457 



better manner than was done in my former publications upon that 

 perplexing genus ; and as there are a few species which have not 

 been brought under the notice of botanists in detailed descriptions, it 

 seems desirable that it should now be done." The following are the 

 species described in the paper : — 



(1). JRubiis Leesil, Bab., formerly described as a variety of R. 

 Idseus. The strong canes of this Rubus in the Cambridge Botanic 

 Garden nearly all produced a small panicle of flowers at their extre- 

 mity, in October, 1851. In one single instance a cane of R. Idaeus 

 did 'the same. Previous to that month neither Mr. Stratton, the Cu- 

 rator, nor Mr. Babington had noticed such an occurrence in the latter, 

 and had not had the opportunity of doing so in the former. This is 

 a curious illustration of the tendency of all Rubi to attempt to increase 

 by some action at the end of the shoot of the year. In all the arch- 

 ing and prostrate species it is effected by the end of the shoot pene- 

 trating the surface of the ground and taking root. In those plants, the 

 end of whose shoots never reaches the ground, the same is attempted to 

 be effected by flowers. The mode in which the procumbent plants 

 succeed in penetrating the earth seems to be worthy of notice in this 

 place, for the prostrate portion of their shoots appeared to present a 

 difficulty. The fact is, that, although the shoot is really prostrate 

 until the autumn, at that time its extremity forms a small arch, and 

 thus presents its point perpendicularly to the ground, which it easily 

 penetrates. 



(2). Rubus Jiftsus, Lindl. A full description of this plant is given 

 in Leighton's ' Flora of Shropshire,' and in the ' Phytologist.' 



(3). Ruhus laiifolius, Bab. This species has been found in the 

 wood above Cramond Bridge, on the liinlithgow side of the river, and 

 also in a wood just below the road, from Kenmore to Acharne, in 

 Perthshire. It is a large, straggling plant, with strong but usually 

 prostrate stems. The thin, singularly broad, and angular leaves, 

 and the deeply furrowed stem, would perhaps be in themselves suffi- 

 cient to distinguish it from the other Rubi in the section Nilidi. 



(4). Rubus imhricatus, Hort. A full description of this species has 

 been given by Mr. Hort, in the ' Annals of Natural History.' 



(5). Rubus mucronatus, Blox, This species has been found in 

 Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Shropshire, and also in the Island of 

 Islay, and near Loch Eil, in Scotland. In the shape of its leaves, 

 and its very loose panicle, with singularly long-stalked flowers, the 

 plant closely resembles R. Lingua, as represented in the ' Rubi Ger- 

 manici ;' but the armature of its stems is very different. 



VOL. IV. 3 N 



