Rubus grabowskii

Rubus grabowskii is a perennial scrambling shrub within the Rubus fruticosus aggregate of the Rosaceae family, native to central and western Europe, where it occurs in woodland edges, hedgerows, scrub and disturbed ground on a range of soil types. Like other members of the bramble group it is a biennial-caned plant: long arching primocanes grow vigorously in the first year, becoming somewhat angular and bearing scattered, slightly curved prickles, while flowering floricanes develop laterally in the second year and die after fruiting. The leaves on primocanes are palmately compound with three to five leaflets that are ovate to elliptic, sharply serrate, mid-green above and paler beneath, sometimes with a slightly felted under surface. Inflorescences are terminal panicles of five-petalled white to pale pink flowers about 2 to 3 cm across, produced in midsummer. The fruit is a typical blackberry aggregate of small black drupelets adhering to a fleshy receptacle that is harvested with the fruit. Distinctions from other microspecies rest on cane armature, leaf indumentum and floral details.