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New Mexico raspberry

snow bramble, thimbleberry

Habit Shrubs, (10–)20–30(–35) dm, unarmed. Shrubs, 5–20(–30) dm, unarmed.
Stems

erect, sparsely to moderately short-hairy, sparsely stipitate-glandular, not pruinose.

biennial, erect, sparsely hairy, glabrescent, moderately stipitate-glandular, glands yellowish to reddish, not pruinose.

Leaves

deciduous, simple;

stipules lanceolate to narrowly ovate, (4–)6–8(–10) mm;

blade cordate to broadly ovate, (2.5–)3.5–5.5(–6.5) × (2.5–)3.5–5.5(–8) cm, base shallowly to deeply cordate, palmately, shallowly to deeply 3–5(–7)-lobed, margins coarsely doubly dentate, apex acute to broadly obtuse, abaxial surfaces moderately hairy, sparsely stipitate-glandular.

deciduous, simple;

stipules lanceolate to ovate, 5–15 mm;

blade orbiculate to reniform, 5–20 × 5–25 cm, base cordate, palmately, shallowly to moderately deeply, (3–)5(–7)-lobed, margins coarsely, irregularly serrate to doubly serrate, apex shortly acuminate to obtuse, abaxial surfaces glabrate to densely hairy, sparsely to moderately stipitate-glandular, glands yellowish to reddish.

Inflorescences

1(–2)-flowered.

terminal and axillary, (1–)3–7(–15), cymiform to thyrsiform.

Pedicels

sparsely to moderately hairy, sparsely to densely short- to long-stipitate-glandular.

sparsely to moderately hairy, moderately to densely stipitate-glandular, glands yellowish to reddish.

Flowers

bisexual;

petals white, broadly obovate to suborbiculate, (15–)20–30(–35) mm;

filaments filiform;

ovaries glabrous, styles clavate, villous.

bisexual;

petals white, broadly obovate, (10–)14–22(–28) mm;

filaments filiform;

ovaries distally densely hairy, styles clavate, glabrous.

Fruits

red, hemispheric, to 1 cm;

drupelets 20, coherent, separating from torus.

red, hemispheric, 1–1.8 cm;

drupelets 50–60, coherent, separating from torus.

2n

= 14.

= 14.

Rubus neomexicanus

Rubus parviflorus

Phenology Flowering May–Sep. Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat Mountain slopes, canyons, streams Moist areas, open woods, thickets, clearings, stream banks, canyons, grassy meadows, rocky cliffs, sand dunes, upper beaches, dry sandy areas, roadsides
Elevation 1400–2600 m (4600–8500 ft) 0–3000 m (0–9800 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CO; NM; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; AZ; CA; CO; IA; ID; IL; MI; MN; MT; NM; NV; OR; SD; UT; WA; WI; WY; AB; BC; ON; Mexico (Chihuahua)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Rubus neomexicanus is recognized by its erect, unarmed stems, relatively small, simple leaves with acute to obtuse lobes, the terminal prominent, deeply cordate base, moderately hairy abaxially, large flowers, white petals, and densely long-hairy, clavate styles. The species is similar to R. bartonianus and R. deliciosus, and treating it as a variety of the latter species would be reasonable, as W. O. Focke (1910) considered the two conspecific.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Rubus nutkanus is distinguished from other flowering raspberries by its erect, unarmed stems, simple leaves, large flowers, white petals, glabrous, clavate styles, and yellowish to reddish stipitate glands covering most plant parts. A hybrid with R. odoratus (R. ×fraseri Rehder) is thought to occur in areas of overlap in northern Michigan (E. G. Voss 1972–1996, vol. 2). Varieties and forms have been described based on indument and glandularity of stems, leaves, petioles, pedicels, and sepals (for example, M. L. Fernald 1950). Different variants often occur mixed in the same population and generally do not correspond to definite geographic regions (N. C. Fassett 1941). Plants from coastal California (considered as var. velutinus) tend to have densely hairy leaf abaxial surfaces; this variation may be environmentally induced; other Rubus species show the same pattern (for example, R. spectabilis var. franciscanus) in that area. Wild thimbleberries are collected in Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan, and are used in beverages and especially for jam.

Rubus nutkanus is typically associated with western North America but was originally described from plants at its eastern range limit in northern Michigan. The Great Lakes populations are disjunct from western mountain populations by around 600 miles.

The name Rubus parviflorus var. grandiflorus Farwell, which applies here, is illegitimate.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 9, p. 45. FNA vol. 9, p. 48.
Parent taxa Rosaceae > subfam. Rosoideae > tribe Rubeae > Rubus Rosaceae > subfam. Rosoideae > tribe Rubeae > Rubus
Sibling taxa
R. allegheniensis, R. arcticus, R. bartonianus, R. bifrons, R. caesius, R. canadensis, R. chamaemorus, R. cuneifolius, R. deliciosus, R. flagellaris, R. glaucifolius, R. hispidus, R. idaeus, R. illecebrosus, R. laciniatus, R. lasiococcus, R. leucodermis, R. nivalis, R. niveus, R. nutkanus, R. occidentalis, R. odoratus, R. parviflorus, R. parvifolius, R. pascuus, R. pedatus, R. pensilvanicus, R. phoenicolasius, R. pubescens, R. repens, R. saxatilis, R. setosus, R. spectabilis, R. trivialis, R. ulmifolius, R. ursinus, R. vestitus
R. allegheniensis, R. arcticus, R. bartonianus, R. bifrons, R. caesius, R. canadensis, R. chamaemorus, R. cuneifolius, R. deliciosus, R. flagellaris, R. glaucifolius, R. hispidus, R. idaeus, R. illecebrosus, R. laciniatus, R. lasiococcus, R. leucodermis, R. neomexicanus, R. nivalis, R. niveus, R. nutkanus, R. occidentalis, R. odoratus, R. parvifolius, R. pascuus, R. pedatus, R. pensilvanicus, R. phoenicolasius, R. pubescens, R. repens, R. saxatilis, R. setosus, R. spectabilis, R. trivialis, R. ulmifolius, R. ursinus, R. vestitus
Synonyms R. deliciosus var. neomexicanus, R. exrubicundus R. parviflorus
Name authority A. Gray: Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. 5(6): 55. (1853) Mociño ex Seringe: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 2: 566. (1825)
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