Rubus hispidus (Swamp dewberry)

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Rubus hispidus L.

Swamp dewberry, bristly blackberry

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Rosales	Rose family and eight others
Family	Rosaceae	Includes apples, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, roses, meadowsweets, photinias, firethorns, rowans, and hawthorns; many others
Genus	Rubus	Latin for “bramble” or “blackberry”
Species	hispidus	From Latin hispida, “rough, with bristly hairs”

About plant names...

This diminutive semi-evergreen is technically sort of a micro-shrub. Although it can reach 8" (20 cm) in height, it is usually close to the ground. It produces berries similar in appearance to those produced by its much larger sibling shrubs, such as blackberries and raspberries. Dewberry is native to eastern North America, preferring wet habitats, partial sunlight, and acid soils. It is common in disturbed soils, meadows, fields, and wetland and forest edges.

Plants: Swamp dewberry is actually a vine (liana), sometimes up to 8" (20 cm) high, spreading along the ground via stolons, sometimes as far as 8' (2.4 m). Stems are light green or red, with bristly hairs and some small prickles.

Leaves: Leaves are alternate, in clusters of three, obovate or ovate, and crenate or doubly crenate. Leaf clusters are on petioles (stems) up to 4" (10 cm) long. Leaflets are 1-3" (2.5-7.6 cm) long and less than 1" (2.5 cm) wide.

Flowers: Flowers occur in groups of 3-6, each ½-¾" (1.3-1.9 cm) in diameter, with five white wrinkly petals and five much smaller light green sepals. Flowers appear in early to mid summer.

Fruits: Fruits—drupes—resemble miniature blackberries, less than ½" (1.3 cm) in diameter. Green or white at first, they become red, then dark purple or black.

Edibility: Fruits are important nutritive sources for birds, but are sour tasting to people. They are edible.

Online References:

Illinoiswildflowers.info

Plants.ces.ncsu.edu

Treesandshrubsonline.org

Gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org

8/17/2020 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 4½ × 5" (12 × 13 cm)

7/11/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near NH Line, Dunstable, Massachusetts
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 21 cm)

6/14/2016 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire

7/29/2023 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine

Rubus hispidus L. var. cupulifer L.H. Bailey

Rubus hispidus L. var. obovalis (Michx.) Fernald

Rubus sempervirens Bigelow

Rubus hispidus description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 7 Oct 2021.

8/28/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 4½ × 6" (11 × 14 cm)

6/4/2021 · Robert P. Tristram Coffin Wild Flower Reservation, Woolwich, Maine
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

8/17/2020 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 10 × 6" (24 × 16 cm)

8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 4½" (14 × 12 cm)

6/14/2016 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hampshire

6/4/2021 · Robert P. Tristram Coffin Wild Flower Reservation, Woolwich, Maine
≈ 6 × 4½" (15 × 11 cm)

6/4/2021 · Robert P. Tristram Coffin Wild Flower Reservation, Woolwich, Maine
≈ 7 × 5" (18 × 13 cm)

8/2/2010 · Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 15 × 10" (39 × 26 cm) ID is uncertain

Range:

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