THE BIOLOGY OF CANADIAN WEEDS .105. RUBUS-STRIGOSUS MICHX, RUBUS-PARVIFLORUS NUTT, AND RUBUS-SPECTABILIS PURSH

Wild raspberry (Rubus strigosus Michx.), thimbleberry (Rubus parviflor us Nutt.), and salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis Pursh) are native perenn ial deciduous shrubs that rapidly invade disturbed areas. Through prol ific vegetative growth, these shrubs form dense, multilayered, and mon ospecific stands and form extensive clonal colonies. They create habit at and supply food sources for a variety of forest fauna and are impor tant in nutrient cycling and reducing soil erosion, These Rubus shrubs may effectively outcompete economically valuable regenerating conifer s. A review of chemical, manual, and biological control methods is pre sented. Reproductive biology, growth and development, and population d ynamics are discussed in detail.