Rubus probabilis Bailey (1923: 180)

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 : 51

26. Rubus probabilis Bailey (1923: 180) ( Fig. 21A ).

Type:—to be designated

Primocane ( Figs 21B–C ) up to 1 m high, erect, angular, deeply furrowed, diam. 3–4 mm, somewhat or rather densely hairy, with (sub-)sessile glands; prickles 4–9 per 5 cm, from 3–5 mm base, abruptly attenuate, bluntly compressed, patent or slightly curved, up to 8–11 mm long; stipules linear, 6–11 mm long, with few hairs and some subsessile glands. Leaves palmate 5-foliolate, adaxially hairy, abaxially ( Fig. 21D ) greyish, with dense short hairs, soft at touch; serrature fine, regular, very sharp, with straight mucronate teeth; petiole 3–5 cm, appressed pilose, with 3–7 curved strong prickles; central leaflet 44–53(–65) mm long, with wedged or rounded base, narrow, obovate or elliptic-obovate, abruptly attenuate into short tip, width–length index 0.45–0.61, length of petiolule 17–30% of length of leaflet; basal and lateral leaflets (almost) sessile. Flowering branch ( Fig. 21E ) rather densely hairy, with strong curved to hooked prickles. Inflorescence ( Figs 21F–G ) short racemose, leafy only at base, with 1–7 flowers, hairy, with few (sub-)sessile glands; prickles numerous, curved or hooked; leaves acute or rounded, sharply serrate, adaxially hairy, abaxially greyish, hairy; pedicels ascending, 10–30 mm long, hairy, with subsessile glands and 4–10 curved pricklets, with few (sub-)sessile glands. Flowers: sepals greenish grey, reflexed to patent, abruptly attenuate, very short pointed; petals ( Fig. 21H ) white, obovate; stamens patent, equalling or longer than styles; anthers glabrous; styles green; ovaries glabrous; receptacle glabrous in centre, few hairs at margin.

Ecology: —Roadsides, grasslands.

Distribution in South Africa: — Limpopo to southern KwaZulu-Natal, regionally common.

Specimens:— SOUTH AFRICA. Limpopo: Canyon Ridge Forest, on road to Czubora Sawmill, 30 October 1996, Nienaber 80 ( PRE) . Mpumalanga: Barberton, 5 km from escarpment on road to Snymansbult, 26 October 1982, Henderson 637 ( PRE) . Free State: Between Harrismith and Geluksburg along Middledale Pass near farm Bellevue, 3 February 1987, Henderson 791 ( PRE) . KwaZulu-Natal: Louwsburg, about 8 km from Swart Umtolozi on road to Ngome forest , 25 November 1986, Henderson 762 ( PRE) ; R 600 to Sterkspruit Falls, 16 February 2018, Beek 2018.10 ( L) ; About 1.5 km from Kelvin Grove Caravan Park on road to Bergville , 4 February 1987 Henderson 805 ( PRE) ; Weenen , 1 December 1944, S cott 3031 ( PRE) ; Estcourt, 23 km on road to Ntabamhlope, 15 January 1980, Henderson 163 ( PRE) ; Mooiriver , 15 December 1961, n.n. 2695 ( PRE) ; Nkandla, 1 March 1952, Codd 6997 ( PRE) ; Nkandla, turn-off below Gudeni, 22 November 1957, Edwards 2211 ( PRE) ; About 11 km from Komo to Nkandla , 29 November 1986, Henderson 775 ( PRE) ; Greytown, Lake Merloth, entrance caravan park, 5 November 1989, Henderson 425 ( PRE) ; Greytown, near Lake Merthley, 3 October 1986, Henderson 749 ( PRE) ; Eshowe, Ongoye Forest Reserve, 9 December 2006, Siebert 3504 ( PRE) ; Lions River, 12 October 1964, Moll 1185 ( PRE) ; Lions River, Nottingham Road, 24 October 1928, Galpin 10247 ( PRE) ; Lions River, 8 miles west of Nottingham Road, 23 March 1954, Codd 8526 ( PRE) ; R 103 , from Lion’s River to Nottingham Road, Balgowan , just before turn off to Millgate Cottage and Hunters Lodge, 15 February 2019, Beek 2019.33 ( L) ; Howick, 1 km along Karkloof Road, 15 February 2017, Manning 3603 ( NBG) ; Cedara, 27 September 1985, Noel s.n. ( PRE) ; Babanango, s. dat., King 306 ( PRE) ; About 8 km from Byrne on road to Cottingham , 1 October 1986, Henderson 729 ( PRE) ; Lower Loteni, 1 km before Carter’s Neck on road from Himeville to Rosetta , 16 January 1980, Henderson 49 ( PRE) ; Umhlongo Nek, 1 November 1979, Strey 9208 ( PRE) ; Pietermaritzburg, Natal botanic gardens, 15 October 1990, Stielau 24 ( PRE) ; 11 km van Harding na Weza, 1980, Stirton 8102 ( PRE) ; Weza, 26 September 1986, Henderson 687 ( PRE) ; Underberg, 1 km to Drakensberg Gardens, 10 November 1980, Stirton 8172 ( PRE) ; Underberg, 19 km to Swartberg, 10 November 1980, Stirton 8173, ( PRE) ; 24 km from Underberg to Bulwer, 10 November 1980, Stirton 8193 ( PRE) ; About 2 km outside Coleford Nature Reserve on road to Underberg, 24 September 1986, Henderson 676 ( PRE) .

Figures

FIGURE 21. Rubus probabilis. A. Herbarium specimen. B. Habit. C. Primocane. D. Leaf abaxially. E. Flowering branch. F. Floricane with inflorescences. G. Inflorescence. H. Flowers. Photographs:A. van de Beek.