Rubus aliceae (Santa Fe raspberry)

Rubus aliceae (Santa Fe raspberry)

Family
ROSACEAE
Scientific Name with Author

Rubus aliceae Bailey

Synonyms

Rubus idaeus subsp. strigosus (Michaux) Focke

Common Name
Santa Fe raspberry

County Map
Counties
Description

Perennial; canes, erect, stiff, with a mixture of bristle-like prickles, broad based prickles 2-3 mm long, and gland-tipped hairs; leaves pinnately compound, 3- and 5-foliate , crowded on the canes; leaflets 3-5 cm long, finely serrate, tomentose underneath; flowers 5-8, close together at top of canes; petals 5, white; fruit a cluster of drupelets, red. Flowers mid summer.

Similar Species

Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus has longer, 5-7 cm leaflets and the leaflet margins are roughly double serrate.

Distribution

New Mexico, Santa Fe County, Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Habitat

Montane coniferous forest with Pinus flexilis and Juniperus communis; other parameters unknown.

Remarks

This taxon is known only from a type collection in Santa Fe Canyon made in the early twentieth century. Since then, at least two reservoirs have been built in the canyon and the original population might have been extirpated when the canyon bottoms were disturbed. Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus is very abundant in Santa Fe Canyon and the type R. aliceae is probably a form of that species.

2021: Synonymous with Rubus idaeus subsp. strigosus (FNA Vol. 9, 2015), which is widespread and common.

Conservation Considerations

An extant population of Rubus aliceae needs to be found before relationships and conservation needs can be determined.

Important Literature

*Bailey, L.H. 1941-1945. Rubus in North America. Gentes Herbarium 5:1-932.

*Vines, R.A. 1960. Trees, shrubs and woody vines of the Southwest. University of Texas Press, Austin.

Information Compiled By
Juanita A.R. Ladyman 1999

For distribution maps and more information, visit Natural Heritage New Mexico