Rubus laciniatus Willd.
(C.J.W., D.R.G.)
cut-leaved blackberry
Robust scrambling shrub; primocanes arching, greenish purple or purple, sharply angled and ± flat or concave between, with few to numerous subsessile glands, otherwise glabrous or sparsely clothed in simple and stellate hairs; armature of many, stout, ± falcate prickles on angles. Young stems sparsely to moderately hairy and glandular. Leaflets 5, sparsely pilose to glabrous on upper surface, sparsely to densely pilose on veins and sometimes also tomentose on lower surface, 1-2-pinnatisect to pinnate and pinnatisect, the segments remotely toothed; terminal leaflet lamina ovate-triangular, acuminate, 50-100 × 40-110 mm, with petiolule c. 1/2 length of lamina. Stipules linear. Infl. moderately hairy, with subsessile glands. Sepals attenuate, sometimes with longer expanded apex, usually toothed, tomentose and with longer simple hairs, with many pricklets. Petals rounded to acuminate, sometimes coarsely toothed, smooth, pale pink or white. Anthers glabrous.
N.; S.: scattered localities throughout; St.: Halfmoon Bay and Horseshoe Bay areas.
Origin unknown 1899
Roadsides, scrub, fernland, riverbanks, neglected pasture, up to 600 m.
FL Nov-Mar FT Feb-Apr.
R. laciniatus is an escape from cultivation in many temperate areas. It is easily distinguished by the dissected lvs, often toothed sepals and petals, falcate stem prickles and numerous pricklets on the sepals. Although widespread in N.Z., it is rarely found at any one site in large numbers.
