Rubus squarrosus

Botanical Description

Rubus squarrosus is an evergreen shrub with two distinct growth habits. When growing amongst taller vegetation it produces stems that can be 10 metres or more long and scramble into the surrounding vegetation; when growing in the open it is more likely to be of bushy growth with densely interlacing branchlets. The stems can be extremely prickly or unarmed and, when growing in the open, the plant is usually leafless (or nearly so) with the green stems carrying out photosynthesis and flowers seldom produced[ 44 Title Flora of New Zealand. Publication Author Allan. H. H. Website http://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/pages/Book.aspx?fileName=Flora%201.xml Publisher Government Printer, Wellington. Year 1961 ISBN - Description The standard work, in 5 volumes though only the first two are of interest to the plant project. Very good on habitats. There is also an on-line version. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine.