24 Rhodora [ FEBRUARY 
excessively variable, that in order to be completely understood, it may 
in time need to be presented under as many mental types. But we 
most sincerely hope that only experts—after years of study—will at- 
tempt it. Meanwhile we shall have accomplished much if we can 
seize hold of the dominant types. These are distinct enough and 
cover the forms ordinarily met with; and the many intergrading and 
aberrant forms, that occur here and there, are best understood when 
viewed in connection with certain well-defined landmarks. 
Two general characters of the group should be noticed. First, 
that though the root is perennial, the growth above ground is biennial. 
During the first year the cane does not normally bear flowers—only 
leaves; its function is vegetative. The leaves at this time are best 
developed and most characteristic. "They are usually 5-foliate ; those 
of the second season 3-foliate. It is important that collectors should 
get specimens of the first season's growth when collecting flowering or 
fruiting specimens. During the second season the function of the 
cane is principally reproductive. It flowers and fruits, and in some 
species propagates by rooting at the recurved tip, and then dies. Now 
and then, however, a plant seems to have a confused notion of time 3 
the two vital impulses seem to work simultaneously, giving rise to 
strange and abnormal forms. Sometimes the cane flowers at the close 
of the first season, the flowers with long pedicels appearing singly in 
the axils of the upper leaves, and the fruit ripening much later than 
usual. Other aberrant forms result from excessive leaf-vigor during 
the second season. This is more likely to occur when the plant grows 
in the shade; the racemes then have fewer flowers, and the pedicels 
are more or less subtended by leaves. In a remarkable freak of Rubus 
nigrobaccus, collected by Mr. Fernald at Alstead, N. H., August 7, 
1899, this frondose impulse has transformed the sepals into lanceolate, 
laciniate leaves one or two inches in length. At the same time the 
pedicels and the axis of the raceme are lengthened, and the fruit re- 
duced to a few drupelets. 
The second general character to be noticed is the peculiar mixed 
inflorescence. ‘The flower cluster is normally a raceme, but cymose to 
this extent, that it has a terminal flower that opens first of all. This 
terminal flower is sometimes aborted; but it generally produces a 
berry, that seems, in the upright species, to have a much shorter pedi- 
cel than the other berries of the cluster. Professor Bailey ( Evolution 
of our Native Fruits, p. 332 ) seems to imply that this mixed inflores- 
