Raspberries

The modern raspberry represents the happy commingling of mainly two botanical varieties of raspberry, one from either side of the Atlantic. Fruits of the European variety (Rubus idaeus vulgatus), are dark red and conical, whereas those of the North American variety (R. vulgatus strigosus) are lighter red, round, and have small glandular hairs. The black raspberry (R. occidentalis), native to the northeastern United States, also contributes to these hybrids and is a tasty fruit in its own right, being firmer and less prone to rotting than red raspberries. In the past, black raspberries were more popular than today.