927 



The plants of this section are all closely related to each other; and 

 some states of macroacanthus are, with difficulty, distinguishable from 

 R. vestitus. 



Subdiv. vi. Rubi Nitidi. 



^. cordifolius, W. & N. (and R. rharnnifolius). This very com- 

 mon, and generally well-marked bramble, has its leaves extremely 

 variable, both in size and outline ; but frequently they are exactly 

 heart-shaped ; and therefore I think the name cordifolius is to be 

 prefen-ed. The central leaflet, in woods, is often thrown out on a 

 singularly elongated foot-stalk ; but this is a mere sport of growth : 

 and occasionally the leaflets are cut up into laciniated, pinnatifid 

 segments. I can see no essential distinction in Mr. Hort's R.. imbri- 

 catus, described in the third edition of Babington's Manual, as inter- 

 mediate forms occur; nor can a species be well founded merely upon 

 the disposition of the leaflets. I noticed, in Steele's ' Handbook,' 

 var. &. blanditus, which is the thyrsifloral form of this species, with 

 long leafy panicle, and leaves very large and velvety beneath. There 

 is also a wood form, which may be termed olivaceus, from its dull 

 olive-green aspect. This is more prickly than the type, the leaflets 

 closer together, somewhat imbricate, obovate and acuminate, with a 

 narrower and more prickly panicle. 



R. affinis, W. & N., &. patentissimus. Panicle with wide-spread- 

 ing, compound, naked branches ; leaflets obovate or ovate-oblong, 

 with long, curved cusps, beneath strongly ribbed and pubescent. In 

 woods. 



This bramble, long misunderstoood, proves to be widely dispersed 

 in its typical form, and aff"ects exposed heaths, where it forms stunted 

 bushes, with a suberect habit. I have observed it in great plenty in 

 Cardigan and Caernarvon shires ; and probably few counties are with- 

 out it. In woods, it grows taller, with long and often widely-dis- 

 tended panicles ; but the fruit is then mostly abortive. 



R. lentiginosus, Lees. Stem suberect, clothed with rather distant, 

 patent hairs, and numerous sessile glands (in age denuded), armed 

 on all sides with sharp, straight, slightly unequal prickles ; petioles 

 hairy, with many falcate prickles ; leaves quinate ; the basal leaflets 

 sessile and retrorse, intermediate elliptical, central one ovate, all 

 inciso-serrate, acuminate, smooth above, hairy on the ribs beneath ; 

 panicle long, racemose, with short axillary branches, hairy and very 

 prickly, with inconspicuous glands, leafy nearly to the summit ; bracts 

 hairy and slightly glandular ; sepals densely hairy and prickly, with 



