Rubus roribaccus facts for kids

The Lucretia blackberry (scientific name: Rubus roribaccus) is a type of bramble plant. Brambles are a group of plants known for their thorny stems, like raspberries and blackberries. This plant belongs to the rose family, which includes many well-known fruits and flowers.

You can find the Lucretia blackberry growing in parts of eastern Canada, specifically in Québec. It also grows in the eastern and central United States. Its range stretches from New York and Massachusetts south to the Carolinas. Westward, it reaches as far as Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska.

What Does the Lucretia Blackberry Look Like?

This plant has a thick stem. The stem is round when you look at it from the side. It also has straight, sharp prickles, which are like small thorns.

Its leaves are compound, meaning each leaf is made up of several smaller parts. These smaller parts are called leaflets. A Lucretia blackberry leaf usually has 3 or 5 leaflets.

The fruit of this plant is black when ripe. It can be shaped like a ball (spherical) or be slightly longer than it is wide (oblong).

Understanding Blackberry Types

The world of Rubus plants, which includes all blackberries and raspberries, is very complex. It can be tricky for scientists to decide which groups should be called separate species. There are many types of Rubus plants that are quite rare. They might only grow in a small area. The Lucretia blackberry is one of these less common species.