316 Mr. C. C. Babington on the British Rubi. 



most exactly R. apiculatus (Weihe), ' Rub. Germ.^ t. 24, in which 

 the leaves are sometimes quinate, and are so represented on that 

 plate ; but the leaves of our plant are not " pubescenti-albida " 

 on the under side. 



I. infestus ; aculeis multis validis brevibus valde decUnatis, pills setis 

 aciculisque brevissimis paucis, foliolo terminali ohlongo-acuminato 

 subtus pallide viridi tomentoso, paniculse oblongse ramis brevibus 

 paucifloris aculeis multis longis tenuibus decUnatis. 



The short declining or even hooked prickles with very thick 

 bases are characteristic of this plant. Its panicle is nearly simple, 

 with a few simple floral leaves below and lanceolate or trifid 

 bracts in its upper part. It differs slightly from R. infestus 

 (Weihe), ' Rub. Germ.^ t. 30, which has roundish-cordate leaflets 

 and shorter prickles on the panicle. 



e.fuscus ; aculeis paucioribus declinatis, aciculis setis pilisque multis, 

 foliolo terminali elliptico subcordato cuspidato, paniculse angustse 

 ramis brevibus paucifloris corymbosis aculeis brevibus tenuibus. 



R. fuscus, Rubi Germ. 73. t. 27. 



R. fusco-ater (LindL), height. Ft. Shrop. 235. 



R. Koehleri p. fusco-ater, Bab. Man. 97. 



The panicle of this plant is usually furnished with numerous 

 long unequal setae standing prominently out from its hairy co- 

 vering ; but in a plant from Bearhaven, co. Cork, which seems 

 referable to this variety, the setae on that part are almost alto- 

 gether wanting, and the few that exist are hidden in the dense 

 hairy coat. 



Very common. ^. Rydal Woods, Westmoreland, Mr. Borrer ; 

 Dumfries-shire ; Durham ; Killarney. 7. Near Bath ; Stock Gill 

 near Ambleside, Mr. Borrer ; Worcestershire, 3Ir. Lees. Near 

 Ware, Herts, Rev. W. H. Coleman. 8. Killarney. July and 

 August. 



Obs. 1. The several plants which I have now included under 

 the name of R. Koehleri have all been considered as distinct 

 species by high authorities. I firmly believe that they are so 

 connected together by intermediate forms as to constitute but 

 one species. It is often difficult to determine under which of the 

 named forms some specimens should be ranged. They are all 

 well marked by the numerous strong and very unequal prickles 

 on the barren shoots, of which the smaller so merge in aciculi 

 and stiff aciculiform setae, those in true setae and these last in 

 hairs, that it is impossible to say where one of those forms of 

 armature begins and another ends. The typical variety is known 

 by its very strong and very numerous prickles combined with 

 acuminate leaflets ; /S. by similar but shorter prickles and cuspi- 

 date leaflets. In 7. the prickles of the barren stems are more 



