Blackberry

 Rubus SPP

Blackberries are native to Asia, Europe, North and South America. They have been used in Europe for over 2000 years, for eating, medicinal purposes and as hedges to keep out marauders.  The juice has been used as a dye and it's medicinal properties proporte to aid respiratory ailments and coughing.

The blackberry is an aggregate fruit that is composed of many smaller fruits called drupes.  Their  primary cultivation was in the state of Oregon in the USA as recently as 1995 and they are still the leading blackberry producer in the world

The soft fruit is popular for use in desserts, jams jellies and some wine. Since the many species form hybrids easily, there are numerous cultivars with more than one species in their ancestry.

Blackberries are notable for their high nutritional contents of dietary fibre, vitamin C, Vitamin K, - Vitamin B, Folic Acid, essential minerals and manganes.

Historically blackberry juice was used as a dye but also had medicinal purposes curing respiratory ailments and coughing.