Tātarāmoa

Health properties

Tātarāmoa (Rubus Cissoides) has benefits that include:

Astringent and mild antiseptic: leaf and root preparations traditionally used to reduce inflammation and clean wounds.

Digestive support: decoctions used for mild stomach upsets, diarrhea, and as a general tonic.

Respiratory support: used for coughs and chest congestion in traditional remedies.

Nutritional: edible fruits (small blackberries) provide vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber.

Cautions: generally regarded as safe in traditional topical and modest internal use; consult a qualified practitioner before internal use in pregnancy, breastfeeding, or with medical conditions.

Traditional use

Rongoā Māori: leaves, stems, roots, and fruit used across Aotearoa by Māori for medicine and food.

Wound care and skin: poultices or leaf washes applied to cuts, bruises, and skin irritations due to astringent properties.

Internal remedies: decoctions/infusions used for diarrhea, stomach complaints, and to ease coughs.

Food and seasonal use: ripe berries eaten fresh or gathered; young shoots sometimes eaten as greens.

Cultural practices: harvesting and use embedded in local knowledge—collected respectfully and often used in combination with other rongoā plants.

Physical properties

Botanical: Rubus cissoides, a native climbing shrub in the Rosaceae family, commonly called tātarāmoa or bush lawyer (though bush lawyer also names related brambles).

Habit: robust woody climber or scrambling shrub with hooked prickles on stems for climbing.

Leaves: pinnate with 3–5 glossy leaflets, serrated margins.

Flowers: small, white to pale pink, borne in clusters in spring.

Fruit: small aggregate drupelets that turn dark purple/black when ripe; edible.

Habitat: occurs in forests, forest margins, and scrub throughout New Zealand; tolerates a range of soils and light conditions.

Growth: vigorous climber, can form dense tangles; flowers and fruits attract birds and insects.