cloudberry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bakeapple
• cloudberry
• yellowberry
• bake-apple
• baked-apple-berry
• salmonberry
• yellow-berry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chamaemorus anglicus
• Chamaemorus norvegicus
• Rubus yessoicus
• Rubus pungens var. horridulus
• Rubus chamaemorus var. pseudochamaemorus
• Rubus parapungens
• Rubus chamaemorus var. pseudochamaemorus
• Rubus pseudochamaemorus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Rubus chamaemorus, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae within the order Rosales. Finally, it is a member of the Rosaceae family and falls under the genus Rubus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as the cloudberry, is found across several specific regions in Northern Europe. Its distribution includes the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. It is also widely documented throughout the landscapes of Finland. Furthermore, the species can be located within the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its range extends northward into the rugged terrains of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rubus chamaemorus is characterized by its specialized niche within high-altitude and high-latitude environments, specifically favoring habitats such as swamps and tundra. This species thrives in waterlogged or acidic soil conditions typical of these wetland ecosystems. Its vertical distribution is strictly confined to high-elevation zones, maintaining an elevational range that begins at 2400 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 3000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2400 m AMSL

Habitat :

swamps, tundra

Genetics

The genetics of Rubus chamaemorus are characterized by a complex chromosomal structure and a specific reproductive biology that influences its evolutionary stability. Regarding its genomic composition, the plant exhibits a haploid state represented by a ploidy level of n, which is fundamental to its gametic formation and the genetic diversity within its populations. This baseline chromosomal number is central to its life cycle, particularly in the context of its predominantly sexual reproduction through seeds, which facilitates genetic recombination. The stability of this haploid set during meiosis is crucial for maintaining the species' adaptation to extreme arctic and subarctic environments, where genetic variation is necessary to survive fluctuating climatic conditions.

Ploidy :

n

Life history

The life history of Rubus chamaemorus is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its habitat over multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or snow during unfavorable conditions. The species exhibits a deciduous growth habit, shedding its foliage annually as it transitions through its seasonal cycles.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rubus chamaemorus is characterized by a low-growing growth form, specifically categorized as both a herb and a forb. This plant is non-woody and functions as a terrestrial organism, maintaining an independent lifestyle without parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. As a self-supporting species, it does not exhibit climbing behavior. In terms of stature, the plant is relatively diminutive, with a height that varies from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.3 m, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 0.194 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Plant height mean:

0.194 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rubus chamaemorus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, reflecting its metabolic adaptation to the environments in which it grows. The plant's leaf morphology plays a significant role in its resource acquisition and gas exchange, with leaf dimensions typically ranging from a minimum length of 4 cm to a maximum of 9 cm, while maintaining a mean leaf length of 6.5 cm. The width of the leaves similarly fluctuates between a minimum of 4 cm and a maximum of 9 cm. In terms of overall surface area, the species exhibits a mean leaf size of approximately 25.37943 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 153.62 cm²/g, a physiological metric that indicates the relationship between the leaf's photosynthetic capacity and its biomass investment.

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.5 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf size mean:

25.37943 cm²

Leaf width max:

9 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

153.62 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rubus chamaemorus is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period and specialized dispersal mechanisms. The flowering cycle typically begins in May and continues through July, though the timing can be variable. The flowers produced during this period exhibit a length ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 3 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops fruits that are consistently uniform in size, with a mean and maximum length of 1 cm and a mean and maximum width of 1 cm. The seeds contained within these fruits are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.0078535 g, and they fall within a narrow range between a minimum of 0.0073 g and a maximum of 0.0074 g. Finally, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning its seeds are spread primarily by animals, facilitating the colonization of new habitats.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flower length max:

3 cm

Flower length min:

2 cm

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Seed mass max:

0.0074 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0078535 g

Seed mass min:

0.0073 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rubus chamaemorus has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Rubus chamaemorus has 40 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ALUMINUM, ARSENIC, Ash, BORON, BROMINE.

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

ARSENIC

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

BORON

1. Dr. Duke

BROMINE

1. Dr. Duke

CADMIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CD

1. Nutrients

CHROMIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COBALT

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Rubus chamaemorus has 214 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, ACE-Inhibitor, AP-1-Inhibitor, Acarifuge, Amphiglycemic?.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current medicinal chemistry

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acarifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Amphiglycemic?

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Anorexic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiAGE

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Rubus chamaemorus has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, common cold.

Cancer

1. International journal of biopharmaceutical sciences

Common cold

1. International journal of biopharmaceutical sciences

Preparations

Rubus chamaemorus has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol extracts.

Methanol extracts

1. Wiadomosci parazytologiczne