Rubus ulmifolius Schott

Spice Flower Fruit In the field In the field 2

Family: ROSACEAE

Genus: Rubus

Catalan common name: Abarta. Abatzer. Albarzer. Esbarcer. Morera. Morera salvatge. Morillera. Romeguer. Romiguera.

Spanish common name: Zarza.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Holoartica

Uses and properties: Edible or foodstuffs. Medicinal.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Phanerophyte. Semicaducifolious.

Habitats: Oakforest. Hedges. Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Road sides. Near dry-masonry walls and torrents. Bramble patch.

Characteristics: Blackberries have stems (canes) that grow rapidly along the ground; full of prickles and leaves with three or five folioles. This is a very common plant, especially to wet soils, and the brambles can form impenetrable hedges. To distinguish it from Rubus caesius, we have to see if the leaf reverse is whitish and the flowers are pink (or at times white as well), as the latter species leaves are green on both sides and the flowers are always white. Flowering during April and May.