72 



if found to be correct to adopt and use them; if otherwise, to reject 

 or correct them. I therefore would wish them to be received and 

 understood in the spirit of Linnaeus's mind when he penned the fol- 

 lowing words : " Quanquam multas observaverim plantas et sedulo 

 quidem, tamen non confido me semper veritatem invenisse." 



1. R. Idaeus, Linn. — I am not aware of any change here. 



2. R. suberectus, And. 



This includes R. suberectus and R. plicatus, FL Shropsh. 223. At 

 the time of the publication of the Fl. Shropsh. I was not acquainted 

 with the true suberectus. But having subsequently an opportunity 

 of showing my friend Babington the plant described as plicatus in 

 the Flora, in its native locality, he at once recognised it as the true 

 suberectus. The synonymy of this species as regards our Shropshire 

 Flora will stand thus : — 



R. suberectus, And. 



R. suberectus and R. plicatus, FL Shropsh. 223. R. sub- 

 erectus, And. Linn. Trans, xi. 218, t. 16. E. Bot. t. 2572. 

 E. Fl. ii. 406. a. Bab. Syn. R. suberectus (not of And.) 

 Lindl. Syn. 2nd ed. 92. 



The specimens sent by Mr. W. Wilson from Woolston Moor, Lan- 

 cashire, mentioned in Fl. Shropsh. 224, are referred by Mr. Babington 

 to plicatus (Bab. Syn.). 



The sharply pointed, rather elongated and mucronate, double ser- 

 ratures, all directed more or less forward to the apex of the leaves ; 

 the prickles of the barren stem confined to the angles, few and dis- 

 tant, short and stout, arising from a dilated base, which they scarcely 

 exceed in length ; may be perhaps, as characteristic marks of this 

 species, added to the "attenuated base of the floral leaves," as pointed 

 out in Babington's Synopsis. 



Of this plant specimens are given in the 'Fasciculus of Shropshire 

 Rubi.' 



3. R.Jissus, Fl. Shropsh. 225. 



This plant Lindley identified as R. fissus of his Synopsis, 2nd ed. 

 p. 92, but Babington, in his Synopsis, rather questions their identity ; 

 inclining to believe this a state of suberectus. Be this as it may, I 

 have never seen anything as yet in the plants themselves, which grow 

 together in the same locality, to shake my opinion as to their being 

 distinct. The habit and general appearance of the two plants when 

 seen together are totally different. The colour of the fruit is similar 

 in both, as Babington describes it, " atro-sanguineus :" but the calyx 

 is refiexed in suberectus ; erec to -patent in fissus. 



