Rubus phoenicolasius Maxim.

Robust, suckering, scrambling shrub; stems terete, erect near base, distally trailing, up to 4 m high, hairy and densely covered in reddish, glandular bristles; armature of sparse, slender, mostly straight, flattened prickles. Lvs pinnately 3-foliolate; leaflets rugose and slightly pilose to subglabrous on upper surface, white-tomentose on lower surface, unevenly 1–2-serrate and often lobed; terminal leaflet lamina broadly ovate to orbicular, (20)–70–130 × (20)–60–130 mm, acute to acuminate, rounded to cordate at base, with petiolule 1/4–1/2 length of lamina; stipules linear; uppermost lvs sometimes simple. Infl. a short, terminal panicle leafy at base; axis and branches pilose and with dense reddish, glandular bristles. Fls c. 15–35 mm diam. Sepals triangular-lanceolate, long-acuminate, hairy and densely glandular, enclosing the fls and young fr. Petals orbicular, flat, pale pink to red. Fr. of orange-red to dark red drupelets, broad-conic to subglobose, c. 10–15 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Nov.–Jan.; Fruiting: Dec.–Apr.