Rubus occidentalis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rubus occidentalis |
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Rubus
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occidentalis
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The Rubus occidentalis is a type of plant that grows naturally in eastern North America. Most people know it as the black raspberry. It shares this name with a similar plant from western America called Rubus leucodermis. Sometimes, people also call it the wild black raspberry, bear's eye blackberry, black caps, black cap raspberry, or scotch cap.
This plant is a deciduous shrub, which means it loses its leaves every year. It can grow quite tall, usually between 2 to 3 meters (about 7 to 10 feet). Its shoots have prickles, so be careful! The leaves are shaped like feathers. Strong new stems have leaves with five smaller parts, called leaflets. Flowering branches have leaves with three leaflets.
The flowers of the black raspberry are special. They have long, thin sepals that are about 6 to 8 millimeters long. These sepals are more than twice as long as the petals. The fruit is round and about 12 to 15 millimeters wide. It is made up of many tiny little fruits called drupelets. This fruit is safe to eat and is full of healthy things like anthocyanins and ellagic acid.
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What Makes Black Raspberries Special?
Black raspberries are packed with anthocyanins. These are natural colors that give the berries their deep purple-black look. Because of these colors, black raspberries are very useful as natural dyes.
Scientists are also studying black raspberries to see if they can help with certain health conditions. For example, some early studies are looking into their possible benefits for health in general.
Black Raspberries and Their Relatives
The black raspberry is closely related to red raspberries, like Rubus idaeus and Rubus strigosus. All these plants have leaves that are white on the underside. Their fruits also easily come off the plant when ripe.
However, black raspberries are different because their ripe fruit is black. Their stems also have more prickles than red raspberries. Even though black raspberries look like blackberries, their taste is unique. It is not like red raspberries or blackberries.
Most black raspberries have very dark purple-black fruits. This color comes from the anthocyanin pigments. But sometimes, a plant might have a small change in its genes. This can cause it to produce yellow fruits instead! These "yellow raspberries" still taste like black raspberries. They are different from the pale-colored red raspberries you might see.
Where Black Raspberries Grow
The main place where black raspberries are grown for sale is in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. A popular type of black raspberry grown there is called 'Munger'. It covers about 600 hectares (1500 acres) of land. Other types of black raspberries grown by farmers include 'John Robertson', 'Allen', 'Jewel', 'Blackhawk', 'Macblack', 'Plum Farmer', 'Dundee', 'Hanover', and 'Huron'.
Farmers prune these plants in the winter. They also harvest the berries using machines. Black raspberries do not produce a lot of fruit per acre. This is why they can sometimes be quite expensive to buy.
Black Raspberry Hybrids and Products
Black raspberries have been used to create many different hybrid plants. When red and black raspberries are crossed, they make purple raspberries. Some examples of purple raspberry types are 'Brandywine', 'Royalty', and 'Estate'. You can also find wild purple raspberries growing naturally in northeastern North America. This happens when red and black raspberry plants grow close together and cross-pollinate.
The berries are often dried or frozen. They can also be made into purées and juices. Sometimes, they are used as colorants to add color to things. Fresh black raspberries are also sold when they are in season. Two famous liqueurs that use black raspberry fruit are France's Chambord Liqueur Royale de France and South Korea's different kinds of Bokbunja.
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Black Raspberry—watercolor, 1893
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A basket of black raspberries
Images for kids
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Rubus phylogenetic tree
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Wild black raspberry fruits at different stages of maturity
See also
In Spanish: Frambuesa negra para niños
