Rubus idaeus – This image just goes to show how you can pass by so much without really noticing things. I discovered Rasberry today, growing wild off a narrow dirt pathway leading but a short few steps to the river. It was almost hidden by brambles and nettles, and shaded under willow, but here we have it. First time seeing it after 27 years of walking around here! Must have had my eyes closed half the time.
Belonging to the rose family, Rosaceae, it is also called ‘Red Raspberry’ for its clusters of lush red druplet fruits. The stems bear weak thorns, and the leaves are pale green above with a whitish down beneath, and they are divided into 5-7 finely toothed oval leaflets. The flowers have five tiny white petals which are bent backwards and are smaller than the green sepals between them.
It flowers May to August, and is found in shady places such as woodland and scrub, embankments, wasteland and heaths. Widespread and fairly common throughout.
Rasberry (Rubus idaeus). Nature reserve, Staffordshire, England. August 2013.
Nature Journeys 