Brambles: What ID features to look for(poem) Sue Thomas

Find one from a sunny patch or ID features will not match! If shady, leave it on the shelf, you’ll just make trouble for yourself. Two kinds of stems will be your guide, you'll need them both for features wide. A Primocane grows the first year; it just has leaves, that makes it clear. The second year canes you'll easily know, it's where the flowers and berries grow. The primocane should be entire… If it's been cut to clear the way, its features change, you'll go astray. Ignore the tip for half a metre, the features further down are sweeter. If you have to take a sample, 30 centimetres ample. This first year cane, no flowers you'll see*, But will be good for features three: (*Or if you do it has to be An upright group quite like raspberry.) Look at the PRICKLES, many or few? Their shape and inclination too. The STEM will be five sided but, Look at the shape where you have cut. Does it have furrows? Is it round? What hairs or glands are to be found? The colour too can be quite helpful, Dull or shining, red or purple? Now check the LEAVES’ and leaflets’ trait Do they overlap? (That's imbricate.) How many? Five's the usual lot: But more or less? What have you got? Two leaflets can together fuse: A gibbous feature you can use. Check the terminal leaflet, it's the best, For shape, serration, hairiness. Now turn it over, what's to be seen? Is the underside white and felted, or green? Now find yourself a flowering stem, Ignore the leaves, you don't use them. Are the flowers white or pink, Large or small, what do you think? There may be prickles so be wary! Using your lens, are the anthers hairy? (If hairy anthers you can see, It probably is one of three — If you have the key by Angus: Errabundus, leptothyrsos, or mucronulatus) Sepals are the next en route: Patent or reflexed when in fruit? Leafy tips, or a white border, Can help decide the proper order. If you find a new young berry Check the carpels, are they hairy? If your ID is not sure, Or to a ref you'll need to send, Cut the inflorescence off, Though this time you will need the end. And if of brambles now you’re weary Enjoy the sun and eat the berry!

Sue Thomas