Dr. T. Bell Salter 07i some forms o/Rubus. 365 



only, and where this is the case it does not appear needful to give 

 any description of the character of the species, but only of those 

 points in Avhich the variety differs from the normal form. This 

 applies to the first six plants ; for the description of the species 

 to which these belong 1 would refer to Babington^s 'Manual.^ The 

 last two forms constitute a species which I have long observed in 

 the Isle of Wight; and the ten intermediate ones, which now ap- 

 pear grouped as three species, are plants about which the greatest 

 confusion has existed, both as to the number of species they really 

 constitute — each being by many held to be a species — and also 

 as to the naming of them, their names having been transposed 

 in almost every supposable change. 



The forms noticed are numbered continuously. 



1. Rubus idceus (L.), var. trifoliatus. — Stem polished. Prickles 

 few. Leaves ternate. 

 Hab. Morton Lane, Isle of Wight. 



This form of Rubus is deserving of notice as a distinct variety. 

 In addition to the difference of the leaves, it is remarkable for the 

 extreme freedom from prickles and the bright polish of the stem. 

 It is mostly interesting from its analogy to the form next to be 

 noticed. 



3. Rubus suberectus (And.), var. trifoliatus. — Stem polished. 

 Prickles very few, small and straight. Panicle lax. Fruit bright 

 red. 

 Hab, Apse Castle Wood, Isle of Wight. 



A most beautiful form of this variable species, growing abun- 

 dantly in the wood above-named, and with extreme luxuriance, 

 sometimes attaining the height of eight or ten feet. The stem is 

 almost entirely destitute of prickles and highly polished. It is 

 very rarely that the leaves divide so as to be quinate, but this oc- 

 casionally occurs. Were it not that I have been enabled to trace 

 a complete series from the occasionally quinate specimens of this 

 variety to the ordinary form, it would be almost impossible to be- 

 lieve that the extremes of this species could possibly belong to 

 the same; — that the Isle of Wight plant with its smooth polished 

 stem and ternate flaccid leaves could be of the same species with 

 the vastly prickly plant with stiff pinnate leaves which is found 

 in the nox'th. There is however almost as much difference in the 

 extremes of R. idceus, and it is from the analogy of the form of 

 it above-mentioned to the present one, that I was so much inter- 

 ested in meeting with it. 



3. Rubu^ plicatus {W . and N.), var. carinatus. — Prickles uncinate. 

 Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, acute at both ends, carinated and 



