Rubus moluccanus L. var. moluccanus

Rosaceae

Linnaeus, C. von (1753) Species Plantarum 2: 1197. Type: Habitat in Amboina. Rumphius, Herb. Amboin. 5 (1747) 88, t. 47, fig. 2 (ref. C.Kalkman, Fl. Malesiana ser. I, 11(2) (1993) 275.

Native Raspberry; Queensland Bramble; Raspberry; Raspberry, Molucca; Raspberry, Native; Molucca Raspberry; Molucca Bramble

Usually flowers and fruits as a scrambler or weak-stemmed shrub 2-3 m tall but can attain the form of a slender vine not exceeding a stem diameter of 2 cm.

Stipules about 7-15 mm long, the margins deeply seven to nine-lobed, attached to the stems, not the petioles. Leaf blades about 5-11 x 4-7.5 cm, petioles about 4-5 cm long. Recurved thorns usually present on the stems, petioles and midrib on the underside of the leaf blade. Leaves often obscurely three to five-lobed, +/- glabrous or pubescent on the upper surface but densely clothed in pale felty hairs on the lower surface. Petioles and twigs clothed in long brown hairs.

Flowers about 1-1.5 cm diam. Calyx hairy throughout, outer surface clothed in orange or golden hairs and short downy matted hairs, inner surface with white silky hairs. Petals about 3-5 x 3-4 mm, glabrous. Pollen white. Carpels about 30 or more per flower, glabrous, attached to a globular receptacle. One ovule per carpel.

Aggregate fruit about 10 mm diam. Styles persistent at the apex and calyx lobes persistent at the base of the fruit. Seed enclosed in a seed-like endocarp which is rugose, netted or pitted on the outer surface.

Cotyledons ovate, about 3-4 x 2-3 mm, margins hairy or appearing toothed, hair apices glandular. First pair of leaves simple but the margins coarsely toothed or lobed, petioles slightly longer than the blades, glandular hairs usually visible with a lens. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade narrowly cordate, margin with numerous teeth. Spines present on the stem, petiole and midrib on the underside of the leaf blade. Stem, petiole and both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf blade clothed in simple, white hairs. Stipules hairy, about 6-7 x 2 mm long, margins laciniate. Seed germination time 37 to 73 days.

Occurs in CYP, NEQ, CEQ and southwards as far as north-eastern New South Wales. Altitudinal range in CYP and NEQ from near sea level to 1200 m. Grows in disturbed areas in well developed lowland, upland and mountain rain forest. Also occurs in Asia, Malesia and the Pacific islands.

This species may have medicinal properties. The stem of this species is regarded as a contraceptive. Cribb (1981).

Rubus haskarlii subsp. dendrocharis Focke, Biblioth. Bot. 72: 99(1910), Type: New Guinea, Bele River, NE of Lake Habbema, Nov. 1938, Brass 11387; neo: A Fide Royen (1969); iso: BRI. Rubus moluccanus var. dendrocharis (Focke) P.Royen, Phan. Monogr. 2: 106(1969).