Classification: The classification page and taxa noted are those defined by Focke (1910, 1911, 1914) including 12 subgenera. For the Species A-Z pages, the infrageneric classification also largely follows Focke. The classification of species that have been described since this publication are based on other authors or my own opinion. Generally, only subgenus has been noted. Rubus taxa occuring in China follow Lu and Boufford (2003) though they use the rank of section rather than subgenus to designate major groupings. In cases where there is disagreement between Lu and Boufford and Focke, the latter is followed.

Ploidy Level: The base chromosome number in Rubus and most Rosoideae is x=7. Thus, in diploid species, somatic cells have 14 chromosomes (2n=2x=14). The chromosome counts upon which ploidy level is based are derived almost exclusively from Thompson’s (1997) summary paper. In the case of Rubus dalibarda L. (= Dalibarda repens L.), the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Index to Plant Chromosome Numbers database was the source. In the case of several species (e.g., R. allegheniensis, R. argutus), both diploid (2x) and triploid (3x) counts have been reported. According to Thompson (1997), the triploid (2n=3x=21) counts are likely derived from aberrant individuals or could represent inaccurate chromosome counts, especially if derived from a single reference. There are also reports of diploid counts (all by Subramanian, 1987) in several subgenus Malachobatus species (indicated by a ?). Excepting these reports, all species of this subgenus are polyploid. Therefore, the accuracy of the chromosome counts or the taxonomic determination must be questioned pending confirmation by other researchers.

Geographic Distribution: We have attempted to provide geographic distributions for each species. These are likely incomplete in many cases due to lack of published data and access to herbarium specimens. Several terms and abbreviations have been used to define certain regions. NA=North America, Eur=Europe, Himalayas comprise Nepal, Sikkim province (India), and Bhutan, and southeast (SE) Asia is composed of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Economic Uses: Economic uses of Chinese Rubus are from Lu and Boufford (2003). Uses from non-Chinese species are based on general knowledge and/or personal experience.