Common Blackberry

Rubus allegheniensis

Foliage Type:

leaf

Arrangement:

compound, alternate

Distinguishing features: leaves with prickly leafstalks and 3 to 5 leaflets (when 5, always palmately arranged) leaves are egg-shaped, rounded to somewhat heart-shaped at base, pointed at tip leaves 2 to 4 and 1/2 inches long leaves green beneath leaves sharply and doubly toothed on margin leaves smooth (or nearly smooth above) and densely covered with woolly hairs on underside, velvety to the touch arching or erect branches with angled canes, purplish-red, 3 to 6 feet high branches with stout, straight, broad-based prickles grows in woods, clearings

Habitats:	dry mesic sites mesic sites wet mesic sites
Often confused with:	Red Raspberry
Ecological Value:	Habitat Food for many organisms
Did You Know?	blackberries ripen in August, raspberries ripen in July over 150 birds and mammals feed on the fruit
Uses / Ethnobotanical uses:	The Ojibwa used the fruits and roots for lung trouble, eye diseases and other ailments. Tea remedy for diarrhea, dysentery, stomach pain, gonorrhea, back pain, "female tonic", blood tonic for boils Used to strengthen pergnant women, aid in childbirth. Fruit syrup gargled for inflanme tonsils.