Morphological and yield differences between five arctic bramble (Rubus arct
icus L.) strains and the cultivars Pima and Mespi were studied at two locat
ions during the growing season 1994. Morphological observations and measure
ments were made on canes, leaves, flowers and berries, adapting the UPOV (U
nion pour la Protection des Obtentions Vegetales) descriptions for strawber
ry and raspberry. The plants were also compared with the aid of random ampl
ified polymorphic DNA analysis. Apart from DNA, the most important distinct
ive characteristic was yield. Characteristics of the flowers, leaves and be
rries, such as number, size, shape and colour were used to differentiate be
tween the arctic bramble genotypes. The yield of three new cultivars, named
Marika, Muuruska and Elpee, was greater than that of Pima or Mespi. The yi
eld of 'Marika' and 'Elpee' was 2,4-times and that of 'Muuruska' 1,9-times
that of 'Pima' or 'Mespi'. Based on distinctive morphological characteristi
cs, guidelines for the description of arctic bramble are proposed. This des
cription may also be used for hybrids of arctic bramble with Rubus stellatu
s Sm., i.e. Rubus arcticus L. nothosubsp. stellarcticus G. Larsson.