16. Rubus deamii L.H. Bailey
Map 2514
Canes to 250 cm
long and 50 cm tall, 3–5 mm in diameter. Primocanes rarely with gland-tipped
hairs. Prickles moderate to dense, (2–)3–5(–8) per cm of cane, (1–)2–3 mm long.
Petioles with nonglandular hairs, occasional gland-tipped hairs and
downward-curved prickles to 2 mm long. Stipules 8–12 mm long, linear-lanceolate,
glandular. Primocane leaves mostly with 3 leaflets, rarely with 5, margins
irregularly, doubly serrate, upper surface thinly hairy, the undersurface
velvety hairy. Central primocane leaflets (4.0–)5.0–6.5(–7.0) cm long and
(2.5–)3.0–4.0(–4.5) cm wide, ovate to elliptic, base rounded to subcordate,
tapered to a sharply pointed tip, the leaflet stalk about 1/6–1/4 as long as
the leaflet blade; middle leaflets ovate to elliptic; basal leaflets ovate,
often asymmetrically lobed, base rounded, angled to a sharply pointed tip.
Inflorescences (4–)6–11(–12) cm long, with 1–6 flowers on ascending stalks,
with (1)2 or 3(–5) leafy bracts, about evenly divided between simple bracts and
those with 3 leaflets; flower and inflorescence stalks with nonglandular and
glandular hairs, and small downward-angled, needlelike prickles. Sepals 7–8 mm
long and 3.0–3.5 mm wide, oblong, tapered to a sharply pointed tip or abruptly
tapered to a short, slender point. Petals 8–14 mm long, obovate. Fruits 9–10 mm
long, 9–10 mm wide, globose. April–May.
Uncommon, known
thus far only from a single historical collection from Ste. Genevieve County
(central U.S. from Virginia and West Virginia west to Indiana, Kentucky, and
Tennessee, disjunct in Missouri). Bases of sandstone bluffs.
The Missouri
record dates to 1933 to a specimen of primocane and floricane material gathered
by Julian Steyermark near Chimney Rocks in a bluffy area with large sandstone
boulders. The specimens originally were determined as R. invisus (see
discussion under the sect. Flagellares treatment above).