Dr. T. Bell Salter on some forms of Rubus. 363 



anteriorly to the appearance of shoots of the final form, are yet 

 some which even flower and mature their fruit, and it is these 

 which may be most apt to mislead. There is reason too to believe 

 that in some instances, the plants, from local causes, become ar- 

 rested permanently at this stage of their development. I shall 

 have an instance of this nature to record in one of the forms I 

 propose describing in this paper. 



On the subject of the growth and development of Rubi I hope 

 ere long to have more certain information, as through the kind- 

 ness of Mr. Lawrence of St. John's, Isle of Wight, I already have 

 numerous species under cultivation, many of which are raised 

 from seed. By this means also I have the advantage of perceiving 

 the effect of situation on these plants. Already some, which 

 coming from different situations were in some degree varieties, 

 have acquired the same form. 



For observations on the effects of soil and situation, I may 

 refer to some remarks of my own which have appeared in the 

 'Phytologist'*. Observation in St. John's Garden has already 

 proved the identity of R. leucostachys (Sm.) and R. vestitus 

 (W. and N.), since these extremes planted together last year are 

 this year nearly identical. 



To the remarks on the effects of soil and situation I may now 

 add, that I have since observed that these plants are also much 

 modified by season. 



All the preceding remarks tend rather to point out the diffi- 

 culties to be met with in distinguishing the species of this group, 

 than to offer any method by which to meet them. As regards 

 SiXij general rule for distinguishing species, applicable to the whole 

 group, or even to the single sections of it, I regret to say that I 

 have none to offer. An habitual observation of them accus- 

 toms the eye to recognise the various forms, and I am sanguine 

 that it has also enabled me, to some extent, correctly to unite 

 many of these as single species ; but as regards the artificial cha- 

 racters by which to define them, and especially such as shall 

 render them easy to be recognised by others, it must be ad- 

 mitted that in this there is much difficulty. It is on this ac- 

 count that good figures are so truly valuable for illustrating Rubi, 

 a fact which has rendered the elaborate and well-executed ' Bubi 

 Germanici ' of Weihe and Nees of such essential service. 



The clothing of the barren shoot and every character pre- 

 sented by the calyx appear to be hitherto those mostly depended 

 on. Most of the other parts afford some characters of more or 

 less value ; doubtless however some might be very much more 

 employed than they have been, such as the form of the petal and 



* Vol. ii. pp. 105, 106. 



3D2 



