Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Rubus ulmifolius
zarza, zarzamora, murra, mora, elmleaf blackberry, thornless blackberry
Rubus ulmifolius is a fast-growing, deciduous shrub 3 to 4 m tall with leaves composed of 3 or 5 leaflets. The flowers are white or pink.
Rubus ulmifolius is a fast-growing, deciduous shrub 3 to 4 m tall with leaves composed of 3 or 5 leaflets. The flowers are white or pink. It has been introduced in many parts of the world for its almost-black fruit.
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida (= Dicotyledoneae)
Order
Rosales
Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Rubus
Species
ulmifolius
Taxon category: Accepted
Origin: Introduced - established
Year of first record: 2000
Mode of introduction: Intentional
Introduction Pathway: Intentional
Subpathway: Agriculture/Horticulture
Introduced status: Naturalized
Invasive status: Invasive
Impact in Galapagos: R. ulmifolius has never been distributedly widely enough to be considered invasive in the Galapagos.
Impact elsewhere: This species is invasive in Chile on Juan Fernandez Island, New Zealand, and Australia, where it covers open and semi-open areas, as well as both natural and agricultural areas.
Control History in Galapagos: The species has a limited distribution and control was undertaken between 2002-2006. Monitoring of sites is necessary every year.
Control methods elsewhere: Seedlings can be pulled by hand. The use of herbicide (picloram) kills the plants. Due to extensive areas covered with the plant, the seed bank that lasts about 4 years, and rapid growth, biological control may be useful and has been successful in parts of Australia.
Known Pest elsewhere: Australia, New Zealand, Chile
Trophic role: Primary producer
Growth form: Shrubs
Distribution origin: Europe
Economic Use: It has been introduced in many parts of the world for its almost-black fruit.
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: Santa Cruz: present on 3 farms near Bellavista and 1 farm in Santa Rosa; originally from Europe.
- Tropicos.org. (2017) Database of Missouri Botanical Garden. Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 06 Oct 2017 <http://www.tropicos.org
- Guézou, A. Trueman, M., Buddenhagen, E., Chamorro, S., Guerrero, A.M., Pozo, P., Atkinson, R. (2010) An extensive Alien Plan Inventory from the Inhabited Areas of Galapagos Plos One/ www.plosone.org. Volume 5/ Issue 4/e10276
You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.
This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Rubus ulmifolius", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=1669. Accessed 10 May 2025.
Dispersal propagule: Fruit
Seeds are dispersed via ingestion by animals, especially birds.