Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Monday - July 28, 2008
From: Milford, CT
Region: Northeast
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identity of red raspberry-like berries in Connecticut
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I found some edible berries today in the woods that look like raspberries, are red like raspberries, but don't taste like them at all. They're very shiny red, remove easily from the bush. The flavor ranges from mildly sweet to sour, but tastes very nice with a little sugar, although they have a nondescript flavor. The branches have thorns but are mostly fuzzy, especially where the berries form. When you remove the berry, there is an orange-colored appendage sticking out. Any idea what kind of berry this is? I was so excited to find them. The web has been very unhelpful.ANSWER:
I suspect that you might have found one of the two introduced species that occur in Connecticut:1. Rubus illecebrosus (strawberry raspberry) introduced, a native of the mountains of Japan.
Here are photos and more information and more photos and information.
2. Rubus phoenicolasius (wine raspberry) introduced, native of Japan, Korea and China
Listed in the Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group list of Least Wanted plants and on the Invasive Species list. It also occurs on the Mid Atlantic EPPC (Exotic Plant Pest Council) list of invasive species.
Here are the native raspberries found in Connecticut:
Rubus idaeus (American red raspberry) native. More information and photos.Rubus idaeus ssp. idaeus (American red raspberry) native.
Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus (grayleaf red raspberry) native. More information and photos.
Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry) native. More information and photos.Rubus odoratus (purpleflowering raspberry) native, also called thimbleberry. More information and photos.
Rubus odoratus var. odoratus (purpleflowering raspberry) native.
More Plant Identification Questions
Plant identification of thorny shrub in Tennessee
October 03, 2013 - I have a mid to dark green thorny type bush growing on my land in Cosby, Tennessee. I am originaly from NJ and I have never seen it before. The stalk is varigated and the thorns are plentiful and very...
view the full question and answer
Identification of thorny vine in Michigan
May 21, 2013 - We have a species growing around our rural SW Michigan property that I'm trying to identify: I either see stalks up to 3 ft tall, or much longer vines if they find anchor. The most notable characte...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification in Andover MA
November 12, 2009 - I live in MA. I have found a tree that produces an avocado like fruit with a round grooved pit. There are several of these trees in the fields where I walk and the ground is littered with these fruits...
view the full question and answer
Identity of vine growing in Naples Florida
September 15, 2014 - I live on country/residential property outside of Naples, Florida. This year I have had dozens of seedlings of some type of vine popping up all over. I have posted on a couple plant blogs looking for ...
view the full question and answer
ID for two flowers blooming in November in Buda TX
November 29, 2015 - two different plants growing in my wild area. 1. springs of tiny yellow flowers atop almost foot tall woody stem.
2. Clump of tiny near white bud like flowers. clump about 6 to 8 inches across on ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |