917 



Supplementary Account of the British Rubi, with Remarks on their 

 Physiology and Distribution. By Edwin Lees, Esq., F.L.S. 



The editor of the ' Phytologist' having reprinted the description I 

 gave of the frutioose Rubi in my ' Botany of the Malvern Hills,' 

 under a general title, it almost renders it necessary for me to attempt 

 to make the subject more perfect, by adding those forms which did 

 not come under my notice in the Malvern Flora. Some misappre- 

 hension may otherwise occur, as it may be supposed that I have men- 

 tioned all the British species that I was acquainted with. 



It may be well here, also, to hint to the observer a point not con- 

 stantly noted, or properly acted upon, as to what is really a type, and 

 what only a variety, amongst brambles. An excessively-developed 

 form, however fine or characteristic it appears at first sight, may be 

 generally presumed an over-luxuriant individual, and not the general 

 appearance of the species. Thus, the type of E,. caesius is the uni- 

 versal prostrate form, with its well-known pruinose stem, which, when 

 supported in hedges or thickets, often assumes a much more robust 

 and branching aspect, and in the remarkable var. pseudo-Idceus is 

 firm and suberect. Applying this principle to other forms, a clew is 

 obtained to their origin ; and I have thus identified the overgrown 

 R. Schlechtendahlii, W. 8^ N., as completely connected with my R. 

 amplificatus, so common in most of our woods. The same rule 

 applies to the well-marked R. Sprengelii, with which Dr. Bell- Salter 

 has curiously combined the names of four botanists — Sprengel, Bor- 

 rer, Wilson, and Weihe. But, as the three described appearances of 

 this bramble, a., B., and y., are assigned as Borreri, Wilsoni, and 

 Weihei, the wreath left for poor Sprengel in this arrangement is 

 scarcely distinguishable. Mr. Babington has reversed the matter, in 

 his Manual, by giving Sprengel the second place, as 0. ; but surely 

 the typical form ought always to coincide with the specific name. In 

 fact, in its commonest form R. Sprengelii grows, in its woody habitat, 

 prostrate, and with short flowering stems, in analogy with R. caesius ; 

 and in exposed places it becomes more tall, upright, and thorny. 

 This is the variety termed Borreri, and, in agreement with my obser- 

 vation, must rank accordingly ; though it might be preferred that the 

 eminent British botanist should have a species of his own, as Dr. 

 Bell-Salter no doubt intended. But botanical honours are often 

 transient; and the rude foot of the " lumper" crushes remorselessly 

 the hope of immortality based only on a name. By the same analogy 

 VOL. IV. 6 B 



