Rubus niveus


Rubus niveus is a species of Rubus.
The native range of this scrambling shrub stretches from Afghanistan to central China, down to Java and Indo-China. It grows primarily in temperate regions.

Description

Rubus niveus is a shrub growing to tall, the stems whitish, tomentose at first, becoming glabrous green to purple later. The leaves are pinnate with 5–11 leaflets, the leaflets long and wide, with dark green above and densely pale grey to white tomentose beneath. The flowers are about 1 cm diameter, with five dark pink to red petals. The fruit is in diameter, densely grey tomentose, dark red at first, ripening black.

Taxonomy

It is commonly known as Mysore raspberry, Ceylon raspberry, and hill raspberry. It is called and in native and local languages.
It was first published by Carl Peter Thunberg in De Rubo: 9 in 1813.
There are 2 known varieties;
  • Rubus niveus var. micranthus
  • Rubus niveus var. ''niveus''

Distribution

It is native to southern Asia; from Afghanistan, east through India, and across to Tibet, southern and north central China and Taiwan. Then down to Indo-China, to Malesia.
It has been introduced into various countries and regions including; south America, United States, Africa and South Africa.
It has become naturalised and invasive in Hawaii and the Galápagos Islands.

Cultivation

Rubus niveus is cultivated for its edible fruit. Rubus niveus berries have gastroprotective, antioxidant, and nutraceutical properties.