Blackberries

Rubus fruticosus agg. (blackberry) is a collective taxon of deciduous, usually thorny shrubs of the Rosaceae family. Botanically, it is characterized by a perennial root system and biennial shoots that grow in the first year and bear fruit in the second. The fruit is a black, shiny aggregate of druplets which, unlike raspberries, are separated from the plant together with the receptacle when harvested. Nutritionally, the fruits are valued for their low calorie content and exceptionally high fiber content (due to the seeds), vitamins C, K, E, and manganese. Their phytochemical profile is defined by a high concentration of polyphenolic compounds, especially anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-glucoside) and ellagic acid, which give the fruit one of the highest antioxidant capacities among common fruits.