Rubus armeniacus Focke (1874: 183)

Beek, Abraham Van De, 2021, Rubi Capenses: a further contribution to the knowledge of the genus Rubus (Rosaceae) in South Africa, Phytotaxa 515 (1), pp. 1-71 : 55-57

30. Rubus armeniacus Focke (1874: 183) .

Lectotype (designated by Weber 1986: 222):—s. loc. et dat., Focke s.n. ( BREM)

Note: —The pictures of R. armeniacus in this paper are from plants that are characteristic for dry and warm conditions ( Fig. 23A ).

More pictures: —http://rubus-nederland.nl/nl/soorten/systematische-namenlijst/27braam-genus-rubus-l/braam-subgenus-rubus/zwarte-braam-sectie-rubus/boogbraam-subsectie-sylvatici/viltbraam-serie-candicantes-lees- focke/35-r-armeniacus-focke

Primocane ( Figs 23B–C ) arching, angular, diam. 4–10 mm, reddish brown in sun, glabrous or with scattered hairs; prickles 3–10 per 5 cm, with 5–13 mm wide, usually red base gradually attenuate, patent, declining or curved, up to 5–11 mm long; stipules 14–17 mm, linear-lanceolate, hairy, eglandular or with very few glands. Leaves palmate 5-foliolate, adaxially (almost) glabrous, abaxially ( Fig. 23D ) white tomentose and also with longer, simple hairs; serrature irregular, sharp double, slightly periodical with (almost) straight teeth; petiole somewhat shorter than basal leaflets, 6–10 cm, slightly hairy, with (7–)10–14 strong curved or hooked prickles; central leaflet 8–13 cm long, broad ovate, obovate, elliptic or rhombic, sometimes almost orbicular, rather long attenuate, with rounded, emarginate or slightly cordate base, width–length index 0.64–0.87(–0.95), length of petiolule 28–51% of length of leaflet; petiolule of external leaflets 0–7 mm. Flowering branch angular, appressed hairy; prickles 2–13(–18) per 5 cm, strong, patent, declining or curved, up to 7–9 mm long. Leaves 3-(–5-palmate)foliolate; serrature coarse, sharp, periodical, upper ones also adaxially slightly hairy. Inflorescence with leafy base, long, irregular pyramidal or cylindric with obtuse apex, densely hirsute, with rather numerous strong declining prickles; peduncles ascendent, divided above middle, with up to 7 flowers.;bracts eglandular; pedicels ( Fig. 23E ) firm, 6–25 mm long, hirsute, with 6–10 strong prickles. Flowers: sepals reflexed, grey or white tomentose, often with pricklets; petals large, with short claw, almost orbicular, 9–13 mm long, white or pink; stamens much longer than styles; anthers glabrous or pilose; styles yellowish green or pink; ovaries slightly hairy; receptacle hairy.

Ecology: —Roadsides, wood margins.

Distribution in South Africa: — Mpumalanga: massive along the N17 from Lochiel to the Swaziland border; Western Cape: Constantia Nek; Eastern Cape: several places around Hogsback.

Figures

FIGURE 23. Rubus armeniacus. A. Herbarium specimen. B. Primocane with leaves. C. Primocane. D. Leaf abaxially. E. Axis and pedicels. Photographs:A. van de Beek.