Rubus spectabilis

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Salmonberry
Salmonberry flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Rosaceae Subfamily: Rosoideae Genus: Rubus Species: R. spectabilis
Binomial name
Rubus spectabilis Pursh

Rubus spectabilis (Salmonberry) is a species of Rubus native to the west coast of North America from southern Alaska south to California.

It is an erect shrub growing to 1–4 m tall, with (unlike many other species in the genus) perennial, not biennial woody stems. The leaves are trifoliate, 7–22 cm long, the terminal leaflet larger than the two side leaflets. The flowers are 2–3 cm diameter, with five purple petals; they are produced from early spring to early summer. The fruit matures in late summer to early autumn, and resembles a large yellow to orange-red raspberry 1.5-2 cm long with many drupelets.^[1][2]

Salmonberries are found in moist forests and stream margins especially in the coastal forests. They often form large thickets, and thrive in the open spaces under stands of Red Alder (Alnus rubra).

In Kodiak, Alaska, orange salmonberries are often referred to as "Russian berries".^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Cultivation and uses

Salmonberry is a close relative of the raspberry, sharing the fruit structure with the fruit pulling away from its receptacle similarly. Books often call the fruit "insipid"^[3] but depending on ripeness and site, they can be good in jams, candies, jellies and wines.

They were and continue to be an important food for Native American people. It is one of the numerous berries gathered to incorporate into pemmican. It is said that the name came about because of the First Nations fondness for eating the berries with half-dried salmon roe.

It is widely grown as an ornamental plant for its flowers. It has escaped cultivation and become naturalized in parts of northwestern Europe, including Great Britain, Ireland and the Faroe Islands.^[4][5]

[edit] References

1. ^ Plants of British Columbia: Rubus spectabilis
2. ^ Jepson Flora: Rubus spectabilis
3. ^ Pojar, J., & MacKinnon, A., eds. (1994). Plants of the Pacific Northwest coast. Vancouver, BC: Lone Pine.
4. ^ Flora of NW Europe: Rubus spectabilis
5. ^ Højgaard, A. et al., eds. (1989). A century of tree-planting in the Faroe Islands. Føroya Fróðskaparfelag, Tórshavn.

Salmonberry in hand

Colander of Salmonberries