Rubus villosus. 153 
Pubescent, hispid and prickly; leaves 3-5-digitate, folioles ovate-oblong, acumi- 
nate, serrate, every where pubescent; stems and petioles prickly, calix short. 
acuminate, raceme loose, pedicels solitary. B. 
PHARM. 
Rusti villosi, Radix, herba et fructus. 
Tue term Rubus is an ancient Latin word, said to be of the same 
origin as ruber, which is supposed to be the Celtic rub, red; the 
prevalent colour of the fruit of many different species of rubus being 
red. The genus comprises a great number of plants, valuable for 
the grateful esculent quality of their fruits; and contains also about 
fifteen species,* which may be considered as medicinal. ‘The whole 
number enumerated by Willdenow is thirty-one; but it is now 
known to be much greater, at least fifty species being ascertain- 
ed as existing in Europe, the West Indies, Peru, Chili, Japan, China, 
in the islands of the Pacific, and on the continent of India. Those 
indigenous to this country are about nineteen or twenty, of which 
by far the most frequent, is the common blackberry, now to be 
particularly mentioned. It is however so universally and so well known, 
that it does not require a minute description. The root is creep- 
* 1. Rubus chamemorus. 2. R. trifidus. 3. R.arcticus. 4. R. saxatilis. 5. R. mo- 
luccanus. 6. R. quinquelobus. 7, R. occidentalis. 8. R. parviflorus. 9. R. cesius, 
10. R. corylifolius. 11. R. fruticosus. 12. R. ideus. 13. R. rosifolius, 14. Rubus pro- 
cumbens, 15. R. villosus. 
