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Black Berries have been divided into hundreds of species, with two major kinds occurring in both Europe and North America. The European variety grows upright and heavily-thorned with stiff, erect canes that propagate by suckers from the roots. In contrast, the trailing forms of North America (often called dewberries in the South) have slender canes, are much less heavily-thorned, and the tips of the canes, if in contact with the soil, strike root and establish new plants. Both forms thrive in moist, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade and produce black or reddish-black berries with a deep purple, sweet-tasting juice. Fossil evidence shows that the Blackberry has been part of the human diet from very early times, and its dietary and medicinal uses were praised by both Greek and Roman scholars alike, mostly employing Black Berry as a remedy for gout. Black Berry is considered an old-time and reliable remedy for diarrhea and hemorrhage, and its high-astringency has made it very valuable in the treatment of internal and external bleeding, dysentery, hemorrhoids, loose bowels, excessive menstrual flow and excess water.
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