Rubus ulmifolius ulmifolius

commonly known as elm-leaf in English and zarzamora in Spanish is native to and North . It has been introduced widely and is invasive and a problem in parts of Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. It colonises natural and semi-natural ecosystems where it competes and displaces native species and degrades habitats negatively impacting native fauna. The only perennial part of the plant is its root system which comprises of a woody crown, a main vertical root and numerous secondary roots. Suckering occurs when the root system is disturbed. The canes are biennial emerging from the crown each spring. First year canes grow fast and in an arching manner; in autumn when they touch the ground they sprout roots and produce a new bud which grows into a new cane in spring. Auxiliary buds Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons (User Simonjoan) on second year canes sprout in spring producing short flowering canes. The fleshy berry is consumed by birds and mammals and the seeds are widely dispersed in their droppings. Seedlings are poor competitors survival rates are poor where there is shade Sephanoides forests on Juan Fernandez Islands (Chile) home to the endemic and and competition. Seeds remain viable in the soil and germination fernandensis ‘Critically Endangered (CR)’ Juan Fernández firecrown ( is related to disturbance. Sephanoides sephaniodes ) and the Chilean native green-backed firecrown Elm-leaf blackberry is a significant problem in Laguna de los ( ). The Juan Fernández firecrown has a Padres Reserve in Argentina where it has invaded around 90 restricted breeding range and is dependant on the availability of hectares of native forest causing managers to adopt a controlled intact native forest. herbicide use option within the protected area. Elm-leaf blackberry is a major threat to remnant patches of native References:

Global Invasive Species Database 2011. Rubus ulmifolius Schott OIKONOS, 2011. Juan Fernandez Islands Conservancy. Conservation of the Critically Endangered Juan Fernández Firecrown (Sephanoides fernandensis) Mazzolari C. Ana, Viviana M.Comparatore, FranciscoBedmar (2011) Control of elmleaf blackberry invasion in a natural reserve in Argentina. Journal for Nature Conservation (2011), doi:10.1016/j. Click here to view archives of previous weeks’ species jnc.2010.12.002