Thimbleberries, Isle Royale

Thimbleberries (also known as the Purple-flowering raspberry) are the most abundant edible berries on Isle Royale. They taste like something between a raspberry and a blackberry. The name reflects the hollow, thimble-like shape of the berry when you pick it, leaving a bud on the stem. You can see one such bud on the far left of this picture. The maple-like leaf and the shape and color of the berries make identification easy. Go off trail to find them where the other visitors have not! Picture taken near Threemile, Isle Royale, August 2007.