Feasting on dewberries
Photo: Arne Ader
Translation: Liis
Dewberry
Dewberry Põldmurakas or põldmari Rubus caesius
Lime-rich soils and plenty of light suit dewberries. In humid spots on the chalky fields of Lääne county and on stone fences they may even be unpleasant weeds because on the leaf stalks and the canes, covered with a bluish wax bloom, there are prickly thorns. The leaves of the dewberry are “naked” on both sides, mostly with three leaflets, seldom with five.
The dewberry fruits are aggregates of drupelets, as those of the raspberry, and ripe fruits can be picked repeatedly in a good habitat. From the fruits, black when ripe and covered with a bluish wax coat, delicious jams or marmalades can be made at home. Different from the raspberry the receptacle (“core” of the fruit) stays in the berry on picking. A slight frost bite makes the dewberry even sweeter.
In the underforest shadow the dewberry grows into a bush and there are much fewer prickly thorns – much depends on a plant’s habitat.
Similar-looking blackberries grow in South and East Estonia, but it still takes some weeks until they are ripe for picking. There the two species may also be found growing together.
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