7. R. LTNDLEIANUS. 70 



ens (including R. villicaulis) ; for, if his R. nitidus is the 

 same as the plant so called on the continent, it belongs to a 

 different section of the genus. After the inspection of a 

 considerable number of authentic specimens it is clear to me 

 that Dr Bell Salter's R. nitidus does not include the R. 

 nitidus (W. k N.). Neither cau I see any grounds for 

 combining it with R. rhdmnifoUns and R. si/lvaticas, not- 

 withstanding Dr Bell Salter's I'emark that tliey are "dis- 

 tinctly osculant." The plants seem to be very different and 

 each of them as constant to its characters as other Avell-marked 

 species. It might be sn))j)osed that my plant is not that 

 which Dr Bell Salter had in view, if we did not find that 

 in the Botduical Gazette (ii. 118) he distinctly quotes the 

 plant of my Manual as identical with his R. nitidus, and 

 that the several specimens named by him which are in ray 

 possession are all R. Li)idleia)uis. In that place he combines 

 R. affiiiis of Leighton and Babington with his R. nitidus. 

 It is ray belief that all this confusion has resulted from the 

 original error of identifying our plant with the R. nitidus 

 (W. &, N.). Dr Bell Salter seems never to have relieved 

 his mind from that mistake, notwithstanding the very con- 

 clusive paper by Mr Lees, which appeared in the Phytologist 

 in the year 1848. Some remarks upon specimens of R. 

 rliainnif alius jS nitidus (Bell Salt.) will be found under R. 

 rhamnifolius. 



It is remarkable that in my considerable collection of 

 continental Ruhi there is no specimen agreeing with our R. 

 Lindleianus, nor have I been able to find any desciiption in 

 foreign works which will apply to it. 



Habitat. — Hedges and borders of thickets. July, August. 



Area.— I 2 3 4 5 G 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 . 15 IG. 



Localities. — i. Thornbury, S. Bev. ; Boniton Wood, W. 

 Som. (T. B. Flower).— ii. Ryde, Isle of Wiyht.—iu. Ditton 

 mar^h and W:iltou, Surr. ; Barrack wood, Warley, Herts; 



