Raspberry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Raspberry
• Mauritius raspberry
• bramble-of-the-Cape
• raspberry-bush
• rose-leaf bramble
• thimbleberry
• roseleaf bramble
• roseleaf raspberry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically 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 exhibits a diverse presence across several key regions within the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its range extends through Cameroon and the islands of the Gulf of Guinea. It is also documented within the borders of Rwanda in the same central region. Moving toward the northeast, the species can be found growing in Ethiopia. Finally, its distribution reaches into East Tropical Africa, specifically within Tanzania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rubus rosifolius is characterized by a broad adaptability to various environmental conditions, spanning an extensive elevational range from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 2500 m AMSL. This species thrives in diverse ecological settings, specifically finding suitable niches within the Cerrado (latu sensu) and within Umbrophilous Forests, which includes both Ombrophilous Forests and Pluvial Forests. This wide distribution across different altitudinal gradients and vegetation types highlights its ability to persist in both seasonally dry tropical savannas and high-moisture forest ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Rubus rosifolius is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its growth architecture and structural habit, the species exhibits characteristics of both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte life forms, depending on the environmental conditions and the development of its woody stems. Furthermore, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage to support continuous biological activity throughout its lifecycle.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rubus rosifolius is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, typically exhibiting an erect shoot orientation. It is a terrestrial plant that functions independently, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. The plant generally reaches a height of approximately 1.5 m to 2 m, maintaining a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a liana, vine, or climbing plant.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

2 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rubus rosifolius is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic carbon fixation processes and environmental adaptations. Morphologically, its foliage exhibits significant variability in dimensions; the leaf length ranges from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, while the leaf width varies between a minimum of 1 cm and a maximum of 3 cm, with a mean width recorded at 1.5 cm. Regarding nutrient acquisition and symbiotic relationships, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of nitrogen from the soil rather than through biological nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rubus rosifolius involves both sexual and asexual mechanisms, with asexual reproduction being present to facilitate plant spread. Sexual reproduction is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The plant produces white flowers that typically range in length from 0.8 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fleshy fruit characterized as an "other" fruit type (aggregate structure). These fruits vary in size, with an average length of 1.5 cm and a width of 1.7 cm, though they can reach a maximum length of 3.5 cm and a minimum length of 2 cm. The dispersal of these fruits follows a zoochorous syndrome, meaning they are dispersed by animals. Within the fruit, the seeds exhibit specific morphological traits: they have a mean mass of approximately 0.000611157 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.0003 g to a maximum of 0.00201 g) and a mean volume of 2 mm³ (ranging from 1.4 mm³ to a maximum of 2.6 mm³), with a maximum seed length of 1.5 mm.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flower length max:

1.5 cm

Flower length min:

0.8 cm

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

3.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.5 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit type :

other

Fruit width mean:

1.7 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Seed length max:

1.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00201 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000611157 g

Seed mass min:

3e-04 g

Seed volume max:

2.6 mm³

Seed volume mean:

2 mm³

Seed volume min:

1.4 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rubus rosifolius has 3 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 stem, fruit, leaf.

Stem

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
2. Toxicology in vitro : an international journal published in association with BIBRA

Fruit

1. International journal of food science

Leaf

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Activities

Rubus rosifolius has 5 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antihypertensive, Antimicrobial, Genotoxic, Mutagenic.

Analgesic

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Antihypertensive

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Genotoxic

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Mutagenic

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Conditions

Rubus rosifolius has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include analgesic, antihypertensive, gastrointestinal diseases.

Analgesic

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Antihypertensive

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Gastrointestinal diseases

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Preparations

Rubus rosifolius has 4 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts obtained from leaves and stems, leaves and stems extracts, leaves extract, stem extract.

Extracts obtained from leaves and stems

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Leaves and stems extracts

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Leaves extract

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Stem extract

1. Toxicology in vitro : an international journal published in association with BIBRA