Smooth blackberry
StarRubus canadensis
Synonyms: Rubus acridens, Selnorition canadensis, Rubus illustris, Rubus canadensis var. septemfoliolatus, Rubus canadensis var. randii, Rubus canadensis var. micmacorum, Rubus argutus var. randii, Rubus canadensis var. millspaughii, Rubus randii, Rubus montensis, Rubus montensis var. superior, Rubus besseyi, Rubus canadensis var. terrae-novae, Rubus canadensis var. imus, Rubus laetabilis, Rubus ulterior, Rubus pergratus, Rubus pergratus var. terrae-novae, Rubus millspaughii, Rubus villosus var. randii, Rubus kennedyanus
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
Several northeastern tribes, including the Iroquois, Ojibwa, Chippewa, Delaware, and Menominee, used smooth blackberry extensively, eating the fruit fresh, dried, or made into beverages, breads, and sauces and storing it as a winter food (Moerman, NAEB). The astringent root and leaves were taken as a remedy for diarrhea (Moerman, NAEB).
Gallery
Botanical Description
Rubus canadensis, the smooth blackberry or thornless blackberry, is a deciduous shrub in the family Rosaceae, distinguished from most blackberries by its nearly prickle-free, ridged canes. The biennial canes are erect to arching, reddish-brown, and may reach 2–3 m, forming thickets from a perennial root system. The leaves are palmately compound, usually with five toothed, lance-shaped to ovate leaflets that are smooth and green. In late spring and early summer the plant produces clusters of white, five-petalled flowers. These develop into aggregate fruits that ripen from red to glossy black, sweet and juicy. Native to eastern North America, Rubus canadensis ranges from eastern Canada south through the Appalachian Mountains, where it is common in clearings, forest edges, burned areas, roadsides, and high-elevation balds. It is an early-successional species that colonizes disturbed and open ground and provides food for wildlife.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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