Rubus nemoralis P.J.Müll.
(C.J.W., D.R.G.)
Semi-prostrate, scrambling shrub; primocanes low-arching to trailing, purplish, sharply angled and flat to slightly concave between, with some subsessile glands, otherwise glabrous or almost glabrous; armature of numerous, stout, erect to slightly falcate prickles mostly on angles. Young stems with few, scattered, eglandular hairs and numerous, subsessile glands. Leaflets 3-5, almost glabrous on upper surface, moderately pilose on veins but lacking tomentum on lower surface, serrate-dentate; terminal leaflet lamina broad-ovate to suborbicular, acuminate, 40-80 × 30-65 mm, with petiolule 1/4-⅖ length of lamina. Stipules lanceolate to narrow-elliptic. Infl. moderately hairy, with subsessile glands. Sepals long-acuminate, tomentose and with longer simple hairs, with pricklets. Petals rounded to notched, slightly crinkled, pale pink. Anthers glabrous.
N.: S. Auckland (Thames, Mamaku Plateau, Rotorua and Lake Rotoiti).
Europe 1988
Roadsides, scrub margins.
FL Dec-Jan.
Some collections of stouter, more upright plants (e.g., CHR 400999, Queenstown, Hall, 1983) would key out to R. nemoralis but differ in their larger lvs and densely hairy infls. These may be referable to R. macrophyllus Weihe et Nees but better collections are required to substantiate this identification.
