Rubus idaeus ( raspberry, also called red raspberry or occasionally European red raspberry to distinguish it from other raspberry species) is a red-fruited species of Rubus native to Europe and northern Asia and commonly cultivated in other temperate regions.
Taxonomy
A closely related plant in North America, sometimes regarded as the variety
Rubus idaeus var.
strigosus, is more commonly treated as a distinct species,
Rubus strigosus (American red raspberry), as is done here.
Red-fruited cultivated raspberries, even in North America, are generally
Rubus idaeus or horticultural derivatives of hybrids of
R. idaeus and
R. strigosus; these plants are all addressed in the present article.
Description
Plants of
Rubus idaeus are generally
perennial plant, which bear
biennial plant stems ("canes") from a perennial root system. In its first year, a new, unbranched stem ("
primocane") grows vigorously to its full height of 1.5–2.5 m (5.0–8.3 feet), bearing large pinnately compound
leaves with five or seven leaflets, but usually no flowers. In its second year (as a "
floricane"), a stem does not grow taller, but produces several side shoots, which bear smaller leaves with three or five leaflets. The
are produced in late spring on short
on the tips of these side shoots, each flower about 1 cm (0.4 inches) diameter with five white
. The
fruit is red, edible, and sweet but tart-flavoured, produced in summer or early autumn; in
botanical terminology, it is not a berry at all, but an
aggregate fruit of numerous
around a central core. In raspberries (various species of
Rubus subgenus
Idaeobatus), the drupelets separate from the core when picked, leaving a hollow fruit, whereas in
blackberry and most other species of
Rubus, the drupelets stay attached to the core.
[.][.]
Its fruit persists for an average of 12 days, and bears an average of 35.2 seeds per fruit. Wild fruits average 76.3% water, and their dry matter includes 39.6% and 2.2% .
Biotope
As a wild plant,
R. idaeus typically grows in forests, forming open stands under a tree canopy, and denser stands in clearings. In the south of its range (southern Europe and central Asia), it occurs only at high altitudes in mountains.
[ The species name idaeus refers to its occurrence on Mount Ida near Troy in what is now northwest Turkey, where the ancient Greeks were most familiar with it.][
]
Cultivation and uses
R. idaeus is grown primarily for its fruits, but occasionally for its leaves, roots, or other parts.
Fruits
The fruit of R. idaeus is an important food crop, though most modern commercial raspberry derive from hybrids between R. idaeus and R. strigosus.[ The fruits of wild plants have a sweet taste and are very aromatic.
]
Leaves and other parts
Young roots of Rubus idaeus prevented kidney stone formation in a mouse model of hyperoxaluria.
Chemistry
Vitamin C and phenolics are present in red raspberries. Most notably, the anthocyanins cyanidin-3-sophoroside, cyanidin-3-(2(G)-glucosylrutinoside) and cyanidin-3-glucoside, the two ellagitannins sanguiin H-6 and lambertianin C are present together with trace levels of flavonols, ellagic acid and hydroxycinnamate.
compounds from raspberry seeds have antioxidant effects in vitro,
==Gallery==
See also
-
Chambord (liqueur) – raspberry-based liqueur
-
List of culinary fruits
Bibliography
External links
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