Rubus hispidus, with the common names bristly dewberry, bristly groundberry, groundberry, hispid swamp blackberry, running swamp blackberry or swamp dewberry, is North American species of dewberry in the rose family.
Description Rubus hispidus is a small, herb-like shrub up to tall. The twigs are red and have bristles.
The flowers are generally in small clumps, each with five white rounded petals. The fruit are dark purple, almost black.Flora of North America, Rubus hispidus Linnaeus, 1753. Bristly or swamp dewberry, ronce hispide
Distribution and habitat The plant grows in moist or sometimes dry soils, ditches, swales or open woods in central and eastern North America, from Ontario and Minnesota east to Newfoundland, and south to South Carolina and Mississippi.Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
Ecology The plant is eaten by birds and many mammals.
Uses
A dull blue dye can be created from its berries. The fruit also can be used as an astringent.
The berries are rather bitter for culinary use, so this plant is not generally cultivated.
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