect blackberry – Semi-erect blackberry – Trailing blackberry

• Raspberry x blackberry hybrids

source: ww.ars.usda.gov

Red and Yellow Raspberries

• Thorny and thornless cultivars

• Floricane or primocane bearing habit

• Sucker from root system; form hedgerow

• Examples: ‘Heritage’, ‘Prelude’ ‘Caroline’, ‘Anne’, ‘Autumn Britten’

www.motherearthnews.com

Black Raspberries

• Thorny cultivars • Floricane or primocane

bearing habit • Sucker from crown • Examples: ‘Bristol’,

‘Jewel’, ‘Mac Black’, ‘Niwot’ (P)

Purple Raspberries

• Thorny cultivars • Floricane bearing habit • Sucker from crown or

from roots (varies) • Examples: ‘Royalty’,

‘Brandywine’ Source: www.sdedible.org

Erect Blackberries

• Thorny and thornless cultivars

• Floricane or primocane bearing habit

• Sucker from roots and form hedgerow

• Examples: ‘Shawnee’, ‘Ouachita’, ‘PrimeArk Freedom’ (P)

Semi-Erect Blackberries

• Thornless cultivars • Floricane bearing habit • Sucker from original

crown • Examples: ‘Chester’,

‘Triple Crown’

Trailing Blackberries

• Thorny and thornless cultivars

• Floricane bearing habit • Sucker from original

crown • Examples: ‘Marion’,

‘Obsidian’, ‘Metolius’, ‘Black Diamond’

Source: www.ars.usda.gov

Blackberry x Raspberry Crosses

• Thorny and thornless cultivars

• Floricane fruiting habit • Sucker from crown • Example: ‘Tayberry’,

‘Logan’, ‘Boysen’, ‘Wyeberry’

Source: www.chrisbowers.co.uk

Any Questions?

• Patrick Byers • MU Extension – Greene County • University of Missouri • Byerspl@missouri.edu • 417-881-8909