California Blackberry (Scientific Name: Rubus Ursinus)
California Blackberry
Description:
Type~ Angiosperm.
Leaves~ Leaves are three to seven cm long, dark green, and toothed.
Bark~ Bark is green and smooth with sharp thorns.
Habitat~ The natural habitat of the California blackberry ranges from the Cascades to the Pacific Coast, favors middle elevations and open areas.
Co-exits~ Columbia Bromes, Shasta Firs, and many other trees are commonly found near California Blackberries. Deer, quails, and many other birds are also found around blackberry bushes.
Reproduction~ The California Blackberry produces blackberries, can sometimes pollinate itself and other times it is pollinated by bees and wind, can have both male and female flowers.
Ethnobotany:
California blackberry bushes are often used for their fruit because it is edible, decently nutritious, and contains antioxidants. Harvesting this fruit was an actual necessity of the Native Americans, unlike today when picking blackberries is more of a fun past-time. Also the California blackberry can be used to rehabilitate disturbed areas and prevent soil erosion because they have the ability to grow well in infertile conditions.
Current research:
There is little to no current research being done on the California Blackberry. There is some research being done on different types of blackberry plants, but not much for specifically Rubus Ursinus. There has been a little research regarding the origin of blackberry plants on the Pacific Coast, which includes Rubus Ursinus. One article compares the reproductive efforts of blackberry bushes by looking at their fruit. This article includes the California blackberry. The California blackberry has smaller fruit and less of it. Otherwise there really isn’t much research regarding the California Blackberry currently.
Creative Writing:
As a young Native American girl you get to pick berries to bring back to your tribe. You and your sisters bring your hand-woven baskets over to the California blackberry bushes near the stream. The berries are full and ripe, perfect for picking. You are careful not to get pricked by the thorns that cover the smooth branches of the bushes. The colorfully green leaves have sharp looking edges, but they are not actually sharp like the thorns. When you move on to the next bush, a little family of quails run out and into the forest. Every once in a while you and your sisters snitch a blackberry for yourselves. They are so flavorful and tasty, they must be good for you too. Soon enough you and your sisters have gathered all the berries you can and you return home to help your mother make a delicious dessert with the blackberries.
Description:
Type~ Angiosperm.
Leaves~ Leaves are three to seven cm long, dark green, and toothed.
Bark~ Bark is green and smooth with sharp thorns.
Habitat~ The natural habitat of the California blackberry ranges from the Cascades to the Pacific Coast, favors middle elevations and open areas.
Co-exits~ Columbia Bromes, Shasta Firs, and many other trees are commonly found near California Blackberries. Deer, quails, and many other birds are also found around blackberry bushes.
Reproduction~ The California Blackberry produces blackberries, can sometimes pollinate itself and other times it is pollinated by bees and wind, can have both male and female flowers.
Ethnobotany:
California blackberry bushes are often used for their fruit because it is edible, decently nutritious, and contains antioxidants. Harvesting this fruit was an actual necessity of the Native Americans, unlike today when picking blackberries is more of a fun past-time. Also the California blackberry can be used to rehabilitate disturbed areas and prevent soil erosion because they have the ability to grow well in infertile conditions.
Current research:
There is little to no current research being done on the California Blackberry. There is some research being done on different types of blackberry plants, but not much for specifically Rubus Ursinus. There has been a little research regarding the origin of blackberry plants on the Pacific Coast, which includes Rubus Ursinus. One article compares the reproductive efforts of blackberry bushes by looking at their fruit. This article includes the California blackberry. The California blackberry has smaller fruit and less of it. Otherwise there really isn’t much research regarding the California Blackberry currently.
Creative Writing:
As a young Native American girl you get to pick berries to bring back to your tribe. You and your sisters bring your hand-woven baskets over to the California blackberry bushes near the stream. The berries are full and ripe, perfect for picking. You are careful not to get pricked by the thorns that cover the smooth branches of the bushes. The colorfully green leaves have sharp looking edges, but they are not actually sharp like the thorns. When you move on to the next bush, a little family of quails run out and into the forest. Every once in a while you and your sisters snitch a blackberry for yourselves. They are so flavorful and tasty, they must be good for you too. Soon enough you and your sisters have gathered all the berries you can and you return home to help your mother make a delicious dessert with the blackberries.
Works Cited:
Species: Rubus Ursinus. (2013). Retrieved 10 1, 2013, from USDA Forest Service: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/ruburs/all.html
Brown, S. W. (1943). The Origin and Nature of Variability in the Pacific Coast Blackberries (Rubus ursinus Cham. & Schlecht. and R. Lemurum Sp. Nov.). American Journal Of Botany, (9), 686. doi:10.2307/2437715
Turner, D. P. (2002). Reproductive Effort in Invasive and Non-Invasive Rubus. Oecologia, (2), 102. doi:10.2307/4223397
Species: Rubus Ursinus. (2013). Retrieved 10 1, 2013, from USDA Forest Service: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/ruburs/all.html
Brown, S. W. (1943). The Origin and Nature of Variability in the Pacific Coast Blackberries (Rubus ursinus Cham. & Schlecht. and R. Lemurum Sp. Nov.). American Journal Of Botany, (9), 686. doi:10.2307/2437715
Turner, D. P. (2002). Reproductive Effort in Invasive and Non-Invasive Rubus. Oecologia, (2), 102. doi:10.2307/4223397