Rosaceae Fortnight: Rubus ulmifolius from Kashmir-GSSEP101/101

[Gurcharan Singh]

Rubus ulmifoius, photographed from Srinagar Kashmir

See also

Dr. Gurcharan Singh

Retired  Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297  Mob: 9810359089

http://www.gurcharanfamily.com/ 
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/

[Tabish]

After prolonged confusion over Rubus ulmifolius and Rubus sanctus, the current understanding is that the two are different species. Rubus ulmifolius is a European species and has no distribution in Kashmir, not even in West Asia. The accepted name for Rubus sanctus, is Rubus creticus, and is believed to be native to West Himalaya, in addition to E. Medit. to Turkmenistan.

  So, all sightings of Rubus ulmifolius from Kashmir should logically be taken as Rubus creticus. It grows wild in Kashmir and kids there love eating the black-colored berries.

    Tabish

[Gurcharan Singh]

Yes Tabish ji, the species described by FBI as R. fruticosus var discolor (based on R. discolor Weihe & Nees; Boiss) was considered as R. ulmifolius in Flora Afghanistan, which we followed for many years. Our plant is now considered as synonym of R. creticus Tourne ex L. by POWO. Thanks for digging it out.

[Gurcharan Singh]

In fact there is lot of confusion regarding R. discolor. Our Plant is R. discolor Boise (synonym of R. creticus Tourne ex L., not R. discolor Weihe & Nees which is synonym of R. ulmifolius.