Type: Rust and Smut Fungi; Description: Spermagonia crowded, hemispherical, usually in the darker centre of a conspicuous dark violet or reddish leaf spot; on the upper surfaces of leaves. Aecia circular or elongated when on stems, orange-yellow, up to 1 cm long when confluent; on the lower surfaces of leaves or on stems on conspicuous reddish spots with violet-red margins. Aeciospores ellipsoid to oblong, 19–30 × 17–24 μm, distantly verrucose, yellow. Uredinia scattered or confluent, golden yellow, on reddish spots with violet-red margins; on the lower surfaces of leaves. Urediniospores ellipsoid to globoid, 19–30 × 18–25 μm, distantly verrucose, yellow. Telia scattered or confluent, black, up to 1 mm in diameter, on reddish spots with violet-red margins; on the lower surfaces of leaves. Teliospores oblong to cylindrical, mostly 3-septate, 65–100 × 30–36 μm, with a short pale yellow apiculus, chestnut brown, covered with numerous hyaline warts; pedicel persistent, hyaline.

Distribution: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Taupo, Rangitikei, Wanganui, Wellington, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Nelson, Buller, Westland, Marlborough, Kaikoura, North Canterbury, Mid Canterbury, South Canterbury, Central Otago, Dunedin, Southland, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands.; 1st Record: Anonymous (1990).

Significance: There is reason to believe that this rust was clandestinely introduced into Australia to control blackberry and that it reached New Zealand through airborne spore dispersal (Pennycook 1998). Although it has spread throughout the country, it has had no noticeable effect on blackberry populations, at least in Pinus radiata plantations where blackberry continues to be a great nuisance.; Host(s): Rubus echinatus, R. fruticosus agg., R. laciniatus, R. polyanthemus, R. procerus, R. ulmifolius, R. vestitus.