Some Observations ou the Genus Rutras. 15' 



R. relatus grows on dry, stony, and sunny places. among bushes, and 

 nnlv in one locality, viz, between Grantorpet and Gränsö, near Westerwik, on 

 the eastern coast of Sweden, at . r >7° 4.">' n. lar. where, in 1885, Dr. A. Lund 

 discovered it. 



Although I have not had the opportunity to examine this form in a living 

 State, yet, (Vom tlie largo number of specimens, which Mr. Lund has had fche 

 kindness to send nie, I have been able to convince myself, that it is clearly 

 different from all the other swedish brambles. Tho difference between it and 

 the preceding species. could be easily carried out, by comparing the descriptions. 

 The peculiar form of the leaves, the feit on their under side, as well as the 

 constant quinate leaves on the flowering shoots, at once distinguish R. relatus 

 from 11. cordifolius. Nor is it very nnich unlike the danish form of R. 

 diiinosus, but still by the form of the leaflets, and their shorter petioles, it is 

 distinguished from it. 



I have not been able to identify this species with any of the North German 

 forms, and am therefore obliged, for the present, to consider it as a new species. 

 Certainly, in some respects, it reminds one of R. affinis, Whe, as this species 

 is described by Pocke, (1. c. page 134), but is separated from it, by the 

 almost simple, racemose inflorescence. R. affinis has, on the contrary, a 

 Compound panicle, which, in its totality, is corymbose, because its lower 

 branches are more lengthened. Moreover, the leaves of R. relatus are felted 

 on the under side, and the terminal leaflets are at the. base eonstantly and clearly 

 cordate. The sepals are also more covered with feit than is the case in R. affinis. 



In regard to the origin of R. cordifolius and relatus, I think I 

 can with a great degree of probability state, that they both arise from 

 Et. Iruticosus, L. (R. plicatus Whe.). In support of this opinion, among several 

 circumstances I shall conline mysclf to an explanation of one particular point, 

 vi/, that in both these species the petals, at tlie base, are rather broad, 

 but after some tinre they fold in at the base downwards, by which the 

 petals seem very much narrowed towards the base. Focke remarks the 

 same character in II. plicatus, when it grows on dry localities, and in 

 Ii. nitidus, so elearly connected with K. plicatus, this peculiarity (at 

 least in Sweden) is constant. However, in the introduction (pag. _8), I 

 have expressed the opinion, thal both these species arose in our country, 

 viz, R. relatus from K. Iruticosus, and R. cordifolius from K. relatus. 

 This opinion is corroborated by the fact, that K. relatus, in very many p'spects 



