Rubus apetalus Poir.

A scrambling shrub.. Flowering branches densely and softly white-or yellowish-pilose, sometimes villous, the hairs largely spreading; prickles slender, hooked or straightly deflexed, up to 4–5 mm. long.. Leaves imparipinnate (2–(3–)-jugate) or trifoliolate, or the uppermost simple; leaflets rather variable in shape, commonly lanceolate, oblong-lanceolate, or oblong-elliptic, 6.5–9 × 4–6 cm., rather obtuse or the upper ones usually very acute, basally rounded to subcordate, sharply but shallowly serrate or biserrate with teeth ± 1(–2) mm. deep, dark green and variably hairy above (often rather evenly but thinly covered with appressed hairs), paler beneath, and softly pilose or more usually grey-or greenish-or whitish-tomentose, sometimes thickly covered with soft, whitish or ± fulvous hairs; terminal petiolules 1–2(–3) cm. long; the lateral ones up to 7 mm. long.. Inflorescence paniculate, narrowly to broadly pyramidal, up to 21 × 9 cm., the basal branchlets spreading at a wide angle or ± horizontally; flowers rather congested; axis, branchlets and pedicels whitish-tomentose interspersed with variably numerous, fulvous or pale fulvous, stiff hairs.. Petals O [or very small, (fide Focke)].. Calyx 5–8 mm. long, deeply divided into lanceolate, ± clasping lobes 4–7 mm. long with a protracted apex, hairy as the pedicels.. Carpels varying from glabrous to densely hairy (and sometimes with a dense apical tuft).. Fruit black.

It is a tropical plant. It grows in hilly and mountain regions near forests in West Africa. It grows along the edges of forests. In Kenya it grows between 1,450-2,700 m altitude.

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are also used for jam and juice.

It can be used as a hedge. Plants can be grow by seeds or suckers.