Rubus spp.

Title: Rubus spp.

Scientific Name:

Rubus fruticosus L. agg.(Presently undergoing taxonomic revision but encompasses R. cissburiensis, R. laciniatus, R. procerus, R. poluyanthemus, R. rosaceus, R. selmeri, R. ulmifolius, and R. vestitus).

Common Names:

bramble, blackberry, European blackberry

blackberry fruit & foliage

Habitat: Humid and subhumid temperate regions mainly in areas with fertile soils and an annual rainfall greater than 750 mm. It is a weed of roadsides, streambanks, neglected areas, farmlands, orchards, forest plantations and bushland (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992). Blackberry invades lowland grassland & grassy woodland, dry sclerophyll forest, damp sclerophyll forest, wet sclerophyll forest, riparian vegetation, freshwater wetland, warm temperate rainforest and cool temperate rainforest (Carr et al., 1992).

Distribution:

Australia: Present distribution maps are available via taxa links above under 'scientific name'.

USA: Present distribution maps are available by species (click here).

Invasiveness Assessment

ESTABLISHMENT

1. Germination requirements? Seeds mostly germinate in spring (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992).

2. Establishment requirements? Occurs in orchards, forest plantations and bushland where it would be shaded by overstorey species (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992).

3. How much disturbance is required? Weed of bushland. "Blackberry rarely invades virgin bushland but establishes most readily on disturbed sites" (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992)..

GROWTH / COMPETITIVE

4. Life form? Scrambling shrub. Others category. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992)

5. Allelopathic properties? None reported.

6. Tolerates herb pressure? Not readily consumed by sheep and cattle but is consumed by goats (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992).

7. Normal growth rate? "Few other plants can compete and blackberry completely dominates the vegetation of an area in a very short time" (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992).

8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc? Tolerance to water logging, frost (occurs above snow line) (Amor et al., 1998).

REPRODUCTION

9. Reproductive system? Reproduces by seed root suckers and layering (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992)

10. Number of propagules produced? > 2,000 seeds/plant (Amor et al., 1998 p. 233).

11. Propagule longevity? ?

12. Reproductive period? Forms self-sustaining dense monocultures (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992 p. 579).

13. Time to reproductive maturity? 2+ years (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992).

DISPERSAL

14. Number of mechanisms? Birds, foxes, creeks and rivers (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992).

15. How far do they disperse? "In one study an average of 570 seeds were recovered from fox droppings and 2,460 from Emu droppings" (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992).

Impact Assessment

RECREATION

1. Restrict human access? "Blackberry forms dense, impenetrable thickets...often along watercourses." Presents a major impediment to both human and vehicular traffic (Muyt, 2001).

2. Reduce tourism? "It is the bane of bushwalkers and fishing enthusiasts." Its dense form can seriously affect recreational pursuits (Blood, 2001).

3. Injurious to people? Canes, which can grow up to seven metres in lengths, are covered in large, sharp prickles. Dead canes remain attached to the crown indefinitely. This presents a constant hazard to people (Muyt, 2001).

4. Damage to cultural sites? Although forming dense thickets, the root system is not extensive or highly vigorous. The plant is unlikely to cause structural damage to cultural features or structures, but would have a moderate visual impact (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992).

ABIOTIC

5. Impact flow? Terrestrial species. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

6. Impact water quality? Terrestrial species (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

7. Increase soil erosion? The plant was initially recommended for soil stabilisation on riverbanks, but, "lack of other vegetation can eventually destabilised an area." Potential for high probability of large scale soil movement (Muyt, 2001).

8. Reduce biomass? Many plants become deciduous during the cooler months and, as a dominant species, it would potentially decrease biomass. "As much as 70% of the mass of the clump may consist of dead canes." (Muyt, 2001; Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

9. Change fire regime? "As much as 70% of the mass of the clump may consist of dead canes...and large clumps are a considerable fire hazard." (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

COMMUNITY HABITAT

10(a) Impact on composition of high value EVC? EVC=Plains grassy woodland (E); CMA=Corangamite; Bioreg=Otway Plain; VH CLIMATE potential "...blackberry completely dominates the vegetation of an area in a very short time. Regeneration of native plants is seriously impeded." Monoculture (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

10(b) Impact on medium value EVC? EVC=Grassy dry forest (D); CMA=Corangamite; Bioreg=Central Victorian Uplands; VH CLIMATE potential. "...blackberry completely dominates the vegetation of an area in a very short time. Regeneration of native plants is seriously impeded." Monoculture within mid stratum (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

10(c) Impact on low value EVC? EVC=Lowland forest (LC); CMA=Corangamite; Bioreg=Central Victorian Uplands; VH CLIMATE potential. "...blackberry completely dominates the vegetation of an area in a very short time. Regeneration of native plants is seriously impeded." Monoculture within mid stratum (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

11. Impact on structure? "...it covers large areas with a dense canopy excluding light from the soil surface. Few other plants can compete and blackberry completely dominates the vegetation of an area in a very short time. Regeneration of native plants is seriously impeded." Monoculture, or close enough (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)!

12. Effect on threatened flora? Threatens ANZECC rated rare or threatened native plant species (Groves et al., 2003).

FAUNA

13. Effect on threatened fauna?

14. Effect on non-threatened fauna? Because of its spreading habit, dominant nature, and spiny canes, it reduces the habitat for native fauna (Blood, 2001).

15. Benefits fauna? The native birds crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans), and the red browed finch (Neochima temporalis), and emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) feed on the berries (Panetta et al., 1998).

16. Injurious to fauna? "Thorns are a problem for grazing animals." A similar situation would exist for native fauna (Blood, 2001).

PEST ANIMAL

17. Food source to pests? The berries are a food source for foxes and the introduced starling (Sturnus vulgaris L.) and blackbird (Turdus merula L.) (Panetta et al., 1998).

18. Provides harbor? It provides harbor for rabbits, foxes and snakes (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

AGRICULTURE

19. Impact yield? "In agricultural production the main industries affected are grazing and forestry." Production of timber in forest plantations is reduced...natural regeneration of hardwood plantations can be prevented or reduced. Heavy infestations in pastures reduce carrying capacity because of access limitations and reduced availability of fodder (Bruzzese & Lane, 1996; Panetta et al., 1998; Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

20. Impact quality? No recorded level of impact on quality.

21. Affect land values? Its ability to significantly reduce available pasture, and the high cost and time taken to control the plant suggest that land prices would be affected by more than 10%. "Some property values have been substantially decreased, due to heavy infestations of blackberry across the property." (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

22. Change land use? While heavy infestations limit carrying capacity, grazing of canes and stem damage through stock movement reduces tip-rooting and thus slow the spread of the plant. Paddocks can still be used, but with limited return. Neglected farming areas can be totally over-run with blackberry, effectively rendering the land useless (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

23. Increase harvest costs? The plant is recorded as occurring in orchards, however, no evidence exists of the impact on harvest costs. Not a significant weed of cropping (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

24. Disease host/vector? None evident.

Feedback:

Do you have additional information about this plant that will improve the quality of the assessment? If so, we would value your contribution.

Assessment ratings originally made by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries.

The entry of this assessment was made possible through the generous support of The Weed's Network.

Attachments:

blackberry_fruit_foliage.jpg
blackberry_rubus_fruticosus_present.jpg
blackberry_rubus_fruticosus_potential.jpg

referenced by (2)

wra999: Common Name - E (via European blackberry)wra825: Common Name - B (via blackberry)

Article: wra657 (permalink)
Categories: :wra:r, :wra:inv1, :wra:invmh, :wra:inv2, :wra:inv3, :wra:inv4, :wra:invl, :wra:inv5, :wra:inv6, :wra:inv7, :wra:invh, :wra:inv8, :wra:invml, :wra:inv9, :wra:inv10, :wra:inv11, :wra:invm, :wra:inv12, :wra:inv13, :wra:inv14, :wra:inv15, :wra:imp1, :wra:imph, :wra:imp2, :wra:imp3, :wra:impmh, :wra:imp4, :wra:impml, :wra:imp5, :wra:impl, :wra:imp6, :wra:imp7, :wra:imp8, :wra:imp9, :wra:imp10a, :wra:imp10b, :wra:imp10c, :wra:imp11, :wra:imp12, :wra:imp13, :wra:impm, :wra:imp14, :wra:imp15, :wra:imp16, :wra:imp17, :wra:imp18, :wra:imp19, :wra:imp20, :wra:imp21, :wra:imp22, :wra:imp23, :wra:imp24
Date: 3 August 2009; 10:49:01 AM AEST

Author Name: David Low
Author ID: adminDavid