Rubus adpsersus in the North West of England

This species and Rubus platyacanthus have in the past been classified in the British Isles as Rubus carpinifolius. Not surprisingly the distributions of R. adspersus and R. platyacanthus could be somewhat confused and in some areas such as Swettenham, near Holmes Chapel, Cheshire these two species grow together. Swettenham is therefore a good place to visit to note the differences between the two species.

 Rubus adpsersus can be distinguished by the petals being initially pink rather than white and by the consistent notching of the petals, the terminal leaflets of Rubus adspersus are also distinctively ovate-acuminate.

        

Inserted above is the present known distribution of Rubus adpsersus in the north west of England map produced from Mapmate (09/09/2007). It can be seen that this is a frequent species in the south east of Cheshire where plants occur in the hedgerows that border the former heathlands. Recently after several attempts a small population of R. adspersus was eventually been found just within Staffordshire on a hillside lane at Bridestones.

 The above map will be updated as further research is carried out.