| Author | Link | |
| Distribution | Weakley (2020) had lumped this former species into R. pensylvanicus. However, in his 2022 floras, he has moved R. argutus back out as separate, but whether this is the same as the "older" R. argutus is not clear. His maps for both species (2022) show each as occurring statewide. The map below is simply the default USDA map for the old "R. argutus". There is little point for the website editors to attempt to use SERNEC data now, as few herbaria have attempted to split these two taxa.
Occurs throughout the Southeast, north to about NY and west to TX. Rubus pensilvanicus occurs much farther to the north than this newly configured R. argutus. | |
| Abundance | Apparently common to abundant statewide. Abundance vs. R. pensilvanicus is not known. | |
| Habitat | This species occurs in thickets, old fields, brushy areas, etc. Habitat differences between these two species are unclear (if any). | |
| Phenology | Blooms in April and May, and fruits in June. | |
| Identification | The species is extremely similar to R. pensilvanicus, which see. Weakley's (2022) key separates these out by R. argutus having "Primocane leaves with central leaflets narrowly elliptic, elliptic, or obovate; floricanes generally erect to arching, 7-40 dm tall; inflorescences various", and R. pensilvanicus (and several other species) by "Primocane leaves with central leaflets ovate-elliptic to nearly orbicular; floricanes generally arching to low-arching, 5-13 (+) dm tall; inflorescences leafy-racemose". Thus, this newly configured R. argutus has the middle leaflet narrower than R. pensilvanicus and shows more erect or higher arching branches than does the latter. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | Confusing! See above. However, hardly any reference, other than Weakley (2022), now considers both R. argutus and R. pensilvanicus as separate/valid species; it is a matter of one or the other with them.
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| Other Common Name(s) | Prickly Florida Blackberry, Serrate-leaf Blackberry | |
| State Rank | S5 | |
| Global Rank | G5 | |
| State Status | | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | FAC link |
| USACE-emp | FACU link |
