Rubus plicatifolius facts for kids

Rubus plicatifolius is a type of plant known as a dewberry. It belongs to the rose family, which includes many plants you might know, like roses and apples! This plant is found in North America.

About the Rubus plicatifolius Dewberry

This plant is a special kind of dewberry. It is a shrub that grows low to the ground. You can find it trailing along the surface.

Where Does This Plant Grow?

Rubus plicatifolius grows in many places across eastern and central North America. In Canada, it is found in Québec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. In the United States, it grows from Maine down to Virginia. It also spreads west to states like Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri.

What Does It Look Like?

This dewberry plant has some unique features:

• It is a prostrate shrub, meaning it grows flat along the ground.
• Its stems have straight prickles. These are like small, sharp points, but they are not curved.
• The leaves are compound. This means each leaf is made up of five smaller, egg-shaped leaflets.
• These leaflets are often plaited, which means they look folded or pleated. They also have a yellowish color.
• The flowers grow in long groups. Each group has several flowers.
• The fruits of Rubus plicatifolius are shaped like cylinders. They are not round like many other berries.

Why Are Rubus Plants Tricky to Identify?

The world of Rubus plants, which includes dewberries and blackberryes, is very complex. It can be hard for scientists to decide which groups are separate species. There are many rare types of Rubus that grow only in small areas. Rubus plicatifolius is one of these. Scientists are still studying these plants to understand them better.