''Rubus aculifer'', the thorny dewberry, is a rare North American species of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the

rose family Rosaceae (), the rose family, is a medium-sized family of flowering plants that includes 4,828 known species in 91 genera. The name is derived from the type genus ''Rosa''. Among the most species-rich genera are '' Alchemilla'' (270), ''Sorbus ...

. It has been found only in the state of

New Hampshire New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the nor ...

in the northeastern United States. The genetics of ''Rubus'' is extremely complex, so that it is difficult to decide on which groups should be recognized as species. There are many rare species with limited ranges such as this. Further study is suggested to clarify the taxonomy. Some studies have suggested that ''R. aculifer'' may have originated as a hybrid between '' R. allegheniensis'' and '' R. setosus.''Flora of North America, ''Rubus allegheniensis'' Porter, 1896. Allegheny or common blackberry, sow-teat berry, ronce des Alléghanys
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References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q17247095 aculifer Flora of New Hampshire Plants described in 1940 Flora without expected TNC conservation status