''Rubus multifer'' is a North American species of

dewberry The dewberries are a group of species in the genus ''Rubus'', section ''Rubus'', closely related to the blackberries. They are small trailing (rather than upright or high-arching) brambles with aggregate fruits, reminiscent of the raspberry, ...

in section ''Procumbentes'' of the genus ''Rubus'', a member of 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 is commonly known as Kinnikinnick dewberry or fruitful dewberry. It is rare or under-documented in most of its range extending from Minnesota to Maine and Virginia, except for the St. Croix River Basin and surrounding sandy regions of

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

and

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

, where it is locally common.Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
/ref>Bailey, Liberty Hyde 1943. Species batorum. The genus ''Rubus'' in North America. V. Flagellares. Gentes Herbarum 5: 229-432 In Minnesota, ''Rubus multifer'' is listed as a State Special Concern species, growing in remnant prairies, oak savannas, meadows, and openings in woods dominated by

oak An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...

(''Quercus'') and

quaking aspen ''Populus tremuloides'' is a deciduous tree native to cooler areas of North America, one of several species referred to by the common name aspen. It is commonly called quaking aspen, trembling aspen, American aspen, mountain or golden aspen, tr ...

(''Populus tremuloides''). It colonizes a variety of habitats created through natural and anthropogenic disturbance, such as long-term canopy openings and borders shaped by fire or wind, railroad rights-of-way, utility corridors, and abandoned agricultural fields. In most cases, the native prairie or woodland vegetation is retained to some degree. The soils are invariably sandy and acidic, often dry and to a lesser degree mesic or moist.MNDNR Rare Species Guide
/ref>

References

multifer Plants described in 1943 Flora of the United States {{Rubus-stub