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form, the whole plant weak, the prickles unequally scattered and 

 slightly declinate, the leaves larger and rounder, thin and green on 

 both sides. On ascending higher up the hill, still in the shady woods, 

 but in a drier soil, the plant was in an intermediate state, rather 

 stronger, but partaking much of the character and aspect of the 

 Leightonianus form ; whilst the under surface of the leaves, especially 

 on the flowering stem, had acquired a whiter look, the prickles were 

 confined to the angles, and those on the petioles more curved. On 

 reaching, however, situations fully exposed to the sun, and unin- 

 fluenced by moisture or the shade of trees, the plant became truly 

 leucostachys, 0. vestitus. 



The variations in the number and situation of the prickles on the 

 barren stem, as noticed in the Weir Coppice, were here also confirmed. 



These results quite convinced me, and I communicated them and 

 my consequent convictions to Mr. Babington, who, after weighing 

 them, coincided in thinking that R. Leightonianus could no longer be 

 retained, but must be regarded as a state only of leucostachys, &. 

 vestitus. 



The above details are not inserted here with any view to vaunt my 

 own keenness of sight and comparison, — still less with any wish or 

 intention to depreciate the botanical accuracy of my justly valued 

 friend Babington, or to expose the error into which he has inadver- 

 tently fallen ; — but solely as hints to students of the caution required 

 in investigating this variable and difficult genus, by showing the ne- 

 cessity of careful and long-continued study, not only of dried speci- 

 mens, but of the characters and habits of the living plants in their 

 native localities and in different situations, soils, and circumstances ; — 

 as well as to point out the links, trivial in themselves, but by gather- 

 ing up and connecting which, the truth may be ultimately arrived at. 



Specimens of R. Leightonianus from the Wrekin are comprised in 

 the Fascic. Shropsh. Rubi. 



[To be continued]. 



W. A. Leighton. 

 Luciefelde, Shrewsbury, 

 June 1st, 1848. 



