14. Rubus celer
L.H. Bailey
Map 2512
Canes to 200 cm
long and 50 cm tall, 3–5 mm in diameter. Prickles usually moderate, 1–3 per cm
of cane, 2–3 mm long. Petioles with sparse nonglandular hairs, armed with
downward-curved to downward-angled prickles to 2 mm long. Stipules 10–16 mm
long, linear. Primocane leaflets mostly 5, sometimes 3, the margins sharply
toothed, the upper surface glabrous, the undersurface thinly hairy, especially
along the veins. Central primocane leaflets 6.0–8.5 cm long and 4–6 cm wide,
ovate-elliptic to elliptic, rounded at the base, tapered to a sharply pointed
tip, the leaflet stalk about 1/4 as long as the leaflet blade; middle leaflets
elliptic-obovate, angled at the base, angled to a sharply pointed tip, stalked;
basal leaflets elliptic-obovate, angled at the base, angled to a sharply pointed
tip, and sessile when 5 leaflets are present, tapered to a sharply pointed tip,
short-stalked, and often asymmetrically lobed when only 3 leaflets are present.
Inflorescences (7–)10–20(–32) cm long, with 4–12 flowers on long, ascending
stalks (often with a more-or-less flat-topped arrangement) and 4–7 leafy
bracts, these mostly with 3 leaflets; flower and inflorescence stalks with
spreading, nonglandular hairs and sometimes with small, downward-curved
prickles. Sepals 6–7 mm long, 3–4 mm wide, triangular-ovate, abruptly tapered
to a short, slender point. Petals 10–13 mm long, obovate. Fruits 13–20 mm long,
11–20 mm wide, globose to short-cylindric. May–June.
Uncommon, mostly
in the eastern half of the state (northeastern U.S. and adjacent Canada west to
Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri). Upland prairies; also pastures, fencerows,
ditches, roadsides, and open, sandy, disturbed areas.