175 



1 here arrange "No. 11, R. macro-acanthus, TV. 8$ N., y. macroa- 

 canthus, Bab. Syn., between Mancetter and Hartshill, Warwickshire," 

 of Bloxam's Fascic. Rub. 



Var. £ argenteus. Barren stern with minute close-pressed silky 

 shining hairs, prickles moderately strong from a broad base, 

 subulate, straight, with stellate hairs ; leaves cordato-ovate, 

 with a long acuminate point, sharply finely and unequally 

 serrated, glabrous above, white tomentose velvety beneath ; 

 panicle very tomeutose and hairy, hairs short, prickles 

 straight and declinate, long and slender. 



Specimens of this variety are given in the ' Fasciculus of Shrop- 

 shire Rubi.' 



" No. 10, R. discolor, lividus, Bab. MSS., near Twycross, Leices- 

 tershire," of Bloxam's Fascic. Rub. has the barren stem angular, fur- 

 rowed and glabrous, prickles with a very large dilated base, suddenly 

 and peculiarly uncinate ; leaves large, terminal leaflet broadly oval 

 acuminate doubly and coarsely serrated, glabrous above, white to- 

 mentose beneath ; panicle with weak, straggling hairs below, tomen- 

 tose and very hairy above, prickles very strong and uncinate. This 

 seems so very different from any of the other forms that it surely 

 ought to be recognized as a distinct variety. 



10. R. leucostachys, Sm. & Bab. Syn. 



The species so named in the Fl. Shropsh. p. 230, seems to be a 

 sad jumble, having, according to the authentic specimens now before 

 me, been founded on two specimens named by Prof. Lindley R. leu- 

 costachys, but evidently referrible to R. nitidus, Bab. Syn., and one 

 specimen identical with R. leucostachys, @. vesiitus. I am not at 

 present acquainted with any Shropshire plant corresponding with the 

 true leucostachys. 



R. leucostachys of Lees in Steele's Hand-Book is, according to 

 specimens from Mr. Lees, identical with R. nitidus of Bab. Syn. and 

 the ' Fasciculus of Shropshire Rubi." 

 Var. 0. vestitus, Bell Salt. 



Specimens of this are given in the 'Fasciculus of Shropshire Rubi.' 

 It is the R. villicaulis of Fl. Shropsh. p. 231, so named by Esenbeck. 

 To the other characters by which this well-marked and not uncom- 

 mon plant may be recognized I would add the following : — 



On the flowering stem and panicle the prickles, which are straight 

 and declinate, arising from a stout dilated purple base, frequently 

 hairy, and elongated into a long slender yellow point, are very no- 

 ticeable from their shining and polished aspect as well as their colour, 



