Chinese Raspberry

A cosmopolitan genus of about 250 species of deciduous, semi-evergreen, and evergreen shrubs, scramblers, climbers, and trailers, found worldwide in a variety of habitats, from woodland and scrub to coastal dunes and uplands. Most species produce edible fruits, though some are rather tasteless. Rubus idaeus (raspberry) has been cultivated in England since the mid-16th century. The western N American dewberry (R. ursinus) was cultivated in the early 19th century; many hybrids were developed using this species, notably the loganberry, which is a dewberry-raspberry cross. Blackberries (R. fruticosus) remained a wild-collected food until well in the 20th century, although hybridization began in the 19th century. Fossil evidence shows that raspberries (R. idaeus) and blackberries (R. fruticosus) have formed part of the human diet from very early times. The raspberry was mentioned by the Roman poet Propertius (c.50-16BCE), and the blackberry by Greek dramatist Aeschylus (c.525-456BCE) and physician Hippocrates (c.460-357BCE). The roots and foliage of most Rubus species contain tannins and flavonoids, while fruits are rich in vitamins A, B1, and C, organic acids, sugars, and pectin. Rubus fruticosus was used by the ancient Greeks to treat gout, and by the Romans for sore mouths and inflammation of the bowel. Various species were used by native N Americans to cure diarrhea and dysentery, including R. hispidus (Swamp Dewberry), R. laciniatus (Cut-leafed bramble), R. odoratus (purple-flowered raspberry, thimbleberry), R. parviflorus(thimbleberry), R. procumbens (creeping blackberry), and R. villosus (American blackberry), which entered the U.S. Pharmacopoeia in 1820 as an astringent tonic. Rubus idaeus was used by N American colonists, but it proved less successful than native species such as R. occidentalis (thimbleberry, black raspberry), with which it was crossed to give black-red or purple raspberries. Rubus coreanus was first mentioned in Chinese medical literature c.CE500. It is one of several Asian species known as "ghost brambles" or "white-washed brambles" because of their stems, which are coated in gray-white wax. It is used interchangeably with R. chingii. The red-fruited R. parvifolius (Japanese bramble) is also used; leaves and roots are decocted for skin problems, and unripe, dried fruits are regarded as tonic and aphrodisiac.

Deciduous, suckering shrub with dark, wax-coated, erect or arching stems, bearing stout prickles, and leaves divided into 5-7 oval, toothed leaflets, to 7cm (3in) long, which have white woolly undersides. Small pink flowers appear in clusters in summer, followed by small red to black fruits.

Common Name:	Chinese Raspberry
Botanical Name:	Rubus coreanus
Genus:	Rubus
Family:	Rosaceae
Cultivation:	Moist, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Rubus fruiticosus may be trained on wires or solid surfaces to make harvesting easier. Remove old stems after fruiting. In spring, lightly prune plants grown for fruit. Plants may be damaged by aphids, plant bugs, raspberry beetle, crown gall, Rubus stunt, Botrytis, and virus disease. Rubus fruitcosus is subject to statuatory control as a weed in some countries, notably in parts of Australia.
Propagation:	By seed sown in spring (species only); by softwood cuttings in summer; by leaf-bud cuttings in late summer; by hardwood cuttings in winter; and by tip layering in summer (R. fruiticosus); by root cuttings and suckers during dormancy (R. idaeus); by division in early spring or autumn.
Harvest	Leaves are picked before flowering and dried for use in infusions, liquid extracts, and tablets. Roots are lifted in summer and dried for use in decoctions. Fruits are harvested when ripe and dried for use in decoctions (R. coreanus), or used fresh or frozen for juice, syrups, and culinary purposes.
Native Location:	Korea, Japan, and China
Height:	4m (12ft)
Width:	Indefinite
Hardiness	Z6-9
Parts Used:	Fruits (fu pen zi)
Properties	An astringent herb that acts as a kidney and liver tonic.
Medicinal Uses:	Internally for complaints associated with disturbed liver and kidney functions, such as urinary dysfunction, premature graying, blurred vision, infertility, impotence, and premature ejaculation.
Bibliography:	Encyclopedia or Herbs ~ Deni Brown ~ copyright ©2005 Dorling Kimbersley Limited. ~ pg 350.