Editing Rubus illecebrosus

{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; width: 320px; margin-left: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 1em;"
|-
! colspan="2" style="background: #e8e8e8;" | Balloon berry (''Rubus illecebrosus'')
|-
! Scientific name
| ''[[Rubus illecebrosus]]'' <sup id="cite_ref-1">[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-2">[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>
|-
! Genus
| [[Rubus]] <sup>[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>
|-
! Family
| [[Rosaceae]] <sup>[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>
|-
! Order
| [[Rosales]] <sup>[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>
|-
! Growth form
| Deciduous perennial thorny shrub <sup id="cite_ref-3">[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>
|-
! Native range
| Japan <sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>
|-
! Habitat
| Thickets and disturbed sites <sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>
|-
! Soil and light
| Moist, well-drained soil; full sun, with light shade tolerated <sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>
|-
! Flowering and fruiting
| Flowers in spring or early summer; red fruit in summer or late summer <sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>
|-
! Fruit
| Oblong red aggregate fruit up to about 2 cm, with about 50–100 drupelets <sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-4">[[#cite_note-4|[4]]]</sup>
|-
! Propagation
| Seed <sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | [[File:Rubus illecebrosus (Montage).jpg|300px|Rubus illecebrosus flowers and fruit in Japan]]
|}

'''Rubus illecebrosus''', commonly called balloon berry or strawberry-raspberry, is a deciduous, thorny perennial shrub in the rose family, native to Japan. It grows in thickets and disturbed sites and produces conspicuous red aggregate fruit. <sup>[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

== Description ==

The plant is a thorny deciduous shrub. Its flowers are reported in spring or early summer, followed by oblong red aggregate fruit in summer or late summer. Individual fruit may reach about 2 cm and contain approximately 50–100 drupelets. <sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-4|[4]]]</sup>

The fruit dimensions in these descriptions are approximate maxima rather than a fixed size for every plant. The common names balloon berry and strawberry-raspberry refer to the fruit's appearance; they do not establish a relationship to strawberry or raspberry cultivars. <sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

== Cultivation ==

=== Soil and water ===

Provide moist, well-drained soil. The plant should receive regular moisture during active growth, while excess water should be able to leave the root zone rather than remaining stagnant. <sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

=== Sun and humidity ===

Full sun is the clearest placement recommendation, although light shade is tolerated. <sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

=== Seasonal changes ===

The plant is deciduous, with flowers reported in spring or early summer and fruit maturing in summer or late summer. As a practical seasonal inference from that cycle, keep drainage reliable during the dormant period and monitor soil moisture more closely as spring growth and fruiting begin. <sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

== Propagation ==

Seed propagation is recorded for ''Rubus illecebrosus''. <sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

== Flowering, fruiting, and harvest ==

Flowers are reported in spring or early summer. Red aggregate fruit follows in summer or late summer, with approximate maximum dimensions of 2 cm and 50–100 drupelets. <sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-4|[4]]]</sup>

== Fruit and uses ==

The fruit is reported as edible raw or cooked, but descriptions of raw flavor conflict; cooking is reported to improve palatability in some accounts. These reports support a qualified food-use description, not a universal safety guarantee. <sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

== Pests and problems ==

Few serious plant problems are listed in the practical account, although susceptibility to honey fungus is noted. <sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

== References ==

* <span id="cite_note-1"></span>[[#cite_ref-1|↑]] '''[1]''' [https://powo.science.kew.org/api/2/search?q=Rubus%20illecebrosus Plants of the World Online search result: ''Rubus illecebrosus''] — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

* <span id="cite_note-2"></span>[[#cite_ref-2|↑]] '''[2]''' [https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/match?name=Rubus%20illecebrosus GBIF species match: ''Rubus illecebrosus''].

* <span id="cite_note-3"></span>[[#cite_ref-3|↑]] '''[3]''' [https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/rubus-illecebrosus ''Rubus illecebrosus'' — North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox].

* <span id="cite_note-4"></span>[[#cite_ref-4|↑]] '''[4]''' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubus_illecebrosus ''Rubus illecebrosus''] — species summary citing the ''Flora of North America'' treatment for descriptive measurements.

== Image credits ==

* ''Rubus illecebrosus'' flowers and fruit in Japan: [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rubus_illecebrosus_(Montage).jpg File:Rubus illecebrosus (Montage).jpg], creator Alpsdake, licensed under [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY-SA 4.0]. Attribution: Alpsdake; CC BY-SA 4.0.

[[Category:Fruits]]
[[Category:Rosaceae]]