bramble

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rubus plicatus var. hirsutus
• Rubus plicatus var. stipularis
• Rubus plicatus var. affinis
• Rubus plicatus var. cordifolius
• Rubus plicatus var. glabriusculus
• Rubus plicatus var. roseiflorus
• Rubus fruticosus var. caninus
• Rubus consimilis
• Rubus longepetiolatus
• Rubus plicatus var. albiflorus
• Rubus fastigiatus var. dissectus
• Rubus plicatus var. compositus
• Rubus plicatus var. micranthus
• Rubus plicatus var. nitidoides
• Rubus plicatus var. oblongifolius
• Rubus plicatus var. orbicularis
• Rubus plicatus var. paniculatus
• Rubus plicatus f. pilocalymmus
• Rubus plicatus var. planifolius
• Rubus plicatus
• Rubus plicatus var. aciliensis
• Rubus fruticosus f. affinis
• Rubus plicatus var. acuminatus
• Rubus fruticosus var. affinis
• Rubus plicatus var. affinis
• Rubus fruticosus subsp. affinis
• Rubus exaltatus var. plicatus
• Rubus plicatus var. dissectus
• Rubus plicatus var. apricus
• Rubus ernesti-bollii
• Rubus plicatus f. brevispinus
• Rubus plicatus var. carinatus
• Rubus plicatus subsp. consimilis
• Rubus aestivus
• Rubus plicatus var. consimilis
• Rubus plicatus var. duplicatoserratus
• Rubus avellanifolius
• Rubus plicatus subsp. amblyphyllus
• Rubus fruticosus var. plicatus
• Rubus plicatus microgène amblyphyllus
• Rubus plicatus subsp. typicus
• Rubus fruticosus subsp. plicatus
• Rubus plicatus var. foliosus
• Rubus fruticosus subconcolor
• Rubus plicatus var. imbellis
• Rubus holmiensis
• Rubus plicatus f. incisus
• Rubus nitidus subsp. plicatus
• Rubus plicatus subsp. interfoliatus
• Rubus plicatus var. interfoliatus
• Rubus plicatus var. latifolius
• Rubus plicatus f. latifolius
• Rubus plicatus f. longepetiolatus
• Rubus plicatus var. rosulentus
• Rubus plicatus subsp. rosulentus
• Rubus plicatus var. rosulentus
• Rubus plicatus f. rosulentus
• Rubus plicatus var. smiglensis
• Rubus plicatus f. stipularis
• Rubus plicatus var. sublanceolatus
• Rubus plicatus f. suboblongifolius
• Rubus plicatus var. pseudohemistemon
• Rubus plicatus f. viridis
• Rubus rosulentus
• Rubus sulcatus var. rosulentus
• Rubus teutobergensis
• Rubus thyrsoideus var. affinis
• Rubus spicifolius
• Rubus suberectus var. plicatus
• Rubus suberectus subsp. plicatus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae, it is classified under the genus Rubus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. In the British Isles, it can be found growing throughout both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving further north, the species is also established in the country of Denmark. Its presence extends into the Scandinavian Peninsula, where it is common in Norway. Additionally, the plant is frequently documented across the landscapes of Sweden.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rubus fruticosus is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, thriving in environments ranging from as low as 15 m AMSL to elevations reaching a maximum of 1850 m AMSL. It is highly adaptable to diverse landscapes, including coastal habitats where it can withstand maritime influences. In terms of its underground biological associations, the species does not exhibit mycorrhizal relationships, functioning independently of these specific fungal symbioses for its nutrient uptake processes.

Elevational range max:

1850 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

15 m AMSL

Habitat :

Coastal

Mycorrhiza :

no

Life history

The life history of Rubus fruticosus is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to establish long-term presence within its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated stems, which can manifest in different structural forms such as a phanerophyte or other growth strategies depending on environmental conditions. Its deciduousness is variable, with the plant exhibiting different patterns of leaf shedding and regrowth influenced by seasonal shifts and local climates.

Deciduousness :

variable

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rubus fruticosus is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, typically exhibiting an independent life strategy rather than acting as a parasite or epiphyte. As a terrestrial plant, it displays a self-supporting climbing habit, meaning it does not require external structures like vines or lianas to maintain its posture. The physical stature of the plant varies significantly depending on environmental conditions, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 3 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 1.4815 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

1.4815 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rubus fruticosus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common mechanism for temperate woody shrubs that facilitates carbon fixation through the enzyme Rubisco. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. It does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms. Morphologically, the plant displays a mean leaf size of approximately 62.02 cm², which contributes to its overall resource acquisition strategy. This is further reflected in its Specific Leaf Area (SLA), which has a mean value of 163.5 cm²/g, indicating a balance between leaf thickness and surface area optimized for light interception and gas exchange within its typical habitat.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

62.019625 cm²

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

163.5 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rubus fruticosus involves a complex interplay of sexual and asexual mechanisms. Sexual reproduction is facilitated by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects, and is characterized by the absence of self-fertilization, which promotes genetic diversity. The flowering period typically commences in April and extends through August. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fleshy, indehiscent fruit categorized as a drupe, with an average fruit length of 1.3 cm. The seeds within these fruits are small, exhibiting a mean seed length of 1 mm, a mean seed mass of approximately 0.00281125 g (ranging from 0.00223 g to 0.00329 g), and a consistent seed volume of 2.4 mm³. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via endozoochory, where animals consume the fleshy fruit and disperse the seeds. Additionally, the species possesses the capacity for asexual reproduction, allowing for vegetative spread alongside its sexual cycle.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length mean:

1.3 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Seed length mean:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00329 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00281125 g

Seed mass min:

0.00223 g

Seed volume max:

2.4 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rubus fruticosus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf.

Fruit

1. BioMed research international
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

Leaf

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Rubus fruticosus has 47 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthocyanins, Tannins, arbutin, malic acid, 2-hydroxyursolic Acid.

Anthocyanins

1. Pharmacognosy reviews
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

Tannins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

arbutin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

malic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

2-hydroxyursolic Acid

1. Dr. Duke

Albumin

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Astragalin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

BORON

1. Dr. Duke

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

CU

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Activities

Rubus fruticosus has 301 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Anticancer, Antiviral, Antidiabetic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. Pharmacognosy reviews
5. Acta biochimica Polonica

Antimicrobial

1. Toxicology reports
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pharmacognosy reviews
4. Acta biochimica Polonica

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy reviews
3. BioMed research international

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. International journal of molecular sciences

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Toxicology reports

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Additive

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Rubus fruticosus has 11 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antioxidant, antiviral, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, cyclin D1.

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Antiviral

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Antidiabetic

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antidiarrheal

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Cyclin d1

1. Toxicology and applied pharmacology

Hyperglycemia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hyperlipidemia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Infectious diseases

1. Toxicology reports

Inflammation

1. Toxicology and applied pharmacology

Insulin resistance

1. Current pharmaceutical design

Preparations

Rubus fruticosus has 3 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include berries extract, ethyl acetate extract, polyherbal mixture decoction.

Berries extract

1. BioMed research international

Ethyl acetate extract

1. BioMed research international

Polyherbal mixture decoction

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology