Rubus macraei

Rubus macraei, commonly known as ʻĀkalakala, is a species of Rubus that is endemic to Hawaii.

Rubus macraei
Conservation status
Imperiled  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Genus:	Rubus
Subgenus:	Rubus subg. Idaeobatus
Species:	R. macraei
Binomial name
Rubus macraei A.Gray[2]

Taxonomy

Although superficially similar to the other Hawaiian species, Rubus hawaiensis, sequence differences of the chloroplast gene ndhF indicate that they are derived from separate colonization events of Hawaii.^[3] These data indicate that R. macraei is more distantly related to both Asian and North American species of subgenus Idaeobatus than R. hawaiensis. R. macraei usually has a creeping rather than erect or sprawling habit.

Distribution and habitat

It inhabits wet forests, bogs, and subalpine shrublands at elevations of 1,610–2,080 m (5,280–6,820 ft) on the Big Island and East Maui.^[4]