| Salmonberry | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Salmonberry flower | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Genus: | Rubus |
| Species: | R. spectabilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Rubus spectabilis Pursh |
|
Rubus spectabilis (Salmonberry) is a species of Rubus native to the west coast of North America from northwestern Alaska (e.g. Unalakleet, AK) to California.
It is a shrub growing to 1–4 m tall, with perennial, not biennial woody stems (unlike other species). The leaves are trifoliate, 7–22 cm long, the terminal leaflet larger than the two side leaflets. The leaf margins are toothed. The flowers are 2–3 cm diameter, with five purple petals; they are produced from early spring to early summer. The fruit matures in late summer to early autumn, and resembles a large yellow to orange-red raspberry 1.5-2 cm long with many drupelets.[1][2]
In the Pacific Northwest of North America the berries can ripen from mid-June to late-July.
Salmonberries are found in moist forests and stream margins, especially in the coastal forests. They often form large thickets, and thrive in the open spaces under stands of Red Alder (Alnus rubra).
In Kodiak, Alaska, orange salmonberries are often referred to as "Russian berries".[citation needed] Because the berries are found in abundance there and look a lot like raspberries, one of the islands in the Kodiak archipelago is named Raspberry Island (Alaska).
Cultivation and uses
Salmonberries are edible and share the fruit structure of the raspberry, with the fruit pulling away from its receptacle. Books often call the fruit "insipid"[3] but depending on ripeness and site, they are good eaten raw and when processed into jam, candy, jelly and wine.
They are important food for indigenous peoples. It is one of the numerous berries gathered to incorporate into pemmican. It is said that the name came about because of a fondness for eating the berries with half-dried salmon roe.
It is widely grown as an ornamental plant for its flowers. A double-flowered form was discovered in at the mouth of the Duckabush_River, Jefferson County, Washington around May 1, 1961, by Dr. R. C. Creelman of Bremerton, Washington. This has been given the cultivar name 'Olympic Double' or 'Olympic'. [4] [5] [6] Another double salmonberry was found by Phyllis Munday of Vancouver BC, but neither the date nor the site has been determined. This double may be confused in gardens with 'Olympic Double'.
It has escaped cultivation and become naturalized in parts of northwestern Europe, including Great Britain, Ireland and the Faroe Islands.[7][8]
 Mature fruit in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest |
 Salmonberry in hand |
 Colander of Salmonberries |
 Salmonberry about to be eaten |
References
- ^ Plants of British Columbia: Rubus spectabilis
- ^ Jepson Flora: Rubus spectabilis
- ^ Pojar, J., & MacKinnon, A., eds. (1994). Plants of the Pacific Northwest coast. Vancouver, BC: Lone Pine.
- ^ http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/2007/04/rubus_spectabilis_olympic_double_1.php#c217006
- ^ Mulligan, Brian O. (1977). Woody Plants in the University of Washington Arboretum, Washington Park. University of Washington, College of Forest Resources, Seattle.
- ^ Mulligan, Brian O. (1963). Accession records of the University of Washington Arboretum
- ^ Flora of NW Europe: Rubus spectabilis
- ^ Højgaard, A. et al., eds. (1989). A century of tree-planting in the Faroe Islands. Føroya Fróðskaparfelag, Tórshavn.
External links
Media related to Rubus spectabilis at Wikimedia Commons- "Rubus spectabilis". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=rusp. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
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