Rubus parviflourus - Thimbleberry

Rubus parviflourus 

Common name(s): thimbleberry, salmonberry, mountain sorrel, Nutka-Himbeere (German)

General bloom time: flowers in early summer; fruit in late summer

Identification: can grow upwards of 10 feet

Leaves: simple, maple-shaped, deciduous, large (3 to 10 inches in diameter), lobed (3-5 lobes) leaves; dark green in color and velvety on both sides

Flowers: large (1 inch in diameter) white petals with a texture “like crinkled tissue paper” occurring terminally, either as singles or in small clusters

Fruit: small, edible fruits, similar in size and appearance to raspberries

Habitat: wooded forestland

Ecology: Quail, grouse, partridge, thrushes, thrashers, towhees, cardinals and grosbeaks are just some of the birds that feed on the ripe berries. But competition for the berries is stiff! Bears, coyotes, raccoons, squirrels, foxes, opossums and skunks are also very fond of the juicy little treasures. Factor in the lower level browsers–the voles, rabbits, porcupines and beavers--and the taller mammals–including deer, feed on the twigs, buds and leaves.

http://web.unbc.ca/~fsty201/wildflower/Wik-Rubus%20parviflorus.jpg	http://www.thefloweringgarden.com/pics/rubus-parviflorus.jpg	http://www.soquelnursery.com/images/rubus_parviflorus.JPG

Fun Facts:

-      Reproduce both with and without seeds

Places to find in Portland: Forest Park

References:

http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?32408 

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=RUPA

Captured Phenology Stages for Rubus parviflourus - Thimbleberry

Leaf Not Yet Emerging

Photograph taken by Kerissa Fuccillo