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{{short description|Fruit of Rubus species}}
{{Two other uses|the fruit|the mobile telephone/email device|BlackBerry|other uses|Blackberry (disambiguation)}}
{{about|the bramble fruit|the handheld electronics brand|BlackBerry|other uses}}
{{Taxobox
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{automatic taxobox
| name = Blackberry
| name = Blackberry
| image = Ripe, ripening, and green blackberries.jpg
| image = Ripe, ripening, and green blackberries.jpg
| image_caption = Ripe, ripening, and unripe Allegheny blackberries (''[[Rubus allegheniensis]]'')
| image_width = 250px
| image2 = Rubus fruticosus Luc Viatour.JPG
| image_caption = Ripe, ripening and unripe blackberries on a bush
| image2_caption = Blackberry flower, ''[[Rubus fruticosus]]'' [[species aggregate]]
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| taxon = Rubus subg. Rubus
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| authority =
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| synonyms = ''Rubus'' subg. ''Eubatus''
| ordo = [[Rosales]]
| familia = [[Rosaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Rosoideae]]
| genus = ''[[Rubus]]''
| subgenus = ''Rubus'' (formerly ''Eubatus'')
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
| subdivision = *''[[Rubus ursinus]]''
*''[[Rubus ursinus]]''
* ''[[Rubus laciniatus]]''— Evergreen blackberry
*''[[Rubus argutus]]''
* ''[[Rubus argutus]]''
*'''''Rubus fruticosus''''' - Common Blackberry
* ''[[Rubus armeniacus]]'' Himalayan blackberry
* ''[[Rubus plicatus]]''
And hundreds more microspecies<br>
* ''[[Rubus ulmifolius]]''
* ''[[Rubus allegheniensis]]''
* ''[[Rubus violaceifrons]]''
And hundreds more [[microspecies]]<br />
(the subgenus also includes the [[dewberry|dewberries]])
(the subgenus also includes the [[dewberry|dewberries]])
}}
}}
The '''blackberry''' is an [[aggregate fruit]] from a [[bramble]] bush, genus [[Rubus]] in the rose family [[Rosaceae]]. It is a widespread and well known group of several hundred species, many of which are closely related [[apomixis|apomictic microspecies]] native throughout the temperate [[Northern hemisphere]].<ref name=rhs>Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.</ref>


The '''blackberry''' is an edible fruit produced by many [[species]] in the genus ''[[Rubus]]'' in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Rosaceae]], hybrids among these species within the subgenus ''Rubus'', and hybrids between the subgenera ''Rubus'' and ''Idaeobatus''. The taxonomy of blackberries has historically been confused because of [[hybrid (biology)|hybridization]] and [[apomixis]], so that species have often been grouped together and called [[species aggregate]]s. For example, the entire subgenus ''Rubus'' has been called the ''[[Rubus fruticosus]]'' aggregate, although the species ''R. fruticosus'' is considered a synonym of ''[[Rubus plicatus|R. plicatus]]''.<ref name=Jarvis>{{cite journal |author=Jarvis, C.E. |year=1992 |title=Seventy-Two Proposals for the Conservation of Types of Selected Linnaean Generic Names, the Report of Subcommittee 3C on the Lectotypification of Linnaean Generic Names |journal=Taxon |volume=41 |issue=3 |pages=552–583 |jstor=1222833 |doi=10.2307/1222833}}</ref>
==Growth and anatomical description==
[[Image:blackberries in june.JPG|left|thumb|Blackberry bush in late June in UK]]
Blackberries are [[perennial plant]]s which typically bear [[biennial plant|biennial]] stems ("canes") from the perennial root system.<ref name=uga>[http://www.uga.edu/fruit/rubus.html University of Georgia, Blackberries and Raspberries (Rubus spp.)]. Retrieved on [[2008-03-26]].</ref>


Blackberry fruit production is abundant with annual volumes of {{convert|20000|lb|kg}} per {{convert|1|acre}} possible, making this plant commercially attractive.<ref name="carroll">{{cite web |author1=Carroll B |title=Commercial Blackberry Production |url=https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/commercial-blackberry-production.html |publisher=Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Oklahoma State University |access-date=10 April 2024 |date=February 2017}}</ref>
In its first year, a new stem grows vigorously to its full length of 3-6 m, arching or trailing along the ground and bearing large [[leaf shape|palmately compound]] [[leaf|leaves]] with five or seven leaflets; it does not produce any flowers. In its second year, the stem does not grow longer, but the flower buds break to produce flowering laterals, which bear smaller leaves with three or five leaflets.<ref name=uga/> First and second year shoots are usually spiny with numerous short curved very sharp [[thorn (botany)|thorn]]s (thornless cultivars have been developed purposefully).


''[[Rubus armeniacus]]'' ("Himalayan" blackberry) is considered a [[noxious weed]] and [[invasive species]] in many regions of the [[Pacific Northwest]] of Canada and the United States, where it grows out of control in urban and suburban parks and woodlands.<ref name="iscbc">{{cite web |title=Himalayan blackberry |url=https://bcinvasives.ca/invasives/himalayan-blackberry/ |publisher=Invasive Species Council of BC |access-date=13 August 2021 |date=2021}}</ref><ref name="king">{{cite web |title=Himalayan blackberry: identification and control |url=https://kingcounty.gov/services/environment/animals-and-plants/noxious-weeds/weed-identification/blackberry.aspx |publisher=King County, Washington: Noxious Weed Control Program |access-date=13 August 2021 |date=16 February 2021}}</ref>
Unmanaged mature plants form a tangle of dense arching stems, the branches rooting from the node tip when they reach the ground. Vigorous and growing rapidly in woods, scrub, hillsides and hedgerows, blackberry shrubs tolerate poor [[soil]]s, readily colonizing wasteland, ditches and vacant lots.<ref name=rhs/><ref name=blamey>Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). ''Flora of Britain and Northern Europe''. ISBN 0-340-40170-2.</ref>


==Description==
The [[flower]]s are produced in late spring and early summer on short [[raceme]]s on the tips of the flowering laterals.<ref name=uga/> Each flower is about 2-3 cm in diameter with five white or pale pink [[petal]]s.<ref name=uga/> The newly developed primocane produces flowers and fruits on the new growth.
What distinguishes the blackberry from its [[raspberry]] relatives is whether or not the torus ([[receptacle (botany)|receptacle]] or stem) "picks with" (i.e., stays with) the fruit. When picking a blackberry fruit, the torus stays with the fruit. With a raspberry, the torus remains on the plant, leaving a hollow core in the raspberry fruit.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Gina Fernandez |author2=Elena Garcia |author3=David Lockwood |title=Fruit development |url=https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/southeast-regional-caneberry-production-guide/fruit-development |publisher=North Carolina State University, Cooperative Extension |access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref>
{{gallery
|align=center
|File:Halved blackberry (Rubus fruticosus).jpg|Halved blackberry with present torus
|File:Raspberry - halved (Rubus idaeus).jpg|Halved raspberry with absent torus, for contrast
|File:Blackberries-6383.jpg|Wild blackberries picked in May in Texas
|File:Blackberry from Srem, Serbia (Sremska kupine, selo Dobrinci).jpg|Blackberries from [[Syrmia|Srem]], Serbia
}}
{{clear|left}}
The term ''[[bramble]]'', a word referring to any impenetrable [[thicket]], has in some circles traditionally been applied specifically to the blackberry or its products,<ref>{{cite book|title=Shorter Oxford English Dictionary |edition=6th |year=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford, UK |isbn=978-0199206872|page=3804}}</ref> though in the United States it applies to all members of the genus ''Rubus''. In the western US, the term ''caneberry'' is used to refer to blackberries and raspberries as a group rather than the term bramble. ''[[thicket|Briar]]'' or ''brier'' may be used to refer to the dense vines of the plant, though this name is used for other thorny thickets (such as ''[[Smilax]]'') as well.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Les |title=Wicked weeds: A tangled tale of thorny smilax |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/life/home-garden/2016/12/29/wicked-weeds-tangled-tale-thorny-smilax/95874480/ |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=Tallahassee Democrat |language=en-US}}</ref>


The usually black fruit is not a [[berry (botany)|berry]] in the [[botanical]] sense, as it is termed botanically as an [[aggregate fruit]], composed of small [[drupe]]lets. It is a widespread and well-known group of over 375 species, many of which are closely related [[apomixis|apomictic microspecies]] [[native plant|native]] throughout Europe, northwestern Africa, [[temperateness|temperate]] western and central Asia and North and South America.<ref name=rhs>{{cite book | last=Huxley | first=Anthony|year=1992 | title=Dictionary of gardening | publisher=Macmillan Press Stockton Press | location=London New York | isbn=978-0-333-47494-5 | oclc=25202760 }}</ref>
The early flowers often form more [[drupelet]]s than the later ones. This can be a symptom of exhausted reserves in the plant's roots, marginal [[pollinator]] populations, or infection with a [[virus]] such as [[Raspberry bushy dwarf virus]]. Even a small change in conditions, such as a rainy day or a day too hot for bees to work after early morning, can reduce the number of bee visits to the flower, thus reducing the quality of the fruit. The drupelets only develop around ovules that are fertilized by the male gamete from a pollen grain.


=== Plants ===
In [[botany|botanical]] terminology, the [[fruit]] is not a [[berry]], but an [[aggregate fruit]] of numerous drupelets ripening to black or dark purple, the "blackberry".
[[File:PRubus primocanes and floricanes.jpg|thumb|Second-year flowering, fruiting floricanes to the left. First-year primocanes without flowers or fruit growing on the right.]]


Blackberries are [[perennial]] plants bearing [[biennial plant|biennial]] stems (called ''canes'') from their roots.<ref name=uga>{{cite web |url=http://www.ugaextension.com/cobb/anr/Documents/BlackberriesandRaspberriesUGA.pdf |author1=Krewer, Gerard |author2=Fonseca, Marco |author3=Brannen, Phil |author4=Horton, Dan |year=2004 |title=Home Garden:Raspberries, Blackberries |publisher=Cooperative Extension Service/The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126233205/http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/cobb/anr/Documents/BlackberriesandRaspberriesUGA.pdf |archive-date=26 November 2013}}</ref>
Blackberry leaves are also a food for certain [[Lepidoptera]] [[caterpillar]]s. See [[List of Lepidoptera that feed on Rubus|List of Lepidoptera that feed on ''Rubus'']]


In its first year, a new stem, the ''primocane'', reaches a full length of about {{convert|3|-|6|m|abbr=off}} trailing on the ground and bearing large [[leaf shape|palmate compound]] [[leaf|leaves]] with 5–7 new leaves; it does not produce any flowers.<ref name=uga/> In its second year, the cane is a ''floricane'' with a non-growing stem.<ref name=uga/> The lateral buds open to produce flowering laterals.<ref name=uga/> First- and second-year shoots produce short-curved, sharp [[Thorns, spines, and prickles|thorns]].<ref name=uga/> Thornless cultivars have been developed during the early 21st century.<ref name=uga/><ref name="usda18" />
==Cultivation and uses==
Primary cultivation takes place in the North American State of [[Oregon]] located in the [[United States of America]]. Recorded in 1995 and 2006: 6,180 to 6,900 farmed acres of blackberries, producing 42.6 to 41.5 million pounds, making Oregon the leading blackberry producer in the world.<ref>{{citeweb| url=http://berrygrape.oregonstate.edu/blackberry-production-in-oregon/|title=Blackerry Production in Oregon|publisher=Northwest Berry & Grape Information Network| accessdate=1996-02-04}}</ref><ref>{{citeweb| url=http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Oregon/Publications/Fruits_Nuts_and_Berries/01_26br.pdf/|title=Oregon Berry Production|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statisitics Service, Oregon Field Office| accessdate=2007-01-26}}</ref>


Unmanaged plants tend to aggregate in a dense tangle of stems and branches,<ref name=king/> which can be controlled in gardens or farms using [[trellis (architecture)|trellises]].<ref name=carroll/><ref name=uga/> Blackberry shrubs can tolerate poor [[soil]]s, spreading readily in wasteland, ditches, and roadsides.<ref name=king/><ref name=rhs/><ref name=blamey>{{cite book | last=Blamey | first=Marjorie | title=The illustrated flora of Britain and northern Europe | publisher=Hodder & Stoughton | year=1989 | isbn=978-0-340-40170-5 | oclc=41355268 }}</ref>
The soft fruit is popular for use in [[dessert]]s, [[jam]]s, seedless jellies and sometimes [[wine]]. Since the many species form [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]]s easily, there are numerous[[cultivar]]s with more than one species in their ancestry.


The [[flower]]s bloom in late spring and early summer on the tips of branches.<ref name=rhs/><ref name=uga/> Each flower is about {{convert|2|-|3|cm|abbr=off|frac=4}} in diameter, with five white-pink [[petal]]s.<ref name=rhs/><ref name=uga/> The fruit only develops around ovules fertilized by the male [[gamete]] from a pollen grain.{{cn|date=April 2024}} The most likely cause of undeveloped ovules is inadequate [[pollinator]] visits.<ref>{{cite web | title=Blackberry Pollination Images | website=The Pollination Home Page | url=http://www.pollinator.com/blackberry.htm |author=Green, David L. }}</ref> Incomplete drupelet development can signal infection with [[raspberry bushy dwarf virus]].{{cn|date=October 2023}}
Good [[Northern Nectar Sources for Honeybees|nectar producers]], blackberry shrubs bearing flowers yield a medium to dark, fruity [[honey]].
[[File:2020 year. Herbarium. Blackberries. img-011.jpg|thumb|150px|Leaf: ''adaxial'' side]]


=== Genetics ===
[[Image:Rubus fruticosus Luc Viatour.JPG|thumb|Blackberry flower.]]
The [[Locus (genetics)|loci]] controlling the primocane fruiting was mapped in the F Locus, on LG7, whereas thorns/thornlessness was mapped on LG4.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Castro |first1=P. |last2=Stafne |first2=E. T. |last3=Clark |first3=J. R. |last4=Lewers |first4=K. S. |date=16 July 2013 |title=Genetic map of the primocane-fruiting and thornless traits of tetraploid blackberry |journal=Theoretical and Applied Genetics |publisher=Springer Nature |volume=126 |issue=10 |pages=2521–2532 |doi=10.1007/s00122-013-2152-3 |pmid=23856741 |s2cid=16250883}}</ref> Better understanding of the genetics is useful for genetic screening of cross-breds, and for genetic engineering purposes.{{cn|date=October 2023}}
The blackberry is known to contain [[polyphenol antioxidant]]s, naturally occurring [[chemical]]s that can upregulate certain beneficial [[metabolic]] processes in [[mammal]]s. The [[astringent]] blackberry root is sometimes used in [[herbal medicine]] as a treatment for [[diarrhea]] and [[dysentery]].<ref>Grieve, M. (1971). ''A Modern Herbal'' ISBN 0486227987</ref>
The related but smaller European [[dewberry]] (''R. caesius'') can be distinguished by the white, waxy coating on the fruits, which also usually have fewer drupelets. (''Rubus caesius'') is in its own section (''Caesii'') within the subgenus ''Rubus''.


== Ecology ==
In some parts of the world, such as in [[Australia]], [[Chile]], [[New Zealand]] and the [[Pacific Northwest]] region of North America, some blackberry species, particularly ''[[Rubus armeniacus]]'' (syn. ''R. procerus'', 'Himalaya') and ''[[Rubus laciniatus]]'' ('Evergreen') are [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalised]] and considered an [[invasive species]] and a serious [[weed]].<ref name=rhs/>
[[File:Bee pollinating Blackberry.jpg|thumb|A tree bumblebee ''([[Bombus hypnorum]])'' pollinating blackberries]]


Blackberry leaves are food for certain [[caterpillar]]s; some grazing mammals, especially deer, are also very fond of the leaves. Caterpillars of the [[concealer moth]] ''[[Alabonia geoffrella]]'' have been found feeding inside dead blackberry shoots. When mature, the berries are eaten and their seeds dispersed by mammals, such as the red fox, American black bear and the Eurasian badger, as well as by small birds.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Fedriani|first1=José M.|last2=Delibes|first2=Miguel|title=Functional diversity in fruit-frugivore interactions: a field experiment with Mediterranean mammals|journal=Ecography|volume=32|issue=6|year=2009|pages=983–992|jstor=20696310|doi=10.1111/j.1600-0587.2009.05925.x|hdl=10261/50153|hdl-access=free}}</ref>
As there is forensic evidence from the [[Iron Age]] [[Haraldskær Woman]] that she consumed blackberries some 2500 years ago, it is reasonable to conclude that blackberries have been eaten by humans over thousands of years.


[[File:Basket of wild blackberries.JPG|thumb|A wild blackberry harvest]]
===Commercial cultivars===
Blackberries grow wild throughout most of Europe. They are an important element in the ecology of many countries, and harvesting the berries is a common pastime. However, their vigorous growth and tendency to grow unchecked if not managed correctly means that the plants are also considered a weed, sending down [[Layering|roots from branches that touch the ground]], and sending up [[Sucker (botany)|suckers]] from the roots. In some parts of the world, such as in Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and the [[Pacific Northwest]] of North America, some blackberry species, particularly ''[[Rubus armeniacus]]'' (Himalayan blackberry) and ''[[Rubus laciniatus]]'' (evergreen blackberry), are [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalized]] and considered an [[invasive species]] and a [[noxious weed]].<ref name=iscbc/><ref name=king/><ref name=rhs/>
[[Image:Black Butte blackberry.jpg|left|thumb|Black Butte blackberry.]]
Numerous cultivars have been selected for commercial and amateur cultivation in the United Kingdom<ref name=rhs/> or United States.<ref>[http://oregon-berries.com/blackberry.cfm Evergreen blackberry, Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission]</ref>


Blackberry fruits are red when unripe, leading to an old expression that "blackberries are red when they're green".<ref>{{cite book |last=Palmatier |first=Robert Allen |date=30 August 2000 |title=Food: A Dictionary of Literal and Nonliteral Terms |page=[https://archive.org/details/fooddictionaryof00palm/page/26 26] |publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group|Greenwood]] |location=Santa Barbara, Calif. |url=https://archive.org/details/fooddictionaryof00palm |url-access=registration |access-date=17 March 2018 |isbn=9780313314360}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Marrone|first=Teresa|title=Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio wild berries & fruits|publisher=Teresa Marrone|year=2011|pages=272}}</ref>
'Marion' (marketed as "[[Marionberry]]") is an important cultivar cross between 'Chehalem' and 'Olallie' (commonly called "olallieberry") berries.<ref>[http://oregon-berries.com/marionberry.cfm Marionberry, Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission]</ref> It is claimed to "capture the best attributes of both berries and yields an aromatic bouquet and an intense blackberry flavor". The Marionberry was introduced by G.F. Waldo with [[USDA-ARS]] in [[Corvallis, Oregon]] in 1956. Adapted to western Oregon, the Marionberry is named after [[Marion County, Oregon]], in which it was tested extensively. [[Olallie]] in turn is a cross between [[loganberry]] and [[youngberry]]. 'Marion', 'Chehalem' and 'Olallie' are just three of many trailing blackberry cultivars developed by the [[United States Department of Agriculture]] [[Agricultural Research Service]] (USDA-ARS) blackberry breeding program at [[Oregon State University]] in [[Corvallis, Oregon]].


== Cultivation ==
The most recent cultivars released from this program are the thornless cultivars 'Black Diamond', 'Black Pearl' and 'Nightfall' as well as the very early ripening 'Obsidian' and 'Metolius'. Some of the other cultivars from this program are 'Waldo', 'Siskiyou', 'Black Butte', '[[Kotata Berry]]', 'Pacific' and 'Cascade'.<ref>[http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid=15552 Thornless processing blackberry cultivars, Horticultural Crop Research, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture]</ref>
Worldwide, Mexico is the leading producer of blackberries, with nearly the entire crop being produced for export into the off-season fresh markets in North America and Europe.<ref name="perry">{{cite web |author1=Perry, Mark J. |date=7 October 2017 |title=Mexico's berry bounty fuels trade dispute – U.S. consumers dismiss U.S. berry farmers' complaints as 'sour berries' |url=http://www.aei.org/publication/mexicos-berry-bounty-fuels-trade-dispute-u-s-consumers-dismiss-u-s-berry-farmers-complaints-as-sour-berries/ |access-date=21 June 2019 |publisher=American Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC}}</ref> Until 2018, the Mexican market was almost entirely based on the cultivar 'Tupy' (often spelled 'Tupi', but the EMBRAPA program in Brazil from which it was released prefers the 'Tupy' spelling), but Tupy fell out of favor in some Mexican growing regions.<ref name="tupy">{{cite web |date=10 May 2018 |title=Tupy blackberry, at risk due to lack of interest in its production |url=https://www.freshplaza.com/article/2194285/tupy-blackberry-at-risk-due-to-lack-of-interest-in-its-production/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621162401/https://www.freshplaza.com/article/2194285/tupy-blackberry-at-risk-due-to-lack-of-interest-in-its-production/ |archive-date=21 June 2019 |access-date=21 June 2019 |publisher=FreshPlaza}}</ref> In the US, [[Oregon]] is the leading commercial blackberry producer, producing {{convert|42600000|lb|kg|order=flip|abbr=off}} on {{convert|6300|acre|ha|order=flip}} in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Press Release June 27, 2018 |url=https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Oregon/Publications/Fruits_Nuts_and_Berries/2018/FR06_01.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220002859/https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Oregon/Publications/Fruits_Nuts_and_Berries/2018/FR06_01.pdf |archive-date=20 February 2019 |access-date=19 February 2019 |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Northwest Regional Field Office}}</ref><ref name="amrc">{{cite web |date=1 February 2019 |title=Blackberries |url=https://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/fruits/blackberries |access-date=21 June 2019 |publisher=US Agriculture Marketing Resource Center}}</ref>


Numerous [[cultivar]]s have been selected for commercial and amateur cultivation in Europe and the United States.<ref name=carroll/><ref name="usda18">{{cite web |date=26 June 2018 |title=Thornless processing blackberry cultivars |url=https://www.ars.usda.gov/pacific-west-area/corvallis-or/horticultural-crops-research/hcru/small-fruit-breeding/thornless-processing-blackberry-cultivars/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621154117/https://www.ars.usda.gov/pacific-west-area/corvallis-or/horticultural-crops-research/hcru/small-fruit-breeding/thornless-processing-blackberry-cultivars/ |archive-date=21 June 2019 |access-date=21 June 2019 |publisher=US Department of Agriculture}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Evergreen blackberry, Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission |url=http://oregon-berries.com/blackberry.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004042656/http://www.oregon-berries.com/blackberry.cfm |archive-date=4 October 2008 |access-date=13 June 2017 |website=Oregon-Berries.com}}</ref> Since the many species form [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]]s easily, there are numerous cultivars with more than one species in their ancestry.<ref name="usda18" />
Trailing blackberries are vigorous, crown forming, require a [[trellis (agriculture)|trellis]] for support, and are less cold hardy than the erect or semi-erect blackberries. In addition to the Pacific Northwest of the USA, these types do well in similar climates such as the [[United Kingdom]], New Zealand, Chile, and the [[Mediterranean]] countries.


=== History ===
Semi-erect, thornless blackberries were first developed at the [[John Innes Centre]] in [[Norwich]], UK, and subsequently by the USDA-ARS in [[Beltsville, Maryland]]. These are crown forming, very vigorous, and need a trellis for support. Cultivars include 'Black Satin' 'Chester Thornless', 'Dirksen Thornless', 'Hull Thornless', 'Loch Ness', 'Loch Tay', 'Merton Thornless', 'Smoothstem' and 'Triple Crown'. Recently, the cultivar 'Cacanska Bestrna' (also called 'Cacak Thornless') has been developed in Serbia and has been planted on many thousands of hectares there.
Modern [[hybrid (biology)|hybridization]] and [[cultivar]] development took place mostly in the US. In 1880, a hybrid blackberry-raspberry named the [[loganberry]] was developed in [[Santa Cruz, California]], by an American judge and [[horticulturalist]], [[James Harvey Logan]]. One of the first thornless varieties was developed in 1921, but the berries lost much of their flavor. Common thornless cultivars developed from the 1990s to the early 21st century by the [[US Department of Agriculture]] enabled efficient machine-harvesting, higher yields, larger and firmer fruit, and improved flavor, including the ''Triple Crown'',<ref name="gg">{{cite web |author=Harding, Deborah |title=The History of the Blackberry Fruit |url=https://www.gardenguides.com/123417-history-blackberry-fruit.html |access-date=20 June 2019 |website=gardenguides.com |publisher=Garden Guides, Leaf Group Ltd.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2 February 1998 |title='Triple Crown' thornless blackberry |url=https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=89162 |access-date=21 June 2019 |publisher=US Department of Agriculture}}</ref> ''Black Diamond'', ''Black Pearl'', and ''Nightfall'', a [[marionberry]].<ref name="usda18" />


=== Hybrids ===
The [[University of Arkansas]] has developed cultivars of erect blackberries. These types are less vigorous than the semi-erect types and produce new canes from root initials (therefore they spread underground like [[Raspberry|raspberries]]). There are thornless and thorny cultivars from this program, including 'Navaho', 'Ouachita', 'Cherokee', 'Apache', 'Arapaho' and 'Kiowa'. They are also responsible for developing the primocane fruiting blackberries.
[[File:Black Butte blackberry.jpg|thumb|upright|Black Butte blackberry]]
'Marion' (marketed as "[[marionberry]]") is an important cultivar that was selected from seedlings from a cross between 'Chehalem' and 'Olallie' (commonly called "[[Olallieberry]]") berries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marionberry, Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission |url=http://oregon-berries.com/marionberry.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919230407/http://www.oregon-berries.com/marionberry.cfm |archive-date=19 September 2008 |access-date=13 June 2017 |website=Oregon-Berries.com}}</ref> 'Olallie' in turn is a cross between [[loganberry]] and [[youngberry]]. 'Marion', 'Chehalem' and 'Olallie' are just three of many trailing blackberry cultivars developed by the [[United States Department of Agriculture]] [[Agricultural Research Service]] (USDA-ARS) blackberry breeding program at [[Oregon State University]] in [[Corvallis, Oregon]].<ref name="usda18" />


The most recent cultivars released from this program are the thornless cultivars 'Black Diamond', 'Black Pearl', and 'Nightfall' as well as the early-ripening 'Obsidian' and 'Metolius'. 'Black Diamond' is now the leading cultivar being planted in the Pacific Northwest. Some of the other cultivars from this program are 'Newberry', 'Waldo', 'Siskiyou', 'Black Butte', '[[Kotata Berry|Kotata]]', 'Pacific', and 'Cascade'.<ref name="usda18" />
In raspberries, these types are called primocane fruiting, fall fruiting, or everbearing. Prime-Jim and Prime-Jan were released in 2004 and are the first cultivars of primocane fruiting blackberry.{{Fact|date=September 2008}} They grow much like the other erect cultivars described above, however the canes that emerge in the spring, will flower in mid-summer and fruit in late summer or fall. The fall crop has its highest quality when it ripens in cool climates.{{Fact|date=September 2008}}


Varieties with good commercial characteristics developed in [[Arkansas]] are grown in nurseries in [[Oklahoma]].<ref name=carroll/> Such blackberries are easy to grow, and may produce fruit for a decade or more.<ref name=carroll/> These varieties have diverse flavors varying from sweet to tart.<ref name=carroll/>
'Illini Hardy' a semi-erect thorny cultivar introduced by the [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign|University of Illinois]] is cane hardy in zone 5, where traditionally blackberry production has been problematic, since canes often failed to survive the winter.


===Trailing===
The blackberry tends to be red during its unripe ("green") phase, leading to an old expression that "blackberries are red when they're green".
Trailing blackberries are vigorous and crown-forming, require a [[trellis (agriculture)|trellis]] for support, and are less cold-hardy than the erect or semi-erect blackberries. In addition to the [[Pacific Northwest]], these types do well in similar climates, such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Chile, and the [[Mediterranean Basin|Mediterranean countries]].{{cn|date=October 2023}}


===Thornless===
In various parts of the United States, wild blackberries are sometimes called "Black-caps", a term more commonly used for black raspberries, ''[[Rubus occidentalis]]''.
Semi-erect, prickle-free blackberries were first developed at the [[John Innes Centre]] in [[Norwich]], UK, and subsequently by the USDA-ARS in [[Beltsville, Maryland]]. These are crown forming and very vigorous and need a trellis for support. Cultivars include 'Black Satin', 'Chester Thornless', 'Dirksen Thornless', 'Hull Thornless', 'Loch Maree', 'Loch Ness', 'Loch Tay', 'Merton Thornless', 'Smoothstem', and 'Triple Crown'.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Folta |first1=Kevin M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=buzRBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA71 |title=Genetics, Genomics and Breeding of Berries |last2=Kole |first2=Chittaranjan |publisher=CRC Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-1578087075 |pages=69–71 |author-link=Kevin Folta}}</ref> 'Loch Ness' and 'Loch Tay' have gained the [[Royal Horticultural Society|RHS]]'s [[Award of Garden Merit]].<ref name="RHSveg">{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=November 2018 |title=AGM Plants © RHS – CROPS BLACKBERRIES |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-fruit-and-vegetables.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805203509/https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-fruit-and-vegetables.pdf |archive-date=5 August 2018 |access-date=21 November 2019 |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society}}</ref> The cultivar 'Cacanska Bestrna' (also called 'Cacak Thornless') has been developed in Serbia and has been planted on many thousands of hectares there.


===Erect===
Blackberry production in [[Mexico]] has expanded enormously in the past decade. While once based on the cultivar 'Brazos', an old erect blackberry cultivar developed in Texas in 1959, the Mexican industry is now dominated by the Brazilian 'Tupi' released in the 1990s. 'Tupi' has the erect blackberry 'Comanche' and 'Uruguai' as parents <ref name=antunes>Antunes, L.E.C. & Rassieira, M.C.B. (2004). ''Aspectos Técnicos da Cultura da Amora-Preta''. ISSN 1516-8840.</ref>. In order to produce these blackberries in regions of [[Mexico]] where there is no winter chilling to stimulate flower bud development, chemical defoliation and application of growth regulators are used to bring the plants into bloom.
The [[University of Arkansas]] has developed cultivars of erect blackberries. These types are less vigorous than the semi-erect types and produce new canes from root initials (therefore they spread underground like raspberries). There are prickly and prickle-free cultivars from this program, including 'Navaho', 'Ouachita', 'Cherokee', 'Apache', 'Arapaho', and 'Kiowa'.<ref name="ge71">{{cite book |last1=Folta |first1=Kevin M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=buzRBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA71 |title=Genetics, Genomics and Breeding of Berries |last2=Kole |first2=Chittaranjan |publisher=CRC Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-1578087075 |page=71 |author-link=Kevin Folta}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Fernandez |first1=Gina |last2=Ballington |first2=James |title=Growing blackberries in North Carolina |url=http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/growing-blackberries-in-north-carolina |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108073141/http://content.ces.ncsu.edu/growing-blackberries-in-north-carolina |archive-date=8 January 2016 |access-date=9 October 2015 |publisher=North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, North Carolina University Press |page=2}}</ref> They are also responsible for developing the primocane fruiting blackberries such as 'Prime-Jan' and 'Prime-Jim'.<ref name="ge71" />


===Primocane===
==Nutrients and antioxidant qualities==
In raspberries, these types are called primocane fruiting, fall fruiting, or everbearing. 'Prime-Jim' and 'Prime-Jan' were released in 2004 by the [[University of Arkansas]] and are the first cultivars of primocane fruiting blackberry.<ref>{{cite book |last=Vincent |first=Christopher I. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zpbx5-gxax4C&q=Prime+Jim+Prime+Jan+2004&pg=PA2 |title=Yield Dynamics of Primocane-fruiting Blackberries Under High-tunnels and Ambient Conditions, Including Plant Growth Unit Estimations and Arthropod Pest Considerations |year=2008 |isbn=978-0549964759 |page=2 |access-date=12 November 2012}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> They grow much like the other erect cultivars described above; however, the canes that emerge in the spring will flower in midsummer and fruit in late summer or fall. The fall crop has its highest quality when it ripens in cool mild climate such as in California or the Pacific Northwest.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Clark |first1=J.R. |last2=Strick |first2=B.C. |last3=Thompson |first3=E. |last4=Finn |first4=C.E. |date=2012 |title=Progress and challenges in primocane-fruiting blackberry breeding and cultural management |journal=Acta Horticulturae |volume=926 |issue=926 |pages=387–392 |doi=10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.926.54}}</ref>
Blackberries are notable for their high nutritional contents of [[dietary fiber]], [[vitamin C]], [[vitamin K]], [[folic acid]] - a [[B vitamin]], and the [[essential mineral]], [[manganese]] (table).
<center>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|colspan=3|'''Nutrients in raw blackberries'''<ref>[http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1848/2 Nutritiondata.com, nutrient data for this listing provided by USDA SR20]</ref>
|-
! Nutrient
! Value per 100 grams
! % [[Daily Value]]
|-
| Energy
| 43 kcal
|
|-
| Fiber, total dietary
| 5.3 g
| 21%
|-
| Andre B, Gay
| 4.9 g
|
|-
| [[Calcium]], Ca
| 29 mg
| 3%
|-
| [[Magnesium]], Mg
| 20 mg
| 5%
|-
| [[Manganese]], Mn
| 0.6 mg
| 32%
|-
| [[Copper]], Cu
| 0.2 mg
| 8%
|-
| [[Potassium]], K
| 162 mg
| 5%
|-
| [[Sodium]], Na
| 1 mg
| 0%
|-
| [[Vitamin C]], total ascorbic acid
| 21 mg
| 35%
|-
| [[Vitamin A]], IU
| 214 IU
| 4%
|-
| [[Vitamin K]], mcg
| 20 mcg
| 25%
|-
| [[Folic acid]], mcg
| 36 mcg
| 9%
|-
| [[Carotene]], beta
| 128 mcg
| ne
|-
| [[Lutein]] + [[zeaxanthin]]
| 118 mcg
| ne
|}
</center>
<center>
ne: Daily Value not established
</center>


'Illini Hardy', a semi-erect prickly cultivar introduced by the [[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign|University of Illinois]], is cane hardy in zone 5, where blackberry production has traditionally been problematic, since canes often failed to survive the winter.{{cn|date=October 2023}}
Blackberries rank highly among fruits for [[antioxidant]] strength, particularly due to their dense contents of [[polyphenol]]ic compounds, such as [[ellagic acid]], [[tannin]]s, ellagitannins, [[quercetin]], [[gallic acid]], [[anthocyanins]] and [[cyanidin]]s<ref>Wada L, Ou B. Antioxidant activity and phenolic content of Oregon caneberries. J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Jun 5;50(12):3495-500.[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12033817]</ref><ref>Hager TJ, Howard LR, Liyanage R, Lay JO, Prior RL. Ellagitannin composition of blackberry as determined by HPLC-ESI-MS and MALDI-TOF-MS. J Agric Food Chem. 2008 Feb 13;56(3):661-9.[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18211030]</ref>.


===Mexico and Chile===
Blackberries have an ORAC value ([[oxygen radical absorbance capacity]]) of 5347 per 100 grams, including them among the top-ranked ORAC fruits. Another report using a different assay for assessing antioxidant strength placed blackberry at the top of more than 1000 antioxidant foods consumed in the United States.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Halvorsen BL, Carlsen MH, Phillips KM, ''et al'' |title=Content of redox-active compounds (ie, antioxidants) in foods consumed in the United States |journal=Am. J. Clin. Nutr. |volume=84 |issue=1 |pages=95–135 |year=2006 |month=July |pmid=16825686 |doi= }}</ref>
Blackberry production in Mexico expanded considerably in the early 21st century.<ref name="perry" /><ref name="amrc" /> In 2017, Mexico had 97% of the [[market share]] for fresh blackberries imported into the United States, while Chile had 61% of the market share for American imports of frozen blackberries.<ref name="amrc" />


While once based on the cultivar 'Brazos', an old erect blackberry cultivar developed in Texas in 1959, the Mexican industry is now dominated by the Brazilian 'Tupy' released in the 1990s. The 'Tupy' has the erect blackberry 'Comanche', and a "wild Uruguayan blackberry" as parents.<ref name="antunes">{{cite journal |author1=Antunes, L.E.C. |author2=Rassieira, M.C.B. |year=2004 |title=Aspectos Técnicos da Cultura da Amora-Preta |journal=Pelotas: Embrapa Clima Temperado |language=pt |issn=1516-8840}}</ref> Since there are no native blackberries in Uruguay, the suspicion is that the widely grown '[[Boysenberry]]' is the male parent. To produce these blackberries in regions of Mexico where there is no winter chilling to stimulate flower bud development, chemical defoliation and application of growth regulators are used to bring the plants into bloom.{{cn|date=October 2023}}
===Nutrient content of seeds===
Blackberries are exceptional among other ''Rubus'' berries for their numerous, large seeds not always preferred by consumers. They contain rich amounts of [[omega-3]] ([[alpha-linolenic acid]]) and -6 fats ([[linoleic acid]]), [[protein]], [[dietary fiber]], [[carotenoid]]s, ellagitannins and [[ellagic acid]].<ref>Bushman BS, Phillips B, Isbell T, Ou B, Crane JM, Knapp SJ. Chemical composition of caneberry (Rubus spp.) seeds and oils and their antioxidant potential. J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Dec 29;52(26):7982-7.[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15612785]</ref>


==Superstition and myths==
===Diseases and pests===
[[File:Blackberry flower (2).jpg|thumb|The pale pink blackberry blossom]]
[[Image:Aa bramble tipflowering 00.jpg|200px|thumb|right|13 August 2007, [[Manchester]], England. Bramble; in background unripe fruit on second-year side shoots; late flowers from tip-flowering of first-year growth]] Superstition in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] holds that blackberries should not be picked after [[Michaelmas]] ([[29 September]]) as the [[devil]] has claimed them, having left a mark on the leaves by urinating on them. There is some value behind this legend as after this date wetter and cooler weather often allows the fruit to become infected by various [[mold]]s such as ''[[Botryotinia]]'' which give the fruit an unpleasant look and may be toxic.<ref>Conkers and Ghosts: [http://web.ukonline.co.uk/conker/conkers-and-ghosts/september.htm Traditional Customs and Folktales for September]</ref><ref>British Culture: [http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/year/september.htm Facts about September]</ref>

Because blackberries belong to the same genus as raspberries,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bradley |first1=Fern Marshall |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GcWQQKJX1xEC&q=Blackberry+disease&pg=PA51 |title=The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control: A Complete Guide to Maintaining a Healthy Garden and Yard the Earth-Friendly Way |last2=Ellis |first2=Barbara W. |last3=Martin |first3=Deborah L. |publisher=[[Rodale, Inc.]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-1605296777 |page=51 |access-date=12 November 2012}}</ref> they share the same diseases, including [[Canker|anthracnose]], which can cause the berry to have uneven ripening. Sap flow may also be slowed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Growing Raspberries & Blackberries |url=http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edcomm/pdf/BUL/BUL0812.pdf |access-date=2012-11-13 |publisher=cals.uidaho.edu |page=29}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xTuJryWEY64C&q=dwarfing+raspberry+blackberry&pg=PA5 |title=Controlling diseases of raspberries and blackberries |publisher=United States. Science and Education Administration |year=1980 |page=5 |access-date=12 November 2012}}</ref> They also share the same remedies, including the Bordeaux mixture,<ref>{{cite book |last=Waite |first=Merton Benway |url=https://archive.org/details/CAT87201664 |title=Fungicides and their use in preventing diseases of fruits |publisher=U.S. Dept. of Agriculture |year=1906 |page=[https://archive.org/details/CAT87201664/page/n28 243] |quote=blackberry disease. |access-date=12 November 2012}}</ref> a combination of lime, water and [[copper(II) sulfate]].<ref>{{cite web |date=June 2010 |title=Bordeaux Mixture |url=http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7481.html |access-date=13 November 2012 |publisher=ucdavis.edu}}</ref> The rows between blackberry plants must be free of weeds, blackberry suckers and grasses, which may lead to pests or diseases.<ref name="a-ensminger">{{cite book |last=Ensminger |first=Audrey H. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o3UD2iL4sAAC&q=blackberry+disease&pg=PA215 |title=Foods and Nutrition Encyclopedia: A-H |publisher=CRC Press |year=1994 |isbn=9780849389818 |page=215 |access-date=12 November 2012}}</ref> Fruit growers are selective when planting blackberry bushes because wild blackberries may be infected,<ref name="a-ensminger" /> and gardeners are recommended to purchase only certified disease-free plants.<ref>{{cite book |last=Shrock |first=Denny |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RVHanXD-5-IC&q=Purchase+only+blackberries+Gardeners&pg=PA352 |title=Home Gardener's Problem Solver: Symptoms and Solutions for More Than 1,500 Garden Pests and Plant Ailments |publisher=Meredith Books |year=2004 |isbn=978-0897215046 |page=352 |access-date=12 November 2012}}</ref>

The spotted-wing drosophila, ''[[Drosophila suzukii]]'', is a serious pest of blackberries.<ref name="dwalsh-wsu">{{cite web |author=Walsh, Doug |title=Spotted Wing Drosophila Could Pose Threat For Washington Fruit Growers |url=http://sanjuan.wsu.edu/Documents/SWD11.09.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806161628/http://sanjuan.wsu.edu/Documents/SWD11.09.pdf |archive-date=6 August 2010 |access-date=12 November 2012 |publisher=sanjuan.WSU.edu}}</ref> Unlike its vinegar fly relatives, which are primarily attracted to rotting or fermented fruit, ''D. suzukii'' attacks fresh, ripe fruit by laying eggs under the soft skin. The larvae hatch and grow in the fruit, destroying the fruit's commercial value.<ref name="dwalsh-wsu" />

Another pest is ''Amphorophora rubi'', known as the blackberry aphid, which eats not just blackberries but raspberries as well.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hill |first=Dennis S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3-w8AAAAIAAJ&q=Blackberry+pests&pg=PA228 |title=Agricultural Insect Pests of Temperate Regions and Their Control |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |year=1987 |isbn=978-0521240130 |page=228 |access-date=12 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=puO2UjrlUkAC&q=Amphorophora+rubi+blackberry&pg=PA539 |title=The Review of Applied Entomology: Agricultural, Volume 18 |publisher=[[CAB International]] |year=1931 |page=539 |access-date=12 November 2012}}</ref><ref>R. L. Blackman, V. F. Eastop and M. Hills (1977). [http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=2358768 Morphological and cytological separation of Amphorophora Buckton (Homoptera: Aphididae) feeding on European raspberry and blackberry ( Rubus spp.)]. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 67, pp 285–296 {{doi|10.1017/S000748530001110X}}</ref>

''Byturus tomentosus'' ([[raspberry beetle]]), ''[[Lampronia corticella]]'' (raspberry moth) and ''[[Anthonomus rubi]]'' (strawberry blossom weevil) are also known to infest blackberries.<ref>{{cite book |last=Squire |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j2sk1bJqlzsC&pg=PA39 |title=The Garden Pest & Diseases Specialist: The Essential Guide to Identifying and Controlling Pests and Diseases of Ornamentals, Vegetables and Fruits |publisher=[[New Holland Publishers]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-1845374853 |page=39 |access-date=12 November 2012}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>{{nutritional value
| name = Blackberries, raw (''Rubus'' spp.)
| image = Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus).jpg
| caption = {{center|'''Close-up view of a blackberry'''}}
| kJ=180
| protein=1.39 g
| fat=0.49 g
| carbs=9.61 g
| fiber=5.3 g
| sugars=4.88 g
| calcium_mg=29
| iron_mg=0.62
| magnesium_mg=20
| phosphorus_mg=22
| potassium_mg=162
| sodium_mg=1
| zinc_mg=0.53
| manganese_mg=0.646
| vitC_mg=21.0
| thiamin_mg=0.020
| riboflavin_mg=0.026
| niacin_mg=0.646
| pantothenic_mg=
| vitB6_mg=0.030
| folate_ug=25
| betacarotene_ug=
| vitA_iu=214
| lutein_ug=
| vitE_mg=1.17
| vitK_ug=19.8
| water=88 g
| source_usda = 1
| note=[https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/173946/nutrients Link to USDA Database entry]
}}

== Uses ==

=== Nutrients ===
Raw blackberries are 88% water, 10% [[carbohydrate]]s, 1% [[protein (nutrient)|protein]], and 0.5% fat (table). In a {{convert|100|g}} reference amount, raw cultivated blackberries supply 43 [[calorie]]s and rich contents (20% or more of the [[Daily Value]] (DV) of [[dietary fiber]], [[manganese]] (31% DV), [[vitamin C]] (25% DV), and [[vitamin K]] (19% DV) (table).

====Seed composition====
Blackberries contain numerous large seeds that are not always preferred by consumers. The seeds contain oil rich in [[omega-3]] ([[alpha-linolenic acid]]) and omega-6 ([[linoleic acid]]) fats as well as [[protein]], dietary fiber, [[carotenoid]]s, [[ellagitannins]], and [[ellagic acid]].<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Bushman BS, Phillips B, Isbell T, Ou B, Crane JM, Knapp SJ |s2cid=32100735 |title=Chemical composition of caneberry (Rubus spp.) seeds and oils and their antioxidant potential |journal=Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry |volume=52 |issue=26 |pages=7982–7 |date=December 2004 |pmid=15612785 |doi=10.1021/jf049149a}}</ref>

===Culinary use===
The ripe fruit is commonly used in desserts, jams, jelly, wine and [[liqueur]]s. It may be mixed with other berries and fruits for pies and [[crumble]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dowling |first=Tim |date=2023-08-28 |title=Berry good! 17 wonderful ways with blackberries – from crumbles and cakes to mousses and muffins |url=https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/aug/28/berry-good-17-wonderful-ways-with-blackberries-from-crumbles-and-cakes-to-mousses-and-muffins |access-date=2024-05-26 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

===Phytochemical research===
Blackberries contain numerous [[phytochemicals]] including [[polyphenols]], [[flavonoids]], [[anthocyanin]]s, [[salicylic acid]], [[ellagic acid]], and [[Dietary fiber|fiber]].<ref name="Nutritiondata">{{cite web|url=http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/1848/2|year=2012|website=Nutritiondata.com|title=Nutrition facts for raw blackberries|publisher=Conde Nast}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1021/jf011097r | last1 = Sellappan | first1 = S. | last2 = Akoh | first2 = C. C. | last3 = Krewer | first3 = G. | title = Phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of Georgia-grown blueberries and blackberries | journal = Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry | volume = 50 | issue = 8 | pages = 2432–2438 | year = 2002 | pmid = 11929309}}</ref> Anthocyanins in blackberries are responsible for their rich dark color. One report placed blackberries at the top of more than 1,000 polyphenol-rich foods consumed in the United States,<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Halvorsen BL, Carlsen MH, Phillips KM |title=Content of redox-active compounds (ie, antioxidants) in foods consumed in the United States |journal=The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition |volume=84 |issue=1 |pages=95–135 |date=July 2006 |pmid=16825686 |display-authors=etal|doi=10.1093/ajcn/84.1.95 |doi-access=free }}</ref> but this concept of a health benefit from consuming dark-colored foods like blackberries remains scientifically unverified and not accepted for [[health claim]]s on food labels.<ref>{{citation |title= New Roles for Polyphenols. A 3-Part report on Current Regulations & the State of Science |author= Gross PM |date= 1 March 2009 |publisher= Nutraceuticals World |url= http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/issues/2009-03/view_features/new-roles-for-polyphenols/ }}</ref>

=== Historical uses ===
One of the earliest known instances of blackberry consumption comes from the remains of the [[Haraldskær Woman]], the naturally preserved [[bog body]] of a Danish woman dating from approximately 2,500 years ago. Forensic evidence found blackberries in her stomach contents, among other foods. The use of blackberries to make wines and [[Cordial (medicine)|cordials]] was documented in the [[London Pharmacopoeia]] in 1696.<ref name="gg" /> In the culinary world, blackberries have a long history of use alongside other fruits to make pies, jellies and jams.<ref name="gg" />

Blackberry plants were used for [[traditional medicine]] by Greeks, other European peoples, and aboriginal Americans.<ref name="gg" /> A 1771 document described brewing blackberry leaves, stem, and bark for [[Peptic ulcer disease|stomach ulcers]].<ref name="gg" />

Blackberry fruit, leaves, and stems have been used to dye fabrics and hair. Native Americans have even been known to use the stems to make rope. The shrubs have also been used for barriers around buildings, crops and livestock. The wild plants have sharp, thick prickles, which offered some protection against enemies and large animals.<ref name="gg" />

==In culture==
Folklore in the United Kingdom and Ireland tells that blackberries should not be picked after [[Old Michaelmas Day]] (11 October) as the [[devil]] (or a [[Púca]]) has made them unfit to eat by stepping, spitting or fouling on them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/News/Michaelmas-Traditions.htm|title=Michaelmas Traditions|date=7 October 2010|website=BlackCountryBugle.co.uk|access-date=13 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330072655/http://www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/News/Michaelmas-Traditions.htm|archive-date=30 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> There is some value in this legend as autumn's wetter and cooler weather often allows the fruit to become infected by various [[Mold (fungus)|mold]]s such as ''[[Botryotinia]]'' which give the fruit an unpleasant look and may be toxic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Michaelmas.htm|title=Michaelmas, 29th September, and the customs and traditions associated with Michaelmas Day|website=www.Historic-UK.com|access-date=13 June 2017}}</ref> According to some traditions, a blackberry's deep purple color represents Jesus' blood and the [[crown of thorns]] was made of brambles,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Watts|first1=D.C.|title=Dictionary of Plant Lore|date=2007|publisher=Academic|location=Oxford|isbn=978-0-12-374086-1|page=36|edition=Rev.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Alexander|first1=Courtney|title=Berries As Symbols and in Folklore|url=http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/berry/production/pdfs/berryfolklore.pdf|website=Cornell Fruit|access-date=11 August 2015}}</ref> although other thorny plants, such as ''[[Crataegus]]'' (hawthorn) and ''[[Euphorbia milii]]'' (crown of thorns plant), have been proposed as the material for the crown.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DrXNAAAAMAAJ&q=encyclopedia+britannica+hawthorn+crown+thorns&pg=PA536|title=Hawthorn|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General Literature, Volume 11; R.S. Peale|year=1891}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://faculty.ucc.edu/biology-ombrello/POW/crown_of_thorns.htm|title=Crown of thorns|author=Ombrello T|publisher=Union County College, Department of Biology, Cranford, NJ|date=2015|access-date=18 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917022506/http://faculty.ucc.edu/biology-ombrello/pow/crown_of_thorns.htm|archive-date=17 September 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Rubus plicatus]], a common European species of blackberry
*[[Rubus occidentalis|Black Raspberry]], a North American fruit sometimes confused with blackberries.
* [[Rubus ulmifolius|Elmleaf blackberry]], another common European species of blackberry
* [[Kotata Berry]], Oregon State University hybridized.
*[[Redberry mite]], a common pest of North American blackberry crops.
* [[Pacific blackberry]], a North American species of blackberry
* [[Rubus fruticosus]], an ambiguous name used by [[Carl Linnaeus]] that applied to multiple species
* [[Morus (plant)|Mulberry]], similar fruit appearance, but a tree rather than a [[bramble]]
* [[Redberry mite]], a common pest of North American blackberry crops


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==Further reading==
* {{cite journal | last1 = Allen | first1 = D. E. | last2 = Hackney | first2 = P. | year = 2010 | title = Further fieldwork on the brambles (''Rubus fruticosus'' L. agg.) of North-east Ireland | journal = [[Irish Naturalists' Journal]] | volume = 31 | pages = 18–22 }}
{{commons}}

==External links==
{{cookbook}}
{{cookbook}}
* {{Commons-inline}}
*[http://www.thefruitpages.com/chartblackberries.shtml Nutritional values of Blackberry]
*[http://resist.ca/~kirstena/pageblackberries.html Ways to Process and Use Blackberries] An article on historical uses and ways to process blackberries
*[http://www.pollinator.com/blackberry.htm Blackberry Pollination Images]
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A7209623 h2g2 article on Blackberries]
*[http://www.uga.edu/fruit/rubus.html Botanical Information]
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=profile&symbol=RUBUS&display=63 USDA Plants Classification Report]
*[http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/oct03/berry1003.htm From Idea to Supermarket:The Process of Berry Breeding] Article on berry breeding including pictures of blackberry emasculation and pollination

<gallery>
Image:Blackberry fruits10.jpg|Blackberry fruit
Image:Blackberry bush with fruit.jpg|Many ripe blackberries
Image:Spines on blackberry.jpg|Thorns
Image:Blackberry fruit formation 0698.JPG|Pollinated, developing blackberry
Image:Rubus fructicosus łodyga 333.jpg
</gallery>


[[Category:Berries]]
[[Category:Berries]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Plant common names]]
[[Category:Rubus]]
[[Category:Rubus]]
[[Category:Invasive plant species]]
[[Category:Crown of thorns]]

[[an:Esbarzera]]
[[az:Böyürtkən]]
[[bg:Къпина]]
[[bs:Kupina]]
[[ca:Esbarzer]]
[[cy:Mwyaren]]
[[da:Almindelig Brombær]]
[[de:Brombeeren]]
[[es:Rubus ulmifolius]]
[[eo:Rubuso]]
[[fr:Ronce commune]]
[[gl:Silveira]]
[[it:Rubus ulmifolius]]
[[he:פטל שחור]]
[[hr:Kupina]]
[[hu:Vadszeder]]
[[nl:Gewone braam]]
[[ja:クロイチゴ]]
[[no:Bjørnebær]]
[[nrm:Rubus fruticosus]]
[[pl:Jeżyna]]
[[pt:Amora-silvestre]]
[[ru:Ежевика]]
[[sq:Manaferra]]
[[simple:Blackberry]]
[[fi:Karhunvatukka]]
[[sv:Björnbär]]
[[chr:ᎧᏄᎦᎸ]]
[[tr:Böğürtlen]]
[[uk:Ожина]]
[[zh:黑莓]]

Latest revision as of 15:34, 26 May 2024

Blackberry
Ripe, ripening, and unripe Allegheny blackberries (Rubus allegheniensis)
Blackberry flower, Rubus fruticosus species aggregate
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Rubus
Subgenus: Rubus subg. Rubus
Species

And hundreds more microspecies
(the subgenus also includes the dewberries)

Synonyms

Rubus subg. Eubatus

The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by many species in the genus Rubus in the family Rosaceae, hybrids among these species within the subgenus Rubus, and hybrids between the subgenera Rubus and Idaeobatus. The taxonomy of blackberries has historically been confused because of hybridization and apomixis, so that species have often been grouped together and called species aggregates. For example, the entire subgenus Rubus has been called the Rubus fruticosus aggregate, although the species R. fruticosus is considered a synonym of R. plicatus.[1]

Blackberry fruit production is abundant with annual volumes of 20,000 pounds (9,100 kg) per 1 acre (0.40 ha) possible, making this plant commercially attractive.[2]

Rubus armeniacus ("Himalayan" blackberry) is considered a noxious weed and invasive species in many regions of the Pacific Northwest of Canada and the United States, where it grows out of control in urban and suburban parks and woodlands.[3][4]

Description[edit]

What distinguishes the blackberry from its raspberry relatives is whether or not the torus (receptacle or stem) "picks with" (i.e., stays with) the fruit. When picking a blackberry fruit, the torus stays with the fruit. With a raspberry, the torus remains on the plant, leaving a hollow core in the raspberry fruit.[5]

The term bramble, a word referring to any impenetrable thicket, has in some circles traditionally been applied specifically to the blackberry or its products,[6] though in the United States it applies to all members of the genus Rubus. In the western US, the term caneberry is used to refer to blackberries and raspberries as a group rather than the term bramble. Briar or brier may be used to refer to the dense vines of the plant, though this name is used for other thorny thickets (such as Smilax) as well.[7]

The usually black fruit is not a berry in the botanical sense, as it is termed botanically as an aggregate fruit, composed of small drupelets. It is a widespread and well-known group of over 375 species, many of which are closely related apomictic microspecies native throughout Europe, northwestern Africa, temperate western and central Asia and North and South America.[8]

Plants[edit]

Second-year flowering, fruiting floricanes to the left. First-year primocanes without flowers or fruit growing on the right.

Blackberries are perennial plants bearing biennial stems (called canes) from their roots.[9]

In its first year, a new stem, the primocane, reaches a full length of about 3–6 metres (9.8–19.7 feet) trailing on the ground and bearing large palmate compound leaves with 5–7 new leaves; it does not produce any flowers.[9] In its second year, the cane is a floricane with a non-growing stem.[9] The lateral buds open to produce flowering laterals.[9] First- and second-year shoots produce short-curved, sharp thorns.[9] Thornless cultivars have been developed during the early 21st century.[9][10]

Unmanaged plants tend to aggregate in a dense tangle of stems and branches,[4] which can be controlled in gardens or farms using trellises.[2][9] Blackberry shrubs can tolerate poor soils, spreading readily in wasteland, ditches, and roadsides.[4][8][11]

The flowers bloom in late spring and early summer on the tips of branches.[8][9] Each flower is about 2–3 centimetres (341+14 inches) in diameter, with five white-pink petals.[8][9] The fruit only develops around ovules fertilized by the male gamete from a pollen grain.[citation needed] The most likely cause of undeveloped ovules is inadequate pollinator visits.[12] Incomplete drupelet development can signal infection with raspberry bushy dwarf virus.[citation needed]

Leaf: adaxial side

Genetics[edit]

The loci controlling the primocane fruiting was mapped in the F Locus, on LG7, whereas thorns/thornlessness was mapped on LG4.[13] Better understanding of the genetics is useful for genetic screening of cross-breds, and for genetic engineering purposes.[citation needed]

Ecology[edit]

A tree bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) pollinating blackberries

Blackberry leaves are food for certain caterpillars; some grazing mammals, especially deer, are also very fond of the leaves. Caterpillars of the concealer moth Alabonia geoffrella have been found feeding inside dead blackberry shoots. When mature, the berries are eaten and their seeds dispersed by mammals, such as the red fox, American black bear and the Eurasian badger, as well as by small birds.[14]

A wild blackberry harvest

Blackberries grow wild throughout most of Europe. They are an important element in the ecology of many countries, and harvesting the berries is a common pastime. However, their vigorous growth and tendency to grow unchecked if not managed correctly means that the plants are also considered a weed, sending down roots from branches that touch the ground, and sending up suckers from the roots. In some parts of the world, such as in Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and the Pacific Northwest of North America, some blackberry species, particularly Rubus armeniacus (Himalayan blackberry) and Rubus laciniatus (evergreen blackberry), are naturalized and considered an invasive species and a noxious weed.[3][4][8]

Blackberry fruits are red when unripe, leading to an old expression that "blackberries are red when they're green".[15][16]

Cultivation[edit]

Worldwide, Mexico is the leading producer of blackberries, with nearly the entire crop being produced for export into the off-season fresh markets in North America and Europe.[17] Until 2018, the Mexican market was almost entirely based on the cultivar 'Tupy' (often spelled 'Tupi', but the EMBRAPA program in Brazil from which it was released prefers the 'Tupy' spelling), but Tupy fell out of favor in some Mexican growing regions.[18] In the US, Oregon is the leading commercial blackberry producer, producing 19,300,000 kilograms (42,600,000 pounds) on 2,500 hectares (6,300 acres) in 2017.[19][20]

Numerous cultivars have been selected for commercial and amateur cultivation in Europe and the United States.[2][10][21] Since the many species form hybrids easily, there are numerous cultivars with more than one species in their ancestry.[10]

History[edit]

Modern hybridization and cultivar development took place mostly in the US. In 1880, a hybrid blackberry-raspberry named the loganberry was developed in Santa Cruz, California, by an American judge and horticulturalist, James Harvey Logan. One of the first thornless varieties was developed in 1921, but the berries lost much of their flavor. Common thornless cultivars developed from the 1990s to the early 21st century by the US Department of Agriculture enabled efficient machine-harvesting, higher yields, larger and firmer fruit, and improved flavor, including the Triple Crown,[22][23] Black Diamond, Black Pearl, and Nightfall, a marionberry.[10]

Hybrids[edit]

Black Butte blackberry

'Marion' (marketed as "marionberry") is an important cultivar that was selected from seedlings from a cross between 'Chehalem' and 'Olallie' (commonly called "Olallieberry") berries.[24] 'Olallie' in turn is a cross between loganberry and youngberry. 'Marion', 'Chehalem' and 'Olallie' are just three of many trailing blackberry cultivars developed by the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) blackberry breeding program at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon.[10]

The most recent cultivars released from this program are the thornless cultivars 'Black Diamond', 'Black Pearl', and 'Nightfall' as well as the early-ripening 'Obsidian' and 'Metolius'. 'Black Diamond' is now the leading cultivar being planted in the Pacific Northwest. Some of the other cultivars from this program are 'Newberry', 'Waldo', 'Siskiyou', 'Black Butte', 'Kotata', 'Pacific', and 'Cascade'.[10]

Varieties with good commercial characteristics developed in Arkansas are grown in nurseries in Oklahoma.[2] Such blackberries are easy to grow, and may produce fruit for a decade or more.[2] These varieties have diverse flavors varying from sweet to tart.[2]

Trailing[edit]

Trailing blackberries are vigorous and crown-forming, require a trellis for support, and are less cold-hardy than the erect or semi-erect blackberries. In addition to the Pacific Northwest, these types do well in similar climates, such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Chile, and the Mediterranean countries.[citation needed]

Thornless[edit]

Semi-erect, prickle-free blackberries were first developed at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK, and subsequently by the USDA-ARS in Beltsville, Maryland. These are crown forming and very vigorous and need a trellis for support. Cultivars include 'Black Satin', 'Chester Thornless', 'Dirksen Thornless', 'Hull Thornless', 'Loch Maree', 'Loch Ness', 'Loch Tay', 'Merton Thornless', 'Smoothstem', and 'Triple Crown'.[25] 'Loch Ness' and 'Loch Tay' have gained the RHS's Award of Garden Merit.[26] The cultivar 'Cacanska Bestrna' (also called 'Cacak Thornless') has been developed in Serbia and has been planted on many thousands of hectares there.

Erect[edit]

The University of Arkansas has developed cultivars of erect blackberries. These types are less vigorous than the semi-erect types and produce new canes from root initials (therefore they spread underground like raspberries). There are prickly and prickle-free cultivars from this program, including 'Navaho', 'Ouachita', 'Cherokee', 'Apache', 'Arapaho', and 'Kiowa'.[27][28] They are also responsible for developing the primocane fruiting blackberries such as 'Prime-Jan' and 'Prime-Jim'.[27]

Primocane[edit]

In raspberries, these types are called primocane fruiting, fall fruiting, or everbearing. 'Prime-Jim' and 'Prime-Jan' were released in 2004 by the University of Arkansas and are the first cultivars of primocane fruiting blackberry.[29] They grow much like the other erect cultivars described above; however, the canes that emerge in the spring will flower in midsummer and fruit in late summer or fall. The fall crop has its highest quality when it ripens in cool mild climate such as in California or the Pacific Northwest.[30]

'Illini Hardy', a semi-erect prickly cultivar introduced by the University of Illinois, is cane hardy in zone 5, where blackberry production has traditionally been problematic, since canes often failed to survive the winter.[citation needed]

Mexico and Chile[edit]

Blackberry production in Mexico expanded considerably in the early 21st century.[17][20] In 2017, Mexico had 97% of the market share for fresh blackberries imported into the United States, while Chile had 61% of the market share for American imports of frozen blackberries.[20]

While once based on the cultivar 'Brazos', an old erect blackberry cultivar developed in Texas in 1959, the Mexican industry is now dominated by the Brazilian 'Tupy' released in the 1990s. The 'Tupy' has the erect blackberry 'Comanche', and a "wild Uruguayan blackberry" as parents.[31] Since there are no native blackberries in Uruguay, the suspicion is that the widely grown 'Boysenberry' is the male parent. To produce these blackberries in regions of Mexico where there is no winter chilling to stimulate flower bud development, chemical defoliation and application of growth regulators are used to bring the plants into bloom.[citation needed]

Diseases and pests[edit]

The pale pink blackberry blossom

Because blackberries belong to the same genus as raspberries,[32] they share the same diseases, including anthracnose, which can cause the berry to have uneven ripening. Sap flow may also be slowed.[33][34] They also share the same remedies, including the Bordeaux mixture,[35] a combination of lime, water and copper(II) sulfate.[36] The rows between blackberry plants must be free of weeds, blackberry suckers and grasses, which may lead to pests or diseases.[37] Fruit growers are selective when planting blackberry bushes because wild blackberries may be infected,[37] and gardeners are recommended to purchase only certified disease-free plants.[38]

The spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, is a serious pest of blackberries.[39] Unlike its vinegar fly relatives, which are primarily attracted to rotting or fermented fruit, D. suzukii attacks fresh, ripe fruit by laying eggs under the soft skin. The larvae hatch and grow in the fruit, destroying the fruit's commercial value.[39]

Another pest is Amphorophora rubi, known as the blackberry aphid, which eats not just blackberries but raspberries as well.[40][41][42]

Byturus tomentosus (raspberry beetle), Lampronia corticella (raspberry moth) and Anthonomus rubi (strawberry blossom weevil) are also known to infest blackberries.[43]

Blackberries, raw (Rubus spp.)
Close-up view of a blackberry
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy180 kJ (43 kcal)
9.61 g
Sugars4.88 g
Dietary fiber5.3 g
0.49 g
1.39 g
VitaminsQuantity
%DV
Vitamin A214 IU
Thiamine (B1)
2%
0.020 mg
Riboflavin (B2)
2%
0.026 mg
Niacin (B3)
4%
0.646 mg
Vitamin B6
2%
0.030 mg
Folate (B9)
6%
25 μg
Vitamin C
23%
21.0 mg
Vitamin E
8%
1.17 mg
Vitamin K
17%
19.8 μg
MineralsQuantity
%DV
Calcium
2%
29 mg
Iron
3%
0.62 mg
Magnesium
5%
20 mg
Manganese
28%
0.646 mg
Phosphorus
2%
22 mg
Potassium
5%
162 mg
Sodium
0%
1 mg
Zinc
5%
0.53 mg
Other constituentsQuantity
Water88 g

Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[44] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[45]

Uses[edit]

Nutrients[edit]

Raw blackberries are 88% water, 10% carbohydrates, 1% protein, and 0.5% fat (table). In a 100 grams (3.5 oz) reference amount, raw cultivated blackberries supply 43 calories and rich contents (20% or more of the Daily Value (DV) of dietary fiber, manganese (31% DV), vitamin C (25% DV), and vitamin K (19% DV) (table).

Seed composition[edit]

Blackberries contain numerous large seeds that are not always preferred by consumers. The seeds contain oil rich in omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid) and omega-6 (linoleic acid) fats as well as protein, dietary fiber, carotenoids, ellagitannins, and ellagic acid.[46]

Culinary use[edit]

The ripe fruit is commonly used in desserts, jams, jelly, wine and liqueurs. It may be mixed with other berries and fruits for pies and crumbles.[47]

Phytochemical research[edit]

Blackberries contain numerous phytochemicals including polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, salicylic acid, ellagic acid, and fiber.[48][49] Anthocyanins in blackberries are responsible for their rich dark color. One report placed blackberries at the top of more than 1,000 polyphenol-rich foods consumed in the United States,[50] but this concept of a health benefit from consuming dark-colored foods like blackberries remains scientifically unverified and not accepted for health claims on food labels.[51]

Historical uses[edit]

One of the earliest known instances of blackberry consumption comes from the remains of the Haraldskær Woman, the naturally preserved bog body of a Danish woman dating from approximately 2,500 years ago. Forensic evidence found blackberries in her stomach contents, among other foods. The use of blackberries to make wines and cordials was documented in the London Pharmacopoeia in 1696.[22] In the culinary world, blackberries have a long history of use alongside other fruits to make pies, jellies and jams.[22]

Blackberry plants were used for traditional medicine by Greeks, other European peoples, and aboriginal Americans.[22] A 1771 document described brewing blackberry leaves, stem, and bark for stomach ulcers.[22]

Blackberry fruit, leaves, and stems have been used to dye fabrics and hair. Native Americans have even been known to use the stems to make rope. The shrubs have also been used for barriers around buildings, crops and livestock. The wild plants have sharp, thick prickles, which offered some protection against enemies and large animals.[22]

In culture[edit]

Folklore in the United Kingdom and Ireland tells that blackberries should not be picked after Old Michaelmas Day (11 October) as the devil (or a Púca) has made them unfit to eat by stepping, spitting or fouling on them.[52] There is some value in this legend as autumn's wetter and cooler weather often allows the fruit to become infected by various molds such as Botryotinia which give the fruit an unpleasant look and may be toxic.[53] According to some traditions, a blackberry's deep purple color represents Jesus' blood and the crown of thorns was made of brambles,[54][55] although other thorny plants, such as Crataegus (hawthorn) and Euphorbia milii (crown of thorns plant), have been proposed as the material for the crown.[56][57]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jarvis, C.E. (1992). "Seventy-Two Proposals for the Conservation of Types of Selected Linnaean Generic Names, the Report of Subcommittee 3C on the Lectotypification of Linnaean Generic Names". Taxon. 41 (3): 552–583. doi:10.2307/1222833. JSTOR 1222833.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Carroll B (February 2017). "Commercial Blackberry Production". Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Oklahoma State University. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Himalayan blackberry". Invasive Species Council of BC. 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "Himalayan blackberry: identification and control". King County, Washington: Noxious Weed Control Program. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  5. ^ Gina Fernandez; Elena Garcia; David Lockwood. "Fruit development". North Carolina State University, Cooperative Extension. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  6. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (6th ed.). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. 2007. p. 3804. ISBN 978-0199206872.
  7. ^ Harrison, Les. "Wicked weeds: A tangled tale of thorny smilax". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e Huxley, Anthony (1992). Dictionary of gardening. London New York: Macmillan Press Stockton Press. ISBN 978-0-333-47494-5. OCLC 25202760.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Krewer, Gerard; Fonseca, Marco; Brannen, Phil; Horton, Dan (2004). "Home Garden:Raspberries, Blackberries" (PDF). Cooperative Extension Service/The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 November 2013.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Thornless processing blackberry cultivars". US Department of Agriculture. 26 June 2018. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  11. ^ Blamey, Marjorie (1989). The illustrated flora of Britain and northern Europe. Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 978-0-340-40170-5. OCLC 41355268.
  12. ^ Green, David L. "Blackberry Pollination Images". The Pollination Home Page.
  13. ^ Castro, P.; Stafne, E. T.; Clark, J. R.; Lewers, K. S. (16 July 2013). "Genetic map of the primocane-fruiting and thornless traits of tetraploid blackberry". Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 126 (10). Springer Nature: 2521–2532. doi:10.1007/s00122-013-2152-3. PMID 23856741. S2CID 16250883.
  14. ^ Fedriani, José M.; Delibes, Miguel (2009). "Functional diversity in fruit-frugivore interactions: a field experiment with Mediterranean mammals". Ecography. 32 (6): 983–992. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0587.2009.05925.x. hdl:10261/50153. JSTOR 20696310.
  15. ^ Palmatier, Robert Allen (30 August 2000). Food: A Dictionary of Literal and Nonliteral Terms. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Greenwood. p. 26. ISBN 9780313314360. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  16. ^ Marrone, Teresa (2011). Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio wild berries & fruits. Teresa Marrone. p. 272.
  17. ^ a b Perry, Mark J. (7 October 2017). "Mexico's berry bounty fuels trade dispute – U.S. consumers dismiss U.S. berry farmers' complaints as 'sour berries'". American Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  18. ^ "Tupy blackberry, at risk due to lack of interest in its production". FreshPlaza. 10 May 2018. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  19. ^ "Press Release June 27, 2018" (PDF). United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Northwest Regional Field Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  20. ^ a b c "Blackberries". US Agriculture Marketing Resource Center. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  21. ^ "Evergreen blackberry, Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission". Oregon-Berries.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  22. ^ a b c d e f Harding, Deborah. "The History of the Blackberry Fruit". gardenguides.com. Garden Guides, Leaf Group Ltd. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  23. ^ "'Triple Crown' thornless blackberry". US Department of Agriculture. 2 February 1998. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  24. ^ "Marionberry, Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission". Oregon-Berries.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  25. ^ Folta, Kevin M.; Kole, Chittaranjan (2011). Genetics, Genomics and Breeding of Berries. CRC Press. pp. 69–71. ISBN 978-1578087075.
  26. ^ "AGM Plants © RHS – CROPS BLACKBERRIES" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. November 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  27. ^ a b Folta, Kevin M.; Kole, Chittaranjan (2011). Genetics, Genomics and Breeding of Berries. CRC Press. p. 71. ISBN 978-1578087075.
  28. ^ Fernandez, Gina; Ballington, James. "Growing blackberries in North Carolina". North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, North Carolina University Press. p. 2. Archived from the original on 8 January 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  29. ^ Vincent, Christopher I. (2008). Yield Dynamics of Primocane-fruiting Blackberries Under High-tunnels and Ambient Conditions, Including Plant Growth Unit Estimations and Arthropod Pest Considerations. p. 2. ISBN 978-0549964759. Retrieved 12 November 2012.[permanent dead link]
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Further reading[edit]

  • Allen, D. E.; Hackney, P. (2010). "Further fieldwork on the brambles (Rubus fruticosus L. agg.) of North-east Ireland". Irish Naturalists' Journal. 31: 18–22.

External links[edit]