Floral Morphology, Phenology, and Pollination

Rubus bogotensis Kunth is a shrub up to 4 m in height that produces long angulate and tomentose stems. The “smooth” morph of R. bogotensis does not bear trichomes with glands and has tougher leaves and more spines in contrast to the “hairy” morph that has a dense trichome cover. The author observed an intermediate morph between the “smooth” and “hairy” morphs bearing gray stems and fewer reddish trichomes near Sáchica, Cundinamarca State, Colombia. R. bogotensis bears 15–40 flowers on panicles that are 15–35 cm in length. Flowers have white or pink spatulated petals, and sepals are ovate green with reddish to brown pubescences. Petals range in size from 1.5 to 2 cm in length. Stamens bear a white to pink filament and brown to black anther depending on the morph type. Stamens range in number between 70 and 100, carpels are pink and range in number from 30 to 40. Anthesis and anther dehiscence occur when flowers are fully open. Rubus bogotensis flowers and sets fruits during October and December near La Calera, Cundinamarca State, Colombia. October is the peak season for flower and fruit production during the year. The plant produces a few fruits as well as new shoots and leaves from January to early September. Fruits on the infructescence pass through a series of developmental stages. Plants often flower and produce fruits at different maturity stages at the same time. Plants of three distinct morphs, “hairy,” “smooth,” and “intermediate,” were observed producing flowers only and no fruits on September 10, 2023, near Sáchica, Boyacá State, Colombia. Rubus bogotensis flowers and sets fruit profusely toward the apical portions of stems. The author observed that insect visitors, such as the common honey bee (Apis mellifera L.), flies, and beetles, visited the flowers of R. bogotensis near La Calera, Cundinamarca State, Colombia.