Rubus

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Rubus (blackberry, raspberry; family Rosaceae) A genus, mostly of shrubs but including a few low herbs, often with compound leaves of 3–7 leaflets, and usually with prickly stems. Normally there are 5 sepals and petals, and many stamens and carpels. The carpels sit on a conical receptacle and ripen to form a cluster of 1-seeded drupelets, aggregated into a compound, fleshy fruit. Many species and hybrids are cultivated for their edible fruits. The genus contains very many species, many of which are critical taxa, often of hybrid origin and frequently apomicts. There are about 250 species, centred in the northern temperate zone, but cosmopolitan.