70 MEMORANDA OF PLANTS, COLLECTED 



Roses is, I believe, unequalled, he kindly pointed out certain 

 respects in which it differed from the form hitherto met with in 

 Ireland and Cumberland. The setigerous peduncle, and the 

 smaller and more numerous prickles, were the chief distinctions 

 noted. It seems very nearly allied to R. Wilsoni, a plant, I 

 presume, unknown to grow elsewhere in Britain than by the 

 Menai Straits ; it also presents not a little of the character of 

 Rosa Sahini, Woods. 



True it is that many species of Bosce seem remarkably prone 

 to variation ; yet I am not aware that, hitherto, R. hibernica has 

 been found to deviate materially from its specific type. I am 

 nearly satisfied that the Rothbury plant deserves to be considered 

 as a marked variety ; but, before describing it as such, yet fur- 

 ther data must be obtained, Through the kindness of a friend 

 who happened to visit the neighbourhood some time after, and 

 collected the plant, I have obtained examples in more matured 

 fruit.* It is but about two or three years ago that the species 

 was first distinctly ascertained to grow in England, by William 

 Borrer : he discovered the plant in the Vale of Lor ton, near 

 Scale-hill, and near the village of Lorton.. It is there found scat- 

 tered up and down in various hedge-rows. I think it proper to 

 mention here, that almost immediately on my arrival in Roth- 

 bury, I accidentally met with George Mennell, of Newcastle, who 

 happened to be staying there at the time. On learning the object 

 of my visit, he informed me that a rose which was new to him, or 

 presented some peculiarity, had caught his attention, somewhere, 

 I believe, about the village. No examples were shown to me, 

 therefore I am unable to say whether this plant be R. hibernica 

 or not ; it is quite probable, however, that it may be the same, 

 although I did not observe it myself elsewhere than at the sta- 

 tion near Thropton ; but the limited time spent about Rothbury 

 precluded anything like a thorough search. 



The physical configuration of the valley of the Coquet, near 

 Rothbury, and between that place and Harbottle, did, I think, 



* Specimens gathered at both periods were placed upon the table, together with 

 examples of iJ. hibernica from near Lorton and the north of Ireland, with allied species 

 and forms from other parts. 



