Rubus praecox Bertol.

Very robust, scrambling shrub; primocanes arching, brownish to purple, occasionally slightly pruinose, sharply angled and flat to slightly concave between, with sometimes a few subsessile glands, otherwise glabrous or almost glabrous; armature of many, stout, erect prickles on angles. Young stems sparsely to moderately hairy and sparsely glandular. Leaflets 5, sparsely pilose or almost glabrous on upper surface, pilose on veins and with dense whitish tomentum between on lower surface, 1–2-serrate-dentate; terminal leaflet lamina orbicular to obovate- or ovate-elliptic, acuminate, (60)–80–160 × (40)–50–100–(150) mm, with petiole 1/4–1/2 length of lamina. Stipules linear to narrow-lanceolate. Infl. densely hairy, with subsessile glands. Sepals acuminate, tomentose and with longer, simple hairs, rarely with a few pricklets. Petals rounded or shallowly notched, slightly crinkled, usually pale pink. Anthers usually glabrous, sometimes with 1–2 hairs.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4. as Rubus procerus P.J.Müll. ex Boulay]

Flowering: (Aug.)–Dec.–Feb.–(Mar.)