''Rubus sieboldii'', the Molucca raspberry, is a

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

in the genus ''

Rubus ''Rubus'' is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, subfamily Rosoideae, most commonly known as brambles. Fruits of various species are known as raspberries, blackberries, dewberries, and bristleberries. ...

''. The species is native to Japan, including the

Ryukyu Islands The , also known as the or the , are a chain of Japanese islands that stretch southwest from Kyushu to Geography of Taiwan, Taiwan: the Ryukyu Islands are divided into the Satsunan Islands (Ōsumi Islands, Ōsumi, Tokara Islands, Tokara and A ...

. The shrubs prefer low wetland areas, with very good sun exposure, though the plants can tolerate moderate shade.

Uses

The plant's leaves stimulate blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus. They are also

abortifacient An abortifacient ("that which will cause a miscarriage" from Latin: '' abortus'' "miscarriage" and '' faciens'' "making") is a substance that induces abortion. This is a nonspecific term which may refer to any number of substances or medications, ...

and

astringent An astringent (sometimes called adstringent) is a chemical that shrinks or constricts body tissues. The word derives from the Latin '' adstringere'', which means "to bind fast". Astringency, the dry, puckering or numbing mouthfeel caused by t ...

, lending to their use to treat urinary tract infections. Molucca Raspberries are edible, and contain large amounts of antioxidant powe

They are rich with bioactive phytochemicals, antioxidant compounds, and show stronger radical scavenging activities than blueberries.Medical Science News, accessed October 23, 2007

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q7376223 Rubus, sieboldii Flora of Japan Flora of the Ryukyu Islands Medicinal plants Plants described in 1826 Taxa named by Carl Ludwig Blume