Bill's Botanical Forays

The northern dewberry (also known as the common dewberry) is in full bloom on the refuge right now. Its accepted scientific name is Rubus flagellaris Willd. It is native to eastern North America from the Atlantic Coast on the east to Ontario, Minnesota, and Texas on the west. Botanists call it a liana, or a woody vine that does not support its own weight.

One of the distinguishing traits for this dewberry are the stout-based, usually recurved prickles on the stems. It is also distinguished from other trailing species of Rubus or dewberries by its few-flowered inflorescences with ascending pedicels (flowering stems) and glabrous to sparsely pubescent leaves.

It generally prefers drier or mesic habitats and open sunny locations, but can sometimes be found in wet habitats.  It can be seen on the refuge in open ranges and old fields. It is especially abundant in the power line right-of-ways.

The berries are edible to humans but are hard to find because they are relished by small mammals which get to them first. Deer also browse on the stems.