Instructions for collecting

The requirement for a proper herbarium specimen (standard material) consists of

two typical leaves from the middle of present years shoot with short pieces of stem (5-10 cm) attached, and
a typical flowering or fruiting inflorescence deriving from the last years shoots.

If the specimen is mounted on a sheet (27,5 x 42 cm), one of the leaves should show the lower side (see illustration).
A few petals should be separately pressed and notes made of the colour of fresh petals, filaments and styles.
A label with collectors name, date and exact location of the gathering must be connected.

Time and conditions for collecting
Best collecting season in Central Europe is July and August. June is acceptable for representatives of sect. Corylifolii, but too early for many species of sect. Rubus: even if flowers are open, typical leaves are often not completely developed. Most species are recognizable as long as they are not damaged by frost or drought and can be collected until October.
Plants must have been grown in open sites i. e. preferably in full light. Brambles grown in shady situations (for example under the canopy of trees) are usually not determinable.
Please make sure that different parts (leaves and inflorescence, duplicates) belong to the same plant (thickets of two or more different species are not rare!). Otherwise you may create indeterminable and misleading blends.