Rubus elegantulus, the showy blackberry, is an uncommon North American species of flowering plant in the rose family.
Description Rubus elegantulus is an erect perennial with stems growing to tall, with prickles on the angles. The leaves are palmately compound with five leaflets, slightly darker on the upper surface than on the lower. The fruits are black, nearly spherical.Blanchard, William Henry. 1906. Rhodora 8(89): 95–98
Taxonomy
The genetics of Rubus is extremely complex, so that it is difficult to decide on which groups should be recognized as species. There are many rare species with limited ranges such as this. Further study is suggested to clarify the taxonomy.Flora of North America, Rubus Linnaeus, 1754. Bramble Some studies have suggested that R. elegantulus may have originated as a hybrid between R. allegheniensis and R. pensilvanicus.Flora of North America, Rubus pensilvanicus Poiret 1804. Pennsylvania blackberry, ronce de Pennsylvanie
Distribution and habitat The species grows in the northeastern and north-central United States (from Maine to West Virginia, plus Wisconsin and Minnesota) and eastern Canada (Québec, Newfoundland, and all three Maritime Provinces).Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
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