34. R. PYK.\3I1DALIS. 23.S 



groenisli-white petals are remarkable. The fi uits are amongst 

 the best flavoured of those known to me. By some botanists 

 it has been supposed that this is the R. thyrsiflorus of the 

 Ruhi Germanicl ; but that plant has quinate leaves, many- 

 flowered upper panicle-branches, and broad j)etals. 



The Abbe Questier has issued specimens in Billot's Flora 

 Gallica et Germanica exsiccata (No. 2058) with the name 

 of R. pi/ramidalis, supposing them to be the same as my 

 plant. Unfortunately I have been the cause of this error, 

 by admitting, that the name of R. pyramidalis was appli- 

 cable to a specimen sent to me as such by Mr Questier. 

 The examination of the specimen contained in Billot's 

 collection, has now quite satisfied me that that plant is the 

 R. Gilntheri of English authors, and probably the R. cine- 

 rascens of Boreau. It is perhaj)s not the same as another 

 specimen sent to me as R. pyrariiidalis by Questier ; but of 

 that I am uncertain, although I feel no doubt of the lattei- 

 not being my R. pyi^amidcdis. This error was corrected in 

 Billot's Annotations, p. 135. 



It is worthy of remark that R. j^yrainidalis has leaves 

 which are devoid of felt, although it rejoices in the full 

 light of the sun ; whilst R. Gilnthe^'i^ which is usually an 

 inhabitant of shady places, is furnished with an abundance 

 of felt. This is strongly opposed to the idea of some botanists, 

 that R. GilntJieri is the wood form of the same species as 

 R. jyyramidalis ; for in such cases it is always found that 

 the felt disappears as the depth of shade increases. 



I have not seen the true R. thyrsijiorus in Britain ; 

 Dr Godron combines it with R. Giintheri and R. hirtus, 

 but they seem to me to be abundantly distinct from what 

 we believe is the true R. hirtus (see R. glandidosus) ; and 

 also from my former R. hirtus, which is now thought to be 

 R. humifusus. It may be doubted if Dr Godron's plant is 

 identical with either my former or present R. hirtus; for 



20—3 



