82 



' On the Development of Leaves,' by Dr. Dickie. We have not 

 space to give the arguments adduced by the author in support of his 

 opinion ah'eady quoted (Phytol. 528), they appear, however, to be 

 worthy of consideration. 



' Remarks on the Mode of Growth of the British Fruticose Rubi ; 

 and the Forms derivable from Rubus cajsius. By Edwin Lees, F.L.S. 

 &c.' Mr. Lees states that in the course of his observations on these 

 puzzling plants, he has found the term biennial altogether misapplied, 

 since, with the exception of Rubus Idaeus, be believes that none are 

 limited in their duration to Uvo years, " and even that species, when 

 not under cultivation, often exists tJiree years before it dies." 



A fine barren shoot of R. fruticosus, springing from the hedge of 

 Mr. Lees' garden at Forthampton in Gloucestershire, had penetrated a 

 mass of ivy against a summer-house, the wood-work of which stopped 

 the progress of the bramble-shoot at some distance from the ground. 

 " A knob of fibrous roots was formed as usual, but being unable to 

 enter the earth, they died. The following season, this barren shoot, 

 instead of producing y?o^^'erm^ branches, as I expected, shot forth a 

 number of long barren shoots, commencing from the extremity of the 

 old barren stem where the roots had died, and so on to its origin with 

 the parent stem, which was still in a state of flourishing existence, 

 hoymg flowered, and shot forth barren shoots also. So that here was 

 a Rubus of at least three year's growth, still throtving out barren, 

 hranchesy The barren shoot, on the following year, produced many 

 branches, probably fertile ; but Mr. Lees left the neighbourhood be- 

 fore he could ascertain this point. The author has " since examined 

 a multiplicity of brambles, of almost every assumed species," and al- 

 most without exception finds their period of growth to be at least tri- 

 ennial, while in many instances the original stem lasted four, five, or 

 even six years. 



The author then explains six modes of growth of the fi-uticose Rubi, 

 his observations on which seem to demand the attention of botanists ; 

 but as some of them would be scarcely intelligible without the illus- 

 trations, we refrain from quoting them, and prefer giving Mr. Lees' 

 remarks on the supposed hybridity of some forms of bramble. 



" It has been often gratuitously supposed, that the numerous forms 

 of fruticose Rubi are due to hybridity ; and at a first glance at the 

 subject, this might seem a reasonable supposition: — but after an at- 

 tentive examination of some years, I have never yet met with a deci- 

 ded and unquestionable hybrid bramble, and I believe none exist in 

 a state of nature. I have searched diligently for such in woods abun- 



