Early Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) Blossoms

Observation: Located on Spruce Island off of Kodiak, Alaska. These blossoms (high-bush, greater than seven feet tall) normally don't show up until around May and as of now, seven salmon berry blossoms were spotted in Ouzinkie, Alaska. Mary Mullan LEO Team, ANTHC for Ouzinkie resident.

LEO Comment: This is the earliest recorded sighting of salmonberry (Rubus Spectabilis) blossoms on LEO Network. Another observation was posted on April 6, 2015 in Sitka, Alaska. Other posts about "salmonberries" may be referring to the low bush variety Rubus chamaemorus, also know as cloud berries.

Resource:

• LEO Network is hosting in collaboration with USGS an annual survey about berry harvest in Alaska. If you are a berry harvester you are welcome to participate in our LEO Berry Assessment. See also the published report, How are your berries? Perspectives of Alaska’s environmental managers on trends in wild berry abundance. (J. Hupp et al.)