Ixxxvi CHARLES CAllDALE BABINGTOX. 



are numerous and closely allied, and in such cases we are deprived 

 of the use of analytical keys such as that prepared with so much 

 care by Genevier. In almost all cases there are intermediate forms 

 which are not discoverable by them. Also they require the presence 

 of much knowledge which is often absent when the key is brought 

 into use. I refer to such points as (1) the direction of barren 

 growing stem of the year ; (2) the form and especially the colour of 

 the petals ; (3) the length and direction of the stamens ; (4) the 

 direction of the sepals both in the flower and with the fruit. 



The question of nomenclature is very difficult. We have been 

 used primarily to look to the Ruhi Germanici as a great authority. 

 But there a difficulty meets us. The descriptions and plates do not 

 always seem to correspond. The two authors appear to have worked 

 independently. The specimens named by Nees for Leighton have 

 rather confused our ideas instead of clearing them. This is now 

 more apparent since Banning and Focke have determined thirty- 

 three out of the forty-two species of Weihe "with absolute certainty." 

 The latter distinguished botanist has cultivated many of them, and 

 described them Avith remarkable care in his Synopsis. He also holds, 

 as I do, that it is not advisable, nor for the promotion of science, to 

 " drag into the light of day obscure matters which had better have 

 been left in the shades of night." Thus names buried in little-known 

 tracts or neglected books had better not be hunted out to replace 

 universally recognised names, however much it may seem to be 

 required by the rigid application of laws of nomenclature. 



The great variability of some " species " causes much trouble to 

 the describer of plants. Many of these forms seem to retain, even 

 from seed, marked and often striking peculiarities, and deserve 

 distinctive names, although we can hardly call them species. 

 Hybrids also seem to be not very uncommon, and when their 

 parents can be discovered they are well deserving of notice. But 

 such plants often are mistaken for species, for, owing to the way in 

 which brambles increase by offsets, one of them may be found 

 covering a large space, although possibly never producing ripe seeds. 

 Such ought to be described, but doubtful isolated plants should be 

 neglected until we can learn more about them, and that seems to be 

 the duty of the botanist who observes them in a living state. 



Rubus lentiginosus Lees. Stem " suberect," furrowed upwards, 

 slightly hairy. Prickles conical, slightly declining from dilated 

 compressed base, on angles. Leaves 5nate-digitate. Leaflets thin 

 plicate, not imbricate, doubly and irregularly serrate, green, nearly 

 glabrous, but slightly hairy on veins beneath ; terminal 2-3 times as 

 long as its petiole, obovate-acuminate, narrowed and scarcely notched 

 below. Branches of rather long narrow leafy panicle ascending, race- 

 mose, its rachis and peduncles pilose, not felted, with many strong 

 declining or deflexed prickles. Sepals oval, linear-pointed, slightly 

 setose, aciculate, adpressed to fruit. 



R. lentiginosus Lees in Steele, 60 (1849); Phytol. iv. 927. 



