AMERICAN+BRAMBLE

AMERICAN BRAMBLE

= =

**__Names:__**
Botanical - Rubus cuneifolius

Common - blackberry, bramble, jigijolo

Description
The leaves of the bramble have 3 leaflets with two margins The flowers are white,they are also rarely pink Fruits have 40-50 tightly packed parts going from green to pink to black and are succulent when ripe. It is a perennial shrub with slender stems (canes),which bear curved thorns and only live for up to 18months. Flowers only develop in the second summer and then the cane dies.

Country of Origin:
The bramble originates in North America.

History of the plant in South Africa:
The bramble was introduced into South Africa from North America for its fruit.

== ==

Category of Alien plant:
1

== ==

Distribution in South Africa:
It is found widely in grasslands and in mountainous areas of the Drakensberg.

== ==

Habitat:
It prefers cool winters and wet summers.

== ==

Problems/Dangers to the local habitat:
It spreads rapidly and destroyes the natural flora. It is destroying natural forests and plantations

== ==

Methods of eradication:
its best to spray a herbcide spray than cutting it down as the hairs from the shrub might cause some skin problems or infections

== ==

Success of eradication:
There is still research going on about the spraying of brambles but they are still spreading.

= =