Let the Feasting Begin: Blackberry - Rubus allegheniensis - Mûre

So for those wondering about the general dearth of posts from me in the last week or so, a quick recapitulation: I was working full-time while packing up to move. Then I was moving. Then I was getting settled and unpacked.

I have relocated from Montreal in preparation for beginning an MSc Biology (pollination ecology) in September. I am now residing in Ottawa, but for the month of August I will be staying at the lake in the Upper Gatineau (I challenge anyone, when given the choice to either hang out in Ottawa or at a lake, to choose differently).

I will still post about things found in Montreal, with photos already taken or new photos when I go to visit my husband, but for the month of August at least you can anticipate that my photos will be primarily from this region.

Such as the ones for today. One of the first things I did upon settling in was to evaluate the state of the various wild fruits in the area. A quick reconnaissance along the road to a few known blackberry areas yielded a few fruits just starting to turn. Blackberry season is starting, and they are absolutely magnificent this year.

Most of the plants around here are Rubus allegheniensis (alleghany blackberry, common blackberry), with a couple of Rubus flagellaris (Northern dewberry, Northern blackberry) thrown in here and there -- it looks a bit different in the leaves and fruit but the most obvious difference at least around here is its low growth habit (R. flagellaris seems to keep a very low profile, often below knee height, but long and creeping). R. allegheniensis is native to Ontario and Quebec, introduced to BC, and it has an unknown status in Newfoundland & Labrador [1]. It is native to much of the Eastern US and one Western US state [2] (US range map here, Canada range map here). The species is secure in all of its Canadian range [1], is unlisted in the US [2], and is globally a species of least concern [3].

Rubus allegheniensis flower

R. allegheniensis is a member of the Rosaceae (rose family), a group of plants I have mentioned quite a few times before. The flower above shows the distinctive 5-petaled flower common in this family. In fact, the cane berries, as well as a few others, are all members not just of this family but of the genus Rubus, which is a group of plants which produce aggregate fruit which are composed of drupelets. An aggregate fruit is a fruit which is formed by the fusion of multiple ovaries (as opposed to each ovary developing into a single fruit), and a drupelet is a small fruit with a 'stone' (a seed surrounded by a hard shell). So plants of the genus Rubus produce fruits that look like a collection of bubbles stuck together.

Rubus allegheniensis - aggregate fruit composed of drupelets

These fruit are absolutely delicious. They are certainly my favourite of the cane berries and they compete very hard with strawberries to be my favourite fruit.

Rubus allegheniensis - typical bush this year, absolutely laden with ripening fruit

They are coming into season now in the Upper Gatineau. I have many plans for them, which I may post about again in the next few days.

We went up Mont Cayamant yesterday, and I got a great shot of Lac Cayamant from the top which I think people may enjoy:

View of Lac Cayamant from the Mont Cayamant lookout tower

The weather has been very changeable in the last week. This shot really shows it; it is sunny, but there are many areas obviously shaded, and it's even raining on the right-hand side. A very mixed sky indeed. It was a lovely walk punctuated with delicious blackberries!

Leave This One to the Butterflies: Asclepias syriaca - Common Milkweed

Today we have a widely-known plant, Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed). I have posted briefly about this species before. It is native to North America (US range map here, Canada range map here). This species is weedy [1], which likely explains why it has managed to become established in Nova Scotia and PEI [2], which are not originally part of its native range.

Asclepias syriaca whole plant

Asclepias syriaca is a member of the Apocynaceae (dogbane family) [2]; several genera of this family produce latex, including Asclepias spp. [3]. Asclepias syriaca also produces some chemicals (specifically cardiac glycosides) which can be quite toxic to humans and livestock, so although parts of the plant are edible, the seed pods and mature leaves are not to be consumed [4]. Seriously, the effects go all the way up to coma [5] (although it would take a very large dose to experience such serious effects [4]), don't just go chowing down on this plant despite it being listed as edible with various sources. The edible portions include the young shoots and the flower buds [4,5,6,7]. Given that they are edible, I had a taste of the flower buds. They were acceptable, but sort of bland with a vague hint of generic 'green' taste; they may be better cooked than they were raw, but some other reports suggest that though edible and nutritious, they're not really much to write home about flavour-wise [5].

Asclepias syriaca inflorescence

Asclepias syriaca has a long history of use in traditional medicine for a wide range of ailments [5].

Asclepias syriaca inflorescence

This plant is evidently much more palatable food to monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus); Asclepias syriaca is the primary food source of the monarch butterfly larvae [4,5,7,8,9,10,11]. The cardiac glycosides apparently help confer a protection to the larvae and caterpillars by making them toxic [5], which is pretty cool. So I guess if you can't make a poison yourself, get poison elsewhere and incorporate it into your flesh. Pretty hardcore. Some other insects that favour this plant as a food source include the large milkweed bug, common milkweed bug, red milkweed beetle, blue milkweed beetle, bees, wasps, butterflies, moths [5,6,8,9,10]. Anecdotally, I frequently see ants collecting nectar from this plant, although I am probably witnessing nectar-robbing, as ants usually don't provide pollination services (pollen doesn't stick to their armour much, so it doesn't get transferred).

Asclepias syriaca being visited by ants - photo I posted in the previous post about this species

Anyway, my point here is that although Asclepias syriaca is edible, it's not all that tasty, so you're better off leaving it to the monarch butterflies and the other insects that prefer it -- especially considering that the monarch butterfly is potentially under threat and currently being assessed for potential endangered status [12]. I will say (again, purely anecdotally), that I have seen none of the usual monarch butterflies that I am accustomed to seeing at my family's land in the Upper Gatineau; in spite of this, I am reserving judgement on the question of the species' endangerment until the assessment report is released.

Asclepias syriaca inflorescences

Asclepias syriaca is a serious nectar-producer, and it certainly announces that fact loudly; it has a very strong, sweet, pleasant scent that is strong enough to be easily perceptible to humans. Given the large quantities of nectar it produces, it's no surprise that it is a very attractive plant for a whole lot of insects.

Asclepias syriaca - perfect flower close-up - photo posted in my previous post about this species

The flowers of Asclepias syriaca are bisexual or perfect, meaning that they have both male and female parts [6]. This species is primarily outcrossing, meaning that it relies on pollen being brought from another individual in order to reproduce successfully [6]. Good thing it attracts so many willing assistants with the nectar reward it offers for their trouble!

Heal-All - Prunella vulgaris - Herbe du charpentier

I am back home visiting with my parents right now, in the Upper Gatineau. My mother and grandmother asked me to identify a plant which is growing quite abundantly down by the dock, and I am glad that they did, because it was Prunella vulgaris (heal-all, self-heal), a member of the Lamiaceae (mint family).

Prunella vulgaris - whole plant

Prunella vulgaris is native to most of North America [1], though the USDA indicates that it is introduced to parts of Canada (provinces & territories where it is also native) [1]; the Plants of Canada database seems to disagree with this judgement, not indicating anywhere that Prunella vulgaris is considered introduced in parts of Canada [2]. A more detailed reading of the maps indicates that actually the USDA is claiming that Prunella vulgaris var. vulgaris is introduced in most of Canada, but that Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata is native [1]. So, to see if I could resolve this disagreement I searched the subspecies on the Plants of Canada database but found that though the subspecies are recognized, there is no data and they are referred back to the parent species page [3,4]. For the moment, therefore, no resolution can be made. I will assume that there is some but perhaps insufficient evidence for the claim that Prunella vulgaris var vulgaris is present and introduced in Canada.

Prunella vulgaris inflorescence

If we're speaking purely of the parent species, we see that it is indicated as weedy [1], and has no other special status in the US [1]. It does have special status in parts of Canada, however: it may be at risk in the Yukon and Saskatchewan, and is unassessed in Newfoundland & Labrador [2].

Prunella vulgaris inflorescence

How are we to reconcile such a messy picture? Invasive or potentially invasive in the US, potentially at risk in Canada? Well, it is likely that all of these claims are true. Plants with very broad distributions will tend to have a varied story because of the wide variety of circumstances and conditions that they grow under. It is likely that the plant is weedy and spreads easily; it is also likely that external factors are overcoming that characteristic in the Yukon and in Saskatchewan.

Prunella vulgaris inflorescence

Prunella vulgaris has a long history of use in folk medicine [5,6,7]. There is at present limited evidence for most claims about its medicinal value (I can't find more than one or two in vitro studies to justify any of the claims). That said, the plant is edible and non-toxic so if you feel like giving it a shot there doesn't seem to be any harm in trying (whether or not it is effective is a different question). Given that it's edible, I have given it a taste. It is relatively plain-tasting but contains some undertones common to plants in the Lamiaceae (mint family); I wouldn't go out of my way to eat it as a green, given its relative blandness, but it adds a nice accent to a cup of tea.

Prunella vulgaris developing infructescence

Prunella vulgaris is a source of nectar for bees and butterflies (there was a large bumblebee visiting when I went to identify the plant) [7], and it serves as a larval host for Colias philodice (the clouded sulphur butterfly) [7], which is a common little North American butterfly.

Wild Strawberry - Fragaria virginiana - Fraise sauvage

I had more or less resigned myself to not getting to enjoy some delicious, delicious wild strawberries this year, though they are the best strawberries. That's because I am stuck in the city for most of the summer and certainly for the last two weeks of June which tend to be the season for them.

Fragaria virginiana in bloom at the lake mid-May

There have been a few strawberry plants here and there, and I was at the lake over the Victoria Day weekend and able to snap a few photos of the flowers (which I talk about in a previous post about the evolution of separate sexes in plants).

Fragaria virginiana - flower that I photographed at the lake this spring

Though I had even spotted a few Fragaria virginiana here in Montreal, most of them were in regularly-mown lawns so my hope of getting any berries were slim to none. I spotted this plant and its fruit at one point mid-June, but when I returned a few days later the fruit had disappeared:

Fragaria virginiana fruit - almost but not quite ripe

So, as I noted above, I had pretty much given up on the hope of eating any of the tastiest strawberries in existence (hands down, no contest, I will hear no disagreement on this point). Imagine my surprise then, when, during a stroll this afternoon (free from work for the St-Jean Baptiste), I happened across a patch of strawberries fresh and ripe and unmown!

Naturally, I set to work immediately on picking them. A few minutes' work netted me this rather nice little haul here:

Fragaria virginiana - a lucky find

And I devoured them with great gusto. As far as I can determine, there are only two possible reasons I was lucky enough to beat somebody else to these: 1) nobody else noticed them, or 2) nobody else was shameless enough to eat strawberries picked in a cemetery. Yep. These were in the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery (no, not around any graves, I wasn't crawling about between tombstones in front of mourners). At any rate they were delicious. I believe that their deliciousness is entirely worth the effort, small though they are.

I regret nothing.

Native Edibles : Flowering Raspberry - Rubus odoratus - Ronce odorante

Blooming right now are a number of the cane berries, a variety of species in the very large and economically important genus Rubus, which is in the family Rosaceae (rose family).

This genus has distinctive fruits which are aggregates (clusters that are kind of stuck together) of drupelets (fruit that consist of a fleshy layer surrounding a pit, which is composed of a shell exterior and a seed inside). This genus includes blackberries, raspberries, other cane fruit, and the star of the day: Rubus odoratus (flowering raspberry).

Rubus odoratus inflorescence

Rubus odoratus is native to North America, but has spread beyond its native range. Originally found in Ontario & Quebec [1], and in the eastern US [2], it is now also found in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick [1]. This species' conservation status is secure in its Canadian range [1], but it is endangered in Illinois and threatened in Tennessee [2].

I have posted about this plant before, but not in much detail.

Rubus odoratus broader view

Rubus odoratus has been introduced to Europe and is considered naturalized to several areas there now [3,4]. It success in areas outside of its native range is potentially attributable to some weedy characteristics, notably its seed set, which is large and composed of small, easily dispersed seed, and its rapid vegetative growth [5]. It was likely brought to areas outside of its range for its ornamental value [3]: it has large, attractive maple-like leaves and a long flowering period [3,6].

I cannot find much information about its pollination, but one usually reliable source indicates that this plant is of special value to pollinators (especially native bees), attracting large numbers of native bees, bumble bees, and honey bees, and that it provides shelter or nesting sites to some species of native bee [6].

Rubus odoratus visited by a Bombus sp. worker - note how full her pollen baskets are! She must have returned to the colony shortly after I took this shot to deliver her haul

I am in disagreement with several sources that state that the fruit of this plant is flavourless [5] or insipid [6]. I find the fruit tasty, if dry and a bit fuzzy on the tongue.

Violets 2 - Viola spp. - Violettes 2

When I went off to visit with my parents in the upper Gatineau region, I encountered a couple of species of violet that I haven't already talked about in my previous post about violets. So today I'm going to add those species to the list of currently-blooming violets.

Viola labradorica

First up, we have Viola labradorica (aka Viola conspersa, alpine violet), which actually I've been seeing in lawns in Montreal, too. This little pale purple violet is native to eastern North America (US range map here, Canadian range map here), and is threatened in Illinois [1]. It is secure across Canada but sensitive in Prince Edward Island, may be at risk in Saskatchewan, and its status is unknown in Newfoundland and Labrador [2].

Viola labradorica flower

The leaves and flowers of V. labradorica are edible [3]. It is sometimes used in gardens as a ground cover in shaded areas [4].

Viola macloskeyi

Next up we have Viola macloskeyi (northern white violet). This little violet is native to North America and has a very broad range (range map here). It does not have any listed protected status in the US [5]. The species is sensitive in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Alberta, and it may be at risk in Saskatchewan [6]. Its status has not been assessed in Newfoundland and Labrador, and it is secure in the rest of its Canadian range [6].

Viola macloskeyi flower

This species is distinguished from Viola blanda, another white violet, by its scent [7].

One of the things that may jump out at you when looking at my viola photos is that most of them are "bearded" - meaning that they have fine hairs along the inner portions of the petals. So what's that all about?

Well, those fine hairs are there to increase the odds of pollination. While the pollinator is pushing its way up the throat of the flower to get at the nectar in the spur (which extends behind the flower), its body is rubbing over the hairs and the pistil of the flower. Pollen that has already been deposited on the belly of the pollinator will be transferred to the pistil, while pollen from the flower will be spread over its sides and belly to be carried to the next flower.

So those hairs aren't just decoration; they help the flower increase its chances of spreading its genes.

Flowering Raspberry - Rubus Odoratus - Ronce Odorante

R. odoratus influorescence

The flowering raspberry (fr. ronce odorante), rubus odoratus, is one of my favourite edibles at the lake. Though it's called flowering raspberry, it doesn't have the same flavour or texture. It's produces a deep red, opaque, slightly velvety fruit. My brothers and I used to call them thumberries as children because the fruit fit onto our thumbs neatly, like little red caps. They're a bit dry in comparison with the wild raspberry, but delicious. The seeds are less present vs the wild raspberry, too, so there's an advantage in that sense. I love the chiffon-like appearance of the petals of this flower. Also, it's quite sticky and hairy on the back; as a kid I used to pluck the flower off the stem and stick it to my shirt, like a pin. Now, before you go thinking I must have been a sweet, pretty kid, I also did that with empty dragonfly nymph shells (actually, I liked those better because they were cool).

Today, I'm dreaming...