BAKER ON BRITISH RCSES. 37 



outer edge with a row of glands, just shorter than the largest sepals, so 

 that the expanded corolla measures about an inch and three ^quarters 

 across. Styles hairy. Sepals erecto-patent after the petals fall. Fruit 

 ripening in the North of England through September, varying from ovate- 

 ui-ceolate to subglobose in shape, measuring from five-eighths to an inch 

 long and from half to three-quarters of an inch broad, finally bright 

 crimson, the sepals usually adhering till it changes colour, but falling as 

 it ripens, only accidentally lasting through the winter. 



Here the prickles vary much in shape and robustness, the leaves 

 in hairiness and especially in glandulosity, and the calyx tube and 

 fruit in shape. On the whole it appears much more likely to be 

 confused with the preceding, from which, as already explained, the nature 

 of the fruit best distinguishes it. After the examination of several 

 authenticated specimens, I do not see how R, Sherardi or subglohosa 

 and scabrluscula are to be characterised even as varieties. Sub- 

 globose fruit does not always go with falcate prickles, and in the 

 plants which combine the two there is no uniformity in the coating 

 of the leaves. R. scabrluscula, Winch, is not exactly the same as R. 

 scab) iuscida, Smith. (See Eng. Flora.) Of the French species I do not 

 see how R. cuspidata, subglohosa, tomcntosa, and Andrzeioiiskii are to be 

 separated. Our common North of England plant agrees best with M. 

 Deseglise's description of ciispidata and to this he refers many of the 

 specimens of a range of forms which I sent. A Yorkshire plant 

 which M Deseglise refers to Andrzeioiiskii has sepals which fall as the 

 fruit ripens,* and in other respects I cannot distinguish it from that just 

 referred to. 1 am not sure that I have seen anything in England which 

 exactly corresponds with the French tomentosa, which has ovate-urceolate 

 fruit in combination with glandless leaves. Devonshire specimens from 

 Mr. Briggs agree well with the French subglohosa, which has glandless 

 leaves and subglobose fruit, but hardly hooked prickles like Smith's 



* Perhaps I ought to explain in what sense I am using the terms which refer to 

 the duration of the sepals. By deciduous sepals, I understand those which fall, — casual 

 exceptions excepted, — before the fruit changes colour ; by subpersistent sepals I under- 

 stand those which mostly adhere till the fruit changes colour, but fall, — casual 

 exceptions excepted, —as it ripens ; and hj persistent sepals only those which endure till 

 the fruit itself gives way. It seems to me that the important distinction is between the 

 latter and the two others, but M. Deseglise appears to characterise the sepals as 

 persistent in all the species where they last till the fruit ripens. So far as I know in 

 the British species it is only to R. mollissima and the Sjnnosissimce that the persistent 

 really applies. 



