Rubus

Beek, Abraham Van De, 2021, Rubi Capenses: a further contribution to the knowledge of the genus Rubus (Rosaceae) in South Africa, Phytotaxa 515 (1), pp. 1-71 : 47

Subsection Rubus

Stem suberect or high arching; vegetative multiplication mainly by rhizomes.

Notes: —A group of taxa belonging to the American High Bush Blackberries was introduced into South Africa. Some of these have become very invasive especially in KwaZulu-Natal and the eastern Free State. They have been related in South Africa to R. cuneifolius Pursh (1813: 347) for a long time. Some authors distinguished two forms, R. cuneifolius A and B. A thorough comparison with American species executed by the author and Mark Widrlechner (Iowa State University) resulted in the discovery of six species in South Africa that belong to this group. They are all erect or high arching brambles and often form large populations in the fields or along roadsides.

Though R. probabilis Bailey (1923: 180) , R. pascuus Bailey (1943: 440) , and R. revealii Beek & Widrlechner (2021: 79) were not found in the Cape, full descriptions of these are also given here so that a good overview is provided for this group in South Africa.