1.

+

Perennial herbs, prostrate or creeping, usually unarmed, stipules free (Sect. Cylactis).

1. R. saxatilis

–                                          

Stems ± woody; usually with robust or needle-like prickles, stipules usually adnate to base of petiole.

2

2.

+

Leaves simple, stipules free, margin laciniate above middle, persistent or caducous. Inflorescence a cymose panicle to subraceme, 10-25 cm long (Sect. Malachobatus).

5. R. paniculatus

–        

Leaves compound,stipules adnate to base of petiole, rarely free, undivided, occasionally lobed, persistent. Inflorescence usually shorter.

3

3.

+

Leaves usually ternate, aggregate fruit adnate to torus at maturity, not or rarely hollow(Sect. Rubus).

4

–        

Leaves pinnately or palmately compound, 3-9 leaflets; aggregate fruit separating from torus at maturity, hollow (Sect. Idaeobatus).

5

4.

+

Leaves abaxially glabrescent or puberulous along veins, sepals usually erect at anthesis, petals white, drupelets 2-20, ca. 5 mm in diameter, with white bloom                                               

2. R. caesius

–        

Leaves abaxially densely white tomentose, sepals recurved at anthesis, petals pink or purplish, rarely white, drupelets numerous, 2-3 mm in diameter, without white bloom.

Leaves abaxially white tomentose, sepals often recurved at anthesis, petals pale pink, rarely white.

3. R. sanctus agg.

4. Rubus karakalensis (R. sanctus x R. caesius)

5.

+

Leaves mostly ternate with 3(-5) leaflets.

6

–        

Leaves mostly pinnate with (3-)5-9 leaflets.

11

6.

+

Leaves ternate, blades elliptic-obovate to suborbicular, not lobed, abaxially densely tomentose,inflorescence a dense glomerate raceme, 2-5 cm long, rarely flowers solitary, drupelets yellow.

6. R. ellipticus

–        

Leaves ternate, rarely simple or pinnate with 5 leaflets, blades ovate to lanceolate, if suborbicular then 3-lobed, abaxially glabrous or densely white tomentose, rarely pubescent, flowers single or inflorescence shortly racemose, corymbose, rarely paniculate, 2-15 flowered, drupelets yellow to red or black.

7

7.

+

Leaves abaxially usually glabrous, rarely pubescent, terminal leaflet lanceolate.

7. R. macilentus

–        

Leaves abaxially white hairy, terminal leaflet ovate, broadly ovate or suborbicular.

8

8.

+

Stem, leaves and calyx densely bristly, sepals 8-16 mm long, narrowly lanceolate, apex usually long caudate, drupelets red                                                                                

8. R. irritans

–        

Stem, leaves and calyx with prickles or unarmed, sepals 5-15 mm long, broadly ovate or ovate to lanceolate, apex acute, acuminate to caudate, drupeletsorange-yellow or red to black.    

9

9.

+

Branches, pedicels, bracts and stipules with stalked glands.

9. R. hoffmeisterianus

–        

Branches with prickles or bristles,eglandular.

10

10.

Sepals lanceolate, apex long acuminate to caudate, densely pubescent on both surfaces, 0.7-1.2 cm long, petals pink or red                                                                

10. R. pedunculosus

Sepals ovate to broadly ovate, apex acute, abaxially glabrous, 0.6-0.8(-0.9) cm long, petals white.

11. R. biflorus

11.

+

Leaflets abaxially sparsely pubescent, mainly along veins, flowers solitary or in 2-4-flowered corymbs, petals white or pink,sepals (0.6-)0.8-1.2(-2) cm long,abaxially pubescent and with prickles 

12.R. pungens

–        

Leaflets abaxially white velutinous, flowers up to 25 in 4-6 cm long corymb, petals reddish pink,sepalsless than 0.5-0.8cm long, abaxially densely pubescent, without prickles.  

13. R. niveus