Preferred Scientific Name
- Rubus racemosus Roxb.
Preferred Common Name
- black raspberry
International Common Names
- English: Nilgiri blackberry
Local Common Names
- India: sheetthi
Datasheet
Rubus racemosus (black raspberry)
Index
- Identity
- Summary of Invasiveness
- Taxonomic Tree
- Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Description
- Plant Type
- Distribution
- Distribution Table
- History of Introduction and Spread
- Risk of Introduction
- Habitat
- Habitat List
- Biology and Ecology
- Climate
- Air Temperature
- Rainfall
- Soil Tolerances
- Means of Movement and Dispersal
- Pathway Causes
- Pathway Vectors
- Impact Summary
- Environmental Impact
- Risk and Impact Factors
- Uses
- Uses List
- References
- Contributors
- Distribution Maps
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Generate reportSummary of Invasiveness
Top of pageR. racemosus is a fast-growing shrub occasionally planted as an ornamental and for its edible fruits. At present, this species has been listed as invasive only in Jamaica, where it is principally invading areas in montane rainforests in the Blue Mountains region. In Jamaica, R. racemosus grows vigorously and fruits abundantly forming “impenetrable thickets” that out-compete and displace native vegetation and impede the movement of native wildlife (Adams, 1972; Goodland and Healey, 1996; IABIN, 2014).
Taxonomic Tree
Top of page- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Spermatophyta
- Subphylum: Angiospermae
- Class: Dicotyledonae
- Order: Rosales
- Family: Rosaceae
- Genus: Rubus
- Species: Rubus racemosus
Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Top of page
Rosaceae is a family of flowering plants including over 100 genera and about 4800 species distributed worldwide, but especially abundant in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere (Stevens, 2012; The Plant List, 2013). The genus Rubus comprises nearly 1500 species accepted by The Plant List (2013). Species are shrubs or subshrubs, deciduous, rarely evergreen or semievergreen, sometimes perennial creeping dwarf herbs (Stevens, 2012; Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2014).
Rubus racemosus Roxb. is an accepted name on Indian Biodiversity and USDA-ARS (2014), while the Plant List (2013), lists Rubus racemosus Genev. as an unresolved name.
Description
Top of pageR. racemosus is a deciduous shrub; tender parts glandular; prickles recurved. Leaves odd-pinnate, to 12(16) x 8(10) cm, chartaceous; margin serrate; petiole to 5(7) cm; stipules adnate to petiole, to 6 mm, persistent; terminal leaflet ovate, acute, to 8 x 6 cm, often sublobulate; laterals ovate-lanceolate, 7 x 3.5 cm. Inflorescence axillary, few-flowered; peduncle 2 cm. Flowers 1 cm wide; pedicel to 1 cm; bracts subulate, 6 mm. Calyx-tube shallowly cup-shaped, with glandular hairs; lobes 5, ovate-acuminate. Petals 5, red, longer than sepals. Stamens numerous. Ovary glabrous; ovule 1. Fruits globose, 1 cm wide, purple (India Biodiversity, 2014).
Distribution
Top of pageR. racemosus is native to India, where it is endemic to the Southern Western Ghats (i.e., Nilgiri and Pulney Hills) (India Biodiversity, 2014). It is now also naturalized in Jamaica (Adams, 1974; Acevedo-Rodriguez and Strong, 2012).
Distribution Table
Top of pageThe distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.
Last updated: 10 Jan 2020| Continent/Country/Region | Distribution | Last Reported | Origin | First Reported | Invasive | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asia |
|||||||
| India | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
| -Kerala | Present | Native | Malapuram, Palakkad | ||||
| -Tamil Nadu | Present | Native | Dindigul, Nilgiri | ||||
North America |
|||||||
| Jamaica | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
History of Introduction and Spread
Top of pageR. racemosus is occasionally planted as an ornamental and for its edible fruits. In Jamaica, it was probably introduced in the late 1800s. By 1893, it was reported as a “fruit plant” that grows vigorously on the island and that “once planted it requires little or no cultivation care” (Fawcett, 1893).
Risk of Introduction
Top of pageAlthough R. racemosus has been apparently introduced only in Jamaica, this species has the capability to colonize similar montane and rain forests in tropical and subtropical regions. R. racemosus spreads by seeds which can be dispersed by frugivorous birds and locally from underground shoots.
Habitat
Top of pageWithin its native distribution range, R. racemosus grows in semi-evergreen forests (India Biodiversity, 2014). In Jamaica, it grows in montane forests, rainforests and disturbed sites in wet areas (Adams, 1972; Goodland and Healey, 1996; IABIN, 2014).
Habitat List
Top of page| Category | Sub-Category | Habitat | Presence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrestrial | Managed | Managed forests, plantations and orchards | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
| Terrestrial | Managed | Managed forests, plantations and orchards | Present, no further details | Natural |
| Terrestrial | Managed | Managed forests, plantations and orchards | Present, no further details | Productive/non-natural |
| Terrestrial | Managed | Disturbed areas | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
| Terrestrial | Managed | Disturbed areas | Present, no further details | Natural |
| Terrestrial | Managed | Rail / roadsides | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
| Terrestrial | Managed | Rail / roadsides | Present, no further details | Natural |
| Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural forests | Present, no further details | Natural |
| Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural grasslands | Present, no further details | Natural |
Biology and Ecology
Top of pageGenetics
The chromosome number reported for R. racemosus is 2n = 14 (Thompson, 1997).
Physiology and Phenology
In India, R. racemosus has been recorded flowering and fruiting from December to May (India Biodiversity, 2014).
Climate
Top of page| Climate | Status | Description | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| As - Tropical savanna climate with dry summer | Preferred | < 60mm precipitation driest month (in summer) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25]) | |
| Aw - Tropical wet and dry savanna climate | Preferred | < 60mm precipitation driest month (in winter) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25]) |
Rainfall
Top of page| Parameter | Lower limit | Upper limit | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean annual rainfall | 800 | 2000 | mm; lower/upper limits |
Means of Movement and Dispersal
Top of pageR. racemosus spreads by seeds and by locally from underground shoots. Seeds can be easily dispersed by frugivorous birds and other animals. It is also dispersed by humans who consume and commercialize its edible fruits (Adams, 1972; Lin, 2012; IABIN, 2014; India Biodiversity, 2014).
Pathway Causes
Top of page| Cause | Notes | Long Distance | Local | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escape from confinement or garden escape | Often planted as an ornamental and for its edible fruits | Yes | Yes | Lim (2012) |
| Garden waste disposal | Seeds, underground shoots | Yes | Yes | Adams (1972) |
| Ornamental purposes | Yes | Yes | Lim (2012) |
Pathway Vectors
Top of page| Vector | Notes | Long Distance | Local | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Host and vector organisms | Seeds dispersed by frugivorous birds | Yes | Yes |
Impact Summary
Top of page| Category | Impact |
|---|---|
| Cultural/amenity | Positive and negative |
| Economic/livelihood | Positive and negative |
| Environment (generally) | Positive and negative |
| Human health | Positive |
Environmental Impact
Top of pageR. racemosus is a fast-growing shrub listed as invasive in Jamaica. On this island, it grows and fruits vigorously, forming impenetrable dense thickets that out-compete native vegetation, disrupt natural successional processes, and impede the movement of native wildlife. This species is invading disturbed and undisturbed areas principally in montane rainforests in the Blue Mountains (Adams, 1972; Goodland and Healey, 1996; IABIN, 2014).
Risk and Impact Factors
Top of page
Invasiveness
- Proved invasive outside its native range
- Is a habitat generalist
- Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc
- Pioneering in disturbed areas
- Highly mobile locally
- Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
- Long lived
- Fast growing
- Has high reproductive potential
- Reproduces asexually
- Damaged ecosystem services
- Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
- Modification of successional patterns
- Monoculture formation
- Reduced native biodiversity
- Competition - monopolizing resources
- Competition - smothering
- Hybridization
- Rapid growth
- Rooting
- Produces spines, thorns or burrs
- Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately
Uses
Top of pageR. racemosus is planted as an ornamental, for its edible fruits, and to be used as a medicinal herb (Lin, 2012; Sharmila et al., 2014). In India, it is used in traditional medicine as an astringent, muscle relaxant, and anticonvulsant. A decoction of the root is useful for relaxed bowels and dysentery (Kumar and Vaidhyalingam, 2010).
Uses List
Top of pageEnvironmental
- Amenity
General
- Ornamental
Human food and beverage
- Fruits
Medicinal, pharmaceutical
- Traditional/folklore
References
Top of pageAcevedo-Rodríguez P; Strong MT, 2012. Catalogue of the Seed Plants of the West Indies. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany, 98:1192 pp. Washington DC, USA: Smithsonian Institution. http://botany.si.edu/Antilles/WestIndies/catalog.htm
Adams CD, 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica. Mona, Jamaica: University of the West Indies, 848 pp.
Fawcett W, 1893. Bulletin of the Botanical Department, Jamaica. Report of the Director of Public Gardens and plantations for the year ended. Kingston, Jamaica: Government Printing Office.
Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2014. Flora of China. St. Louis, Missouri and Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: Missouri Botanical Garden and Harvard University Herbaria. http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=2
IABIN, 2014. List of Alien Invasive Species occurring in Jamaica. The United States Node of the Inter-American Biodiversity Information Net (IABIN). http://www.iabin-us.org/projects/i3n/i3n_documents/catalogs/catalog_jamaica.html
India Biodiversity, 2014. Online Portal of India Biodiversity. http://indiabiodiversity.org/species/list
Kumar PR; Vaidhyalingam V, 2010. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of aerial parts of Rubus racemsosus. Der Pharmacia Lettre, 2(6):16-20. http://scholarsresearchlibrary.com/DPL-vol2-iss6/DPL-2010-2-6-16-20.pdf
Lim TK, 2012. Edible medical and non-medical plants. Volume 4: Fruits. New York, USA: Springer, 1009 pp.
Stevens PF, 2012. Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/
The Plant List, 2013. The Plant List: a working list of all plant species. Version 1.1. London, UK: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://www.theplantlist.org
USDA-ARS, 2014. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online Database. Beltsville, Maryland, USA: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch.aspx
Distribution References
CABI, Undated. CABI Compendium: Status inferred from regional distribution. Wallingford, UK: CABI
IABIN, 2014. List of Alien Invasive Species occurring in Jamaica., The United States Node of the Inter-American Biodiversity Information Net (IABIN). http://www.iabin-us.org/projects/i3n/i3n_documents/catalogs/catalog_jamaica.html
India Biodiversity, 2014. Online Portal of India Biodiversity., http://indiabiodiversity.org/species/list
Contributors
Top of page30/04/15 Original text by:
Julissa Rojas-Sandoval, Department of Botany-Smithsonian NMNH, Washington DC, USA
Distribution Maps
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