Exploring the Morphology of Cloudberry  (Rubus chamaemorus, Rosaceae): A Unique Perennial Plant
Channel: KOMPENDIUM NATURA
Date: 2023-07-16

Join us on a captivating journey as we delve into the fascinating world of Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus, Rosaceae). Discover the distinctive features of this perennial plant from the rose family, including its reproductive strategies through both sexual and asexual means. Explore the growth pattern of non-thorny annual shoots, adorned with delicate scale-like stipules, and their emergence from the rhizome. Learn about the characteristics of its long-stalked, shallowly divided leaves, and the unique floral structure with unisexual flowers featuring fused sepals and sterile stamens in the female blooms. Delve into the preferred habitats of Cloudberry, such as peat bogs, heaths, and swamp forests, with a focus on its distribution in Scandinavia and its relic status in Poland's Karkonosze Mountains. Uncover the enchanting blooming period of Cloudberry in May and June, and the gradual ripening of its plentiful, separate fruits, transforming from yellowish-green to lustrous yellow-orange. Explore the culinary and nutritional value of these tart yet delicious fruits, known for their high vitamin C content and their popularity among foragers in Northern Europe. Join us in celebrating the remarkable morphology and ecological significance of Cloudberry, a captivating member of the Rosaceae family.