454 RUBUS 



R. AUSTRALIS, Forster. LAWYER VINE. 



A climbing evergreen shrub reaching sometimes in its native state the 

 summits of lofty trees. It has slender zigzagged stems, not downy but 

 armed more or less with small, hooked prickles. Leaves usually trifoliolate, 

 but extraordinarily variable in the size and shape of the leaflet blades. In 

 one form (typical) they are ovate with a heart-shaped base, 2 to 5 ins. long 

 by i to 2 ins. wide ; in another, known as cissoides, they are linear, 2 ins. 

 long by \ in. wide, and so on, the most remarkable being a skeletonised 

 one in which the blade of the leaflet almost disappears, being reduced to 

 j or ^ in. long and from ^ to ^ in. wide, the leaf consisting of a long 

 slender leaf-stalk branching into three, and thickly furnished with stiff, 

 sharp, hooked spines. This is called pauperatus. Flowers unisexual, about 

 i in. across, white, pinkish, or yellowish, fragrant, produced in panicles ; 

 the males the largest, and distinguished by a conspicuous ring of stamens. 

 Fruit | in. diameter, reddish orange. 



Native of New Zealand, commonest on the borders of forests. Some 

 authorities regard some of the forms of this Rubus as distinct species, but 

 none of them can be confused with any other Rubi grown in Britain. Those 

 with the smaller leaf-blades appear to be hardiest, and will thrive in the 

 warmer parts of the British Isles. There is a fine plant at Fota. In Canon 

 Ellacombe's garden at Bitton a fairly large-bladed form does well against a 

 wall. But on the whole the plant must be regarded as tender. 



R. BAMBUSARUM, Focke. 



An evergreen climbing shrub, with very slender, cord-like stems, covered 

 when young with a whitish, cobweb-like substance, becoming dark green 

 later; spines small, stiff, sharp, irregularly arranged. Leaves usually 

 composed of three leaflets, but sometimes four or five; leaflets 2\ to $ ins. 

 long; \ to | in. wide; pointed, narrowly lance-shaped, dark green, and smooth 

 above, covered beneath with a thick, dull white, or pale brown felt; the 

 margins shallowly saw-toothed, stalks \ in. or less long; main leaf-stalk i in. 

 long. Flowers in terminal panicles, pink, but insignificant. Fruits black, 

 roundish, \ in. wide, and of good flavour. 



Native of Central and W. China, where it is common in thickets and open 

 woodland up to 7000 ft. elevation. Originally discovered by Henry in Hupeh, 

 it was first introduced by Wilson for Messrs Veitch in 1900. It is notable for 

 its elegant and rapid growth. When trained up a pillar or similar support, 

 its slender branches arch outwards in all directions. Growths 10 to 12 ft. 

 long are made in one season. The panicles of black fruits, 3 to 5 ins. long, 

 are also handsome. (See also R. Henryi.) 



R. BIFLORUS, Buchanan- Hamilton. 



(Bot, Mag., t 4678.) 



A deciduous shrub, with erect stems up to 10 ft. high, and i in. thick at 

 the base, covered with a thick, white, waxy coating, and armed with straight 

 broad-based spines. Towards the top the stems branch freely, the branches 

 also being white, and, like the leaf stalks and often the midrib, spiny. 

 Leaves 4 to 10 ins. long, composed of three to five leaflets, which are dark 

 green above, covered beneath with a close white felt, ovate, pointed, sharply 

 and irregularly toothed, and from i^ to 4 ins. long. Flowers terminal and 

 axillary, white, f in. across; fruits yellow, roundish, f in. diameter, edible. 



Native of the Himalaya up to 10,000 ft.; introduced in 1818. Among the 



