Native Raspberry

Plant Description

Botanical Name: Rubus sp.
The Australian native raspberries are small to medium prickly shrubs, some being scramblers. The photograph shows Rubus moluccanus also known as Rubus hillii. This species has a metallic sheen on the underside of the leaf. It bears white flowers followed by 10 mm red berries in spring to summer. Other species include Rubus parvifolius and Rubus rosifolius.

The shape and size of the berries, the shape of the leaves, and the habit whether a scrambing vine or more upright canes, all vary from one species to another.

Many do not realise that Australia has it own raspberries, which are not cold climate plants, but plants of the subtropics and tropics rainforests. The plants grow on the edge of the rainforest where there is more light, but in cultivation they certainly grow in full sun situations.

Usage

The sweet red berries can be gathered and eaten raw. They can be used as substitutes for the exotic raspberries. I do not know of much development done with our native raspberries, although some nurserymen have tried to bring selected forms into cultivation. However they are uncommon in nurseries. If more work is done on slective breeding of the plants, who knows, raspberries may be grown commercially one day in the subtropics. So far, they are not important in the Bush Food industry.

Recipes

MALENY MIST

(courtesy: John R. King) Raspberries

2 cups wild raspberries
3 tablespoons sugar
1 cup apple juice
1 tablespoon Potato Flour

Put berries , sugar , and most of the Apple juice , in a saucepan and bring to the boil . Boil for about 2 Min . and add Potato flour that has been mixed with the reserved Apple juice . Cook until thick and place on individual serving plates , and chill .

Rubus, raspberry

Native Raspberry leaves and fruits.

This plant is growing in my yard, and the berries are quite tasty.

Links

Bibliography

For Students

Traditional Cooking Methods