Rubus cissoides A.Cunn.
(C.J.W., D.R.G.)
bush lawyer
Scrambling liane; stems stout, terete, glabrate, often with scattered stalked glands when young; armature of numerous, stout, falcate, reddish prickles. Lvs palmate; leaflets (3)-5, glabrate, evenly and usually sharply serrate, usually lanceolate, sometimes ovate-oblong, ovate or linear; terminal leaflet lamina 40-150 × 7-60 mm, with petiolule c. ⅕-⅔ or rarely = or > length of lamina. Infl. a much-branched, many-flowered panicle up to 60 cm long. Petals white. Drupelets orange to red.
N.; S.; St.
Endemic.
Lowland to montane, forest, more open habitats and scrub.
FL Aug-Dec FT Nov-Apr.
R. cissoides varies greatly in leaflet shape; plants in the C. North Id often have long-linear leaflets and those in the E. South Id and Stewart Id often have ovate-oblong or ovate leaflets. The type specimen for R. cissoides has the lanceolate to narrowly ovate-lanceolate leaflets characteristic of the sp. through much of its range. Juvenile plants often have narrow leaflets like those of C. North Id plants.
