Raspberry Rubus Spp. ILLINOIS RANGE Vines

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Raspberry Rubus spp. Kingdom: Plantae FEATURES Division: Magnoliophyta Several species of raspberry occur in Illinois. Some Class: Magnoliopsida of them are native to Illinois while others are native Order: Rosales to Europe or Asia. These perennial plants take the form of woody vines or shrubs. The stems have Family: Rosaceae prickles. Most of the species have a white substance ILLINOIS STATUS on the stems that can be rubbed off. Some raspberry species have simple leaves while others have most common (2 threatened), native and compound leaves. The leaves are arranged nonnative alternately along the stems. There are ﬁve petals on the white or purple ﬂowers. The fruit is a berry that may be red or purple-black, depending on the species.

BEHAVIORS Raspberries may be found throughout Illinois. They grow in roadsides, wood edges, thickets and bluffs. Flowers are produced from May through June. The seeds are often dispersed by birds, who eat the fruit and pass the undigested seeds out with their waste materials. The fruits, stems and leaves of these plants are used as food by wildlife. Some of the raspberry species present in Illinois are native to © Kenneth Robertson Europe or Asia. They were transported to the United States with early settlers and have spread tremendously. Two species of raspberry are listed as threatened in Illinois: the purple-flowering ILLINOIS RANGE raspberry; and the dwarf raspberry. The purple- flowering raspberry reaches its western range limit in northern Illinois and may be in a few nature preserves, a forest preserve and on private land in the northeastern part of the state. Dwarf raspberry grows in only a few areas in northeastern Illinois.

vines Aquatic Habitats none

Woodland Habitats none

Prairie and Edge Habitats edge