I thought this was another vine of raspberry. It turned out to be a blackberry. I have no idea how it was planted here in this part of the garden among the raspberry vines. I suspect one of the frequent birds that comes here to eat the raspberries. The good thing about having blackberry in the garden is, it is just starting to produce blackberry fruits when the raspberry season is at its tail end.
Blackberry was used by the Greeks and the native American tribes for its medicinal properties. Not only the fruit is edible, the leaves, the roots and shoots can be used for medical uses. I hope to learn more about this interesting and useful plant.
Following is an excerpt from this website.
Blackberries were in olden days supposed to give protection against all 'evil runes,' if gathered at the right time of the moon. Since ancient Greek physicians prescribed the herb for gout, the leaves, roots, and even berries have been employed as a medicinal herb. The most common uses were for treating diarrhea, sore throats, and wounds. Native Americans made fiber, obtained from the stem, it was used to make a strong twine. Another use was as a huge barricade around the village made of piles of the thorny canes, for protection from 4 and 2 legged predators. A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit.
credit for the history of blackberry: www.altnature.com/
