Rubus rigidus Sm.

A very variable, scrambling shrub up to 3 m. tall.. Flowering stems greenish-white, usually densely tomentose, sometimes villous or in part so; prickles variable in number, straight to hooked, 1.75–5 mm. long, basally dilated and tomentose.. Leaves commonly trifoliolate, sometimes imparipinnate (2-jugate, the turion leaves apparently frequently so); leaflets ovate, ovate-elliptic or obovate but very variable, obtuse or acute or abruptly acuminate, basally rounded to subcordate; the terminal leaflet usually largest, 3.7–7.5 × 2.7–5.2 cm., or subequal in size to the basal pair in imparipinnate leaves; all serrate or biserrate, with shallow (sometimes coarse) but usually sharp teeth, rather thinly hairy to glabrous, sometimes very dark green above, whitish-tomentose beneath (varying rarely to green and subglabrous); terminal petiolules 0.8–2.5 cm. long, those of lateral leaflets 3–4 mm. long.. Inflorescence usually a leafless, rather closely compacted, cyclindrical panicle, the basal branchlets ascending; axis, branchlets and pedicels whitish-green-tomentose or becoming villous, sometimes fulvous; pedicels 3–9 mm. long.. Flower-buds broadly ovate, cuspidate, 4.5 × 4 mm.. Calyx 6–7 mm. long, deeply divided into ovate-lanceolate (sometimes narrowly) or ovate-acuminate, mucronate lobes 5–6 mm. long, greenish-white-tomentose, clasping with maturity.. Petals pink to mauve, obovate or obovate-elliptic, 6–9 × 4–6 mm., rounded, apparently caducous.. Carpels glabrous, or pubescent particularly at the apex and along the outer side.. Fruit edible, ± acid.. Fig. 3/4, p. 31.

A tropical plant. It grows on the edges of swamp forest in West Africa. It grows between 1,040-2,100 m altitude. It grows on clay loams and sandy soils. It is often along creeks and rivers.

The fruit are eaten raw. They are also used for jams, jellies and drinks.

Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings.