Pasture dewberry facts for kids

The Rubus biformispinus, also known as the pasture dewberry, is a special type of flowering plant. It belongs to the rose family, which includes many plants you might know, like roses and apples! This plant is not very common.

You can find the pasture dewberry in parts of eastern and central Canada, from Ontario all the way to Nova Scotia. It also grows in the northeastern United States, in states like Maine, New York, and Pennsylvania.

What's in a Name?

The scientific name biformispinus might sound complicated, but it tells us something cool about the plant! It means "with spines of two shapes." This is because the stems of the pasture dewberry have two different sizes of prickles, or tiny thorns.

A Tricky Family Tree

Understanding the family tree of Rubus plants, which includes dewberries and blackberries, can be very tricky. There are so many different kinds, and their genetics (how their traits are passed down) are super complex! This makes it hard for scientists to decide which groups should be called their own species.

The pasture dewberry is one of those rare species that only grows in a few places. Scientists are still studying it to learn more and make sure they have its classification just right. Some studies even suggest that Rubus biformispinus might have formed from two other Rubus plants, R. setosus and R. flagellaris, mixing together.