Rubus echinatus
Lindl.Vigorous scrambling semi-deciduous shrub; stems arching, c. 1 m long, sharply angular, often sulcate, pubescent, covered with tufted eglandular hairs and long glandular hairs; prickles straight or weakly curved, to c. 10 mm long. Leaves 3- or 5-foliate; leaflets broadly elliptic to elliptic-obovate, mostly 6–8.5 cm long, 3–7 cm wide, base rounded, margins sharply toothed, upper surface green, glabrescent, lower surface green to grey-green, sparsely grey-pubescent; stipules linear, sparsely pilose with glandular and eglandular hairs, armed with prickles at base. Flowers in terminal, narrowly cylindric racemes; axis and peduncles densely hairy with eglandular hairs and longer glandular hairs. Sepals white- or grey-tomentose, apiculate to acuminate, armed with prickles; petals broadly elliptic to obovate, pink or white; stamens exceeding styles. Fruiting head more or less globose; fruit pubescent or glabrous, not falling from receptacle when ripe. Flowers summer.
WaP. Also Tas. Widespread in Britain and in west-central Europe. Recorded once in Victoria from near the Gellibrand River.
Two forms of this species have been observed in Australia. Plants in Tasmania have distinctly long acuminate calyx lobes and glabrous carpels. Whereas Victorian plants appear to lack the extended apex on the calyx and have hairy carpels.
Evans, J.K.; Symon, D.E.; Whalen, M.A.; Hosking, J.R.; Barker, R.M.; Oliver, J.A. (2007). Systematics of the Rubus fruticosus aggregate (Rosaceae) and oher exotic Rubus taxa in Australia. Australian Systematic Botany 20: 187–251.
