Sunday, October 28, 2018

Rubus ursinus

There are various plants that present field work challenges in western Washington. Rubus ursinus or trailing blackberry is a low key plant that has temporarily flustered me while navigating through brush. 

Rubus ursinus set as a couple of trip wires on a moss covered log

High stepping and an awareness that a wire like vine may be wrapped around an ankle is a key strategy

The sharped barbs are not long, but they are very effective at shredding skin

The blackberry is a native and does produce tasty fruits. They are far less problematic compared to thick Himalayan blackberry thickets or rose thickets. 

2 comments:

  1. Hawthorn thickets (Crataegus douglasii) aren't fun, either!

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  2. Agreed! In fact they may be the worst. Fortunately rare on the west side of the state where I do most of my landslide work.

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