19. Rubus leviculus L.H. Bailey
Pl. 540 j–l; Map
2517
Canes to 200 cm
long, typically prostrate, 2–4 mm in diameter, sometimes so delicate as to seem
herbaceous. Primocanes sometimes with gland-tipped hairs. Prickles moderate,
1.0–3.5 per cm of cane, 0.5–2.0 mm long. Petioles with nonglandular hairs,
occasional gland-tipped hairs, and downward-curved prickles to 1 mm long.
Stipules 8–15 mm long, linear-lanceolate. Primocane leaves mostly with 3
leaflets, rarely with 5, margins sharply and sometimes coarsely toothed, the
upper surface thinly hairy, the undersurface thinly to velvety hairy. Central
primocane leaflets 5–8 cm long and 2.5–4.0 cm wide, elliptic, rounded to angled
at the base, tapered to a sharply pointed tip, the leaflet stalk about 1/5–3/10
as long as the leaflet blade; basal leaflets asymmetrically ovate-elliptic to
elliptic, angled at the base, angled to a sharply pointed tip, short-stalked to
nearly sessile. Inflorescences 4.0–12.5 cm long, with 1–3 flowers on long,
ascending stalks, with 1–4 narrow, leafy bracts, these mostly with 3 leaflets;
flower and inflorescence stalks densely covered with nonglandular and glandular
hairs and small downward-angled, needlelike prickles or downward-curved
prickles. Sepals 5.5–7.0 mm long, 3–4 mm wide, triangular to elliptic-ovate,
tapered to a sharply-pointed tip. Petals 10–14 mm long, obovate. Fruits 10–14
mm long, 10–15 mm wide, short-cylindric. April–May.
Uncommon, mostly
south of the Missouri River (southeastern U.S. west to Missouri and Iowa).
Mesic upland forests, upland prairies, sand prairies, and banks of streams and
rivers; also pastures, old fields, railroads, roadsides, and open, disturbed
areas.