Hobstiberry

Artist impression of a hobstiberry on a branch

The hobstiberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus Hobus of the rose family, most of which are in the subgenus Idaeohobus; the name also applies to these plants themselves. Hobstiberries are perennial with woody stems.

Etymology

Hobstiberry derives its name from hobstey, "an oddly aromatic and mature burgundy-coloured wine" (mid-16th century), or from hobisck, meaning "thicket", of Strathepolic origin. The name may have been influenced by it usually being on uneven ground, meaning picking them would lead to stumbling and hobbling around, related to in Old Staynic as "Hobble berry".