− | Rubus vitifolius, Cham. & Schlecht. (R. ursinus, Cham. & Schlecht. R. ursinus var. vitifolius, Focke). California Dewberry. Widely trailing evergreen, some of the sts. perhaps erect, with slender prickles: lfts. 3 or 5, about 2 in. long, ovate, doubly serrate, some of the upper ones simple or lobed, those on the vigorous shoots usually 3-foliolate: fls. white, the petals of staminate fls. about 1/2in. long and of the pistillate 1/3in. or less: fr. black, mostly oblong, sweet, the drupelets pubescent. Calif., along streams and moist places.—A perplexing species, by some separated into two: R. vitifolius, with lvs. sparingly pubescent on both surfaces and glabrate with age, the st. only slightly hairy, fr. distinctly longer than broad, lvs. on vigorous shoots often unifoliolate; and R. ursinus, Cham. & Schlecht., with st. and lvs. densely pubescent beneath and fr. only slightly elongate. Certain horticultural dewberries appear to be of this species, but they are of minor importance. The loganberry (which see, p. 1900) is said to be a hybrid between this species and probably R. idaeus, but the botanical origin of it is by no means clear. The Phenomenal is said also to have sprung from R. vitifolius. through hybridization (p. 1900). The Mammoth blackberry of California is said to be a cross between R. vitifolius and the wild blackberry of Texas (R. argutusi). See Pacific Rural Press, Sept. 4, 1897, for description and portrait. The account says that the Mammoth "produces berries of immense size, supposed to be the largest blackberry ever grown, berries 2 3/8 in. in length being frequently found. . . . The canes of the Mammoth are very peculiar, being very large and thickly covered with small, short spines. The canes start early in March, grow thick and stout until about 5 ft. high; they then take on a running habit and grow from 25-30 ft. in a season. Late in the fall the tips or stolons seek the ground and take root." The Mammoth is partially evergreen in Calif. The fr. is said to be more acid than the old Lawton blackberry, but "when perfectly ripe is sweet and of superior flavor."
| + | Rubus vitifolius, Cham. & Schlecht. (R. ursinus, Cham. & Schlecht. R. ursinus var. vitifolius, Focke). California Dewberry. Widely trailing evergreen, some of the sts. perhaps erect, with slender prickles: lfts. 3 or 5, about 2 in. long, ovate, doubly serrate, some of the upper ones simple or lobed, those on the vigorous shoots usually 3-foliolate: fls. white, the petals of staminate fls. about 1/2in. long and of the pistillate 1/3in. or less: fr. black, mostly oblong, sweet, the drupelets pubescent. Calif., along streams and moist places.—A perplexing species, by some separated into two: R. vitifolius, with lvs. sparingly pubescent on both surfaces and glabrate with age, the st. only slightly hairy, fr. distinctly longer than broad, lvs. on vigorous shoots often unifoliolate; and R. ursinus, Cham. & Schlecht., with st. and lvs. densely pubescent beneath and fr. only slightly elongate. Certain horticultural dewberries appear to be of this species, but they are of minor importance. The [[loganberry]] is said to be a hybrid between this species and probably R. idaeus, but the botanical origin of it is by no means clear. The Phenomenal is said also to have sprung from R. vitifolius. through hybridization (p. 1900). The Mammoth blackberry of California is said to be a cross between R. vitifolius and the wild blackberry of Texas (R. argutusi).The account says that the Mammoth "produces berries of immense size, supposed to be the largest blackberry ever grown, berries 2 3/8 in. in length being frequently found. . . . The canes of the Mammoth are very peculiar, being very large and thickly covered with small, short spines. The canes start early in March, grow thick and stout until about 5 ft. high; they then take on a running habit and grow from 25-30 ft. in a season. Late in the fall the tips or stolons seek the ground and take root." The Mammoth is partially evergreen in Calif. The fr. is said to be more acid than the old Lawton blackberry, but "when perfectly ripe is sweet and of superior flavor." |