Rubus armeniacus Focke (1874: 183)

Akopian, Janna, 2024, Taxonomic synopsis of the genus Rubus (Rosaceae) in Armenia, Phytotaxa 677 (2), pp. 125-143 : 130-131

4. Rubus armeniacus Focke (1874: 183) ; H. E. Weber (1986: 222); Krasovskaya (2001: 379). Lectotype (designated by Weber 1986: 222):—Transcaucasian provinces, s. l., s.d., Focke s.n. (BREM). ( Fig. 3 A, B )

= R. discolor auct. non Weihe et Nees (1822: 4); Heslop-Harrison (1968: 16).

Distribution in Armenia: Ijevan, Lori, Yerevan, Zangezur, Meghri floristic regions. Shrubberies of steppe zone, broad-leaved forests, river-bed forests, river and brook banks, at an altitude of 500–1700 m asl.

Phenology: Flowering April–July; fruiting September–October.

General distribution: Caucasus. Cultivated since the second half of the 19th century in Europe, North America, Australia, invasive in most countries with temperate climates and on the Pacific coast of North America. DNA markers confirmed the West Asian origin of R. armeniacus , and its native occurrence in Armenia is revealed by SSR genotyping ( Kasalkheh et al., 2024).

Selected specimens. ARMENIA: Meghri district, Megraget river basin, between the villages of Legvaz and Vagravar, along the edges of the road, 9 June 1947, Mulkidzhanyan 66480 (ERE); Zangezur, Goris region, outskirts of Goris, along the road to Sisian, bushes, 21 September 1949, Karapetyan 66875 (ERE); ArmSSR, Shamshadin district, Berd village (folia 5), 11 August 1954, Mulkidzhanyan 58319 (ERE); Zangezur, Kafan district, Lower Andes village, at the edge of the field, 9 October 1954, Mulkidzhanyan 66474 (ERE); Shamshadin district, Berd village (folia 1), 11 August 1954, Mulkidzhanyan 58315 (ERE); Noyemberyan district, Ayrum×Haghpat, Debet river valley, 9 August 1954, Mulkidzhanyan 66844 (ERE); Zangezur, Kafan region, Shikahokh village, southern clayey slope of the ravine, 12 October 1954, Mulkidzhanyan 66876 (ERE); Zangezur, Goris district, near the village of Karahunj, near the highway, 8 October 1954, Mulkidzhanyan 66475 (ERE); Noyemberyan district, environs of the village of Ayrum, the right side of the Debet River, oak-horn-beam forest, 21 April 1955, Karapetyan, Aslanyan 58623, 58624 (ERE); Meghri district, Vardanadzor×Agarak, on the road to Lichk, juniper woodland, southern slope, 1200 m above sea level, 11 July 1958, Mulkidzhanyan 93902 (ERE); Zangezur, Kafan district, Shikahokh reserve, Tsav village, left bank of the Tsav river, 1400 m at sea level, 28 July 1959, Grigoryan 98375 (ERE); Zangezur, Kafan district, Shikahokh reserve, Tsav village, near a spring, 28 July 1959, Grigoryan 98374 (ERE); Zangezur, Shikahokh reserve, village Shikahokh×Srashen, on the road, 16 July 1960, Mulkidzhanyan 96373 (ERE); Kafan region, Shikahogh reserve, Nor And village, along the road, 780 m a.s.l., 28 June 1960, Grigoryan 96379 (ERE); Zangezur, Kafan district, Shikahokh reserve, Srashen×Shikahokh village, along the road, north-eastern slope, 15 June 1960, Grigoryan 98372 (ERE); Yerevan, Shahumyan district, village of Nor Aresh, 20 April 1962, Mulkidzhanyan, Manakyan 72834 (ERE); Meghri, vicinity of Lichk, hayfield, mixed-grass slope in a forest clearing, 1600 m a.s.l., 19 September 1963, Mulkidzhanyan 77899 (ERE); Zangezur, Goris region, Karahunj village, northern slope, 8 October 1964, Mulkidzhanyan 66888 (ERE); Zangezur, Kafan region, Geganush river gorge, thickets of Quaercus araxina and Paliurus spina-christi , 600–1100 m above sea level, 22 September 1965, Manakyan 95545 (ERE); Goris, near the airport, 20 August 1966, Barseghyan 172707 (ERE); Goris region, Tatev×Anapat monastery, right bank of the Vorotan river, 13 July 1967, Mulkidzhanyan 96381 (ERE); Syunik province, pr. Devil’s Bridge, 1028 m, 39 o 23'46'' N, 46 o 15'33'' E, 25 June 2005, Gonzalo et al. 202290 (ERE); Syunik province area, c. 9 km SE Kapan, road between Chakaten and Shikahogh, 980 m a.s.l., 39 o 08'28'' N, 46 o 27'50''E. 16 June 2016. Vitek, Oganesian, Fayvush 202289 (ERE); Syunik region, near Kavtchut vil., below Geghavank dam, 1400 m a.s.l., 13 September 2019, Gabrielyan et al. 199042 (ERE).

Rubus armeniacus Focke × R. sanctus Schreb. Kafan region, Shikahokh reserve, Nor And village, along the road, 780 m a.s.l., 27 June 1960, Grigoryan 96378 (ERE).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Leaves and fragments of stems of Rubus armeniacus (Zangezur, Kafan district, Lower Andes village, at the edge of the field. 9 October 1954. Mulkidzhanyan 66474, ERE)—A, B; R. candicans (Akhtala, Debet river valley. 25 June 1954. Mulkidzhanyan 63240, ERE)—C, D; R. ibericus (Zangezur, outskirts of Goris. 4 September 1949. Karapetyan 135970, ERE)—E, F