Dewberry; Blackberry (Rubus caesius), fam. Rosaceae.
   Frequently occurs in the forest, forming low thickets, not very prickly, but still unpleasant to go through. It is not always easy to distinguish it from the closely related raspberry. Flowers in the end of May till June, the fruit ripen in August. If you are fortunate to find a good place, you can gather them in considerable quantity, though then it is difficult to transport and store them due to softness and friability.
   The plant has diuretic, sudorific, general tonic, antiinflammatory, antipyretic properties, provides sedative effect onto central nervous system. As well as other bright-colored fruit and vegetables, it is a storehouse of antioxidants, anticancer, antifungal and antiparasitic sunstances.
   It should be taken into account that there are two species of dewberry in DVRZ forest. The first of them has brownish fruit which becone blacker while ripening, the season of it is as early as July. These fruits have much sweeter and tenderer taste, though they are more difficult to store – they overripe easily, can go moldy or begin to ferment, especially in rainy or hot weather. And approximately since middle July the second variety adds to them, and in some places it can be picked even until October. Their shortcomings are the hard seeds-nutlets, that in combination with sour taste make the fruits difficult to eat whole. In this case, it would be useful to make juice from them.

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