Rubus idaeus L.

Suckering, erect shrub, up to 1.5–(3) m high; stems erect when young, sometimes almost decumbent when older, terete, sparsely to densely hairy when young, soon becoming glabrous, somewhat pruinose, suckering by adventitious buds; armature of weak, ± terete, erect prickles, these often very numerous (rarely almost 0) on young stems and sometimes sparse on older stems. Lvs usually imparipinnate with 2–(3) pairs of leaflets, rarely pinnately 3-foliolate, rugose, glabrescent, sometimes with whitish bloom on upper surface, densely white-tomentose on lower surface, 1–2-serrate; terminal leaflet ovate to ovate-oblong, sometimes slightly lobed, up to 115 × 85 mm, acuminate, truncate to cordate at base, petiolulate; stipules linear. Infl. a few-flowered leafy raceme; axis and branches pilose and prickly. Fls 20–25 mm diam. Sepals long-triangular, acuminate, tomentose, paler on margins, deflexed at fruiting. Petals narrow, flat, white. Stamen filaments white. Fr. of waxy, red or orange drupelets, cylindric, up to 15 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Nov.–Jan.; Fruiting: Jan.–Mar.