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 Rubus nepalensis Rubus niveus http://tcpermaculture.blogspot.com/2012/02 /permaculture-plants-groundcover.html http://www.darwinfoundation.org/datazone/checklists/706/ Rubus pentalobus Rubus caseius http://tcpermaculture.blogspot.com/2012/02 /permaculture-plants-groundcover.html http://www.british-wild-flowers.co.uk/R-Flowers/Rubus%20caesius.htm Raspberries and Blackberries • Genus : Rubus – 12 subgenera – Subgenus: Ideobatus - raspberry – Subgenus: Eubatus – blackberry – Hybrids between the groups Family: Rosaceae Genus: Rubus Subgenus: Ideobatus Subgenus: Eubatus (Raspberries) (Blackberries) R. parvifolius R. idaeus R. occidentalis Erect types and others red & yellow black Eastern semi-erect types Southeastern trailing types R. neglectus Western trailing types purple 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 idaeus Rubus occidentalis Native Rubus species Rubus ursinus Rubus allegheniensis 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 www.motherearthnews.com system; form hedgerow • Examples: ‘Heritage’, ‘Prelude’ ‘Caroline’, ‘Anne’, ‘Autumn Britten’ 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 • [email protected] • 417-881-8909 .