WANTED! Bramble observations in Fall/Winter
Hey friends! As the weather starts to cool down I'm sure you will all be out and making more observations in the next couple of months. I have a favor to ask...
Fall isn't the usual time for Brambles to be observed, but that's what makes this the perfect time! I'm on the hunt for a particular blackberry/dewberry bush that is very green right now, when all the others are starting to turn brown. So, if you happen to notice a healthy looking blackberry bush, it's worth documenting!
Here are some key characteristics to look for:
- Upright, not laying on the ground (typically over 3 feet tall)
- Leaflets are wider and rounder than what we usually see. Leaves could have 3 or 5 leaflets.
- The underside of the leaves are whitish, not green like on the top.
If you think you have found one that fits the description, take photos like you usually would, but include a photo of the whole plant and especially one of the back of the leaves. Bonus love for anyone that also wants to photograph the thorns on the lowest part of the main stems and the stem of any spent flowers still attached. (Examples below.) And please tag me!
Bonus love for these extras!
So you might be asking, "What's this all about?" (Or maybe not. If you're like me, you love a scavenger hunt no matter what it's for! Except car keys. SIGH.) Well, if you've been following my posts on Rubus species in Texas, you could probably win Bramble Trivia Night if you recall that we have 3 common species in Texas and 2 much less common species. I'm looking for observations of the "much less common" species. Since they are robust plants this time of year, it's much easier to spot them now than in the spring when all the others are in bloom, too.
Thanks for keeping your eyes open! And beware of the thorns...
Kommentit
I'll be on the look out
@sambiology @bob777 @charley @kathrynwells333 @baxter-slye @jsuplick @lisa281 @atozbotanicals @sahi2018 @annikaml @walkingstick2 @abadoo @lulubelle @brentano @postoak @pfau_tarleton @suz @sonnia @alisonnorthup @gcwarbler @nathantaylor @connlindajo @itmndeborah @paulines @cgritz @meangreen2018 @galactic_bug_man @rick57 @cindylcobb5 @sehnature @katelyn3 @beckymn @cwd912nb @squaylei2000 @lanechaffin @aguilita @troutlily57 @alusk @dan_johnson @texaskingbird @apcorboy @joshmols
Please tag others!
@brandymidura @lauramorganclark @palustrisphotography @amandajean @oceanicwilderness @wanda_etx @redpenny @robertkamper @kountrykarnivores @eric_keith @gibbons @cosmiccat @dcarrie @abkline
My trick is I’m always looking for brambles!
I created a project for Rubus of Texas yesterday, and made you an admin. I think these posts would be great for the project journal there too!
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/rubus-brambles-of-texas
Sounds Good! I will be looking.👀
@lovebirder Reporting for duty:)
I will absolutely be looking!,
I will keep an eye out.
I will be looking too.
I'll keep my eyes pealed.
Will do, Kimberlie!
Would I be likely to find those two less known species this far south?
@suz The distribution for both of them is unclear, but even less so in your area. I wouldn't go out looking just for them, but if you come across an upright like R. pensilvanicus, take a photo of the back of the leaf. The changes in taxonomy have made searching for voucher specimens extra tricky. Both of these species are reported to be more sandy-soil plants, but that's not to say they are exclusively so.
I will be sure to keep an eye out.
I'll be looking.
I have a bramble that we have at the Pollinative Prairie that I will tag you in, and some more. The one at the Prairie has bigger leaves than normal. Not sure if maybe it came from someone eating blackberries at the pond while fishing.
What is the specific binomial name for the one you are looking for?
Well, I can certainly add some from Oklahoma. Not sure when the next opportunity to observe TX Rubus will be.
Will do!
@csquare
@abadoo I'm looking for R. pascuus and R. bifrons.
Will keep my eyes out. The brambles always seem to find me.
Just posted some brambles I found. would have had some more but the pictures didn't turn out.
I'll keep an eye out. I'll be out in the woods hunting a lot, as well as monitoring woodpeckers, so will have lots of opportunities!
Thank you to everyone who has been posting bramble observations! We ARE finding new locations for both R. pascuus and R. bifrons, which had not been recognized in DFW and most of Texas. Keep looking! Keep tagging me! This is exciting news! I'll work on an update to the Bramble ID post when we have enough observations to show good examples.
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