CLASS XII. ORDKK HI.J RUBUS. 719 



leaves persistent, which is not the case with our plant. And some of 

 its varieties so nearly approach the Ayrshire Rose, (R. capriolata, 

 Neil,) that it is difficult to distinguish them from each other; indeed 

 De Candolle has united them, and considers it only as a variety. It 

 is, however, extremely difficult to distinguish varieties from species in 

 plants like the Roses, where hybrids by the intermixing of species are 

 so readily produced. The flowers are very beautiful, and have at first 

 an extremely delicate fragrance, which, however, soon passes away, as 

 the flowers expand. It may have been this species which suggested to 

 Spenser the following lines : 



" Ah ! see, whose fayre thing doest faine to see, 



In springing floure the image of thy day ! 



Ah ! see the virgin Rose, how sweetly shoe 



Doth first press foorth with bashful modestce, 



That fairer seems the lesse ye see her may. 



Lo ! see soone after how more bold and free 



Her bared bosome she doth broad display. 



Lo ! see soone after, how she fades and falls away.'' 



GENUS IX. RU'BUS LINN* Bramble. 



Nat. Ord. ROSA'CE^. Joss. 



GEN. CHAR. Calyx five cleft, persistent. Petals five. Carpels 

 numerous, drupaceous, single seeded, inserted into a hemispherical 

 or conical fleshy receptacle. Name of doubtful origin, probably 

 from the Celtic word rub, red ; or the Latin ruber 



* Is a numerous genus of shrubby or herbaceous plants, the former presenting 

 peculiarities to which it is needful to direct the attention in discriminating the 

 species. The stem is erect, and curved at the top, or rising from a curved base, 

 becomes arched, decurved, and mostly takes root at the end, and sometimes also 

 by its lateral branches ; during the winter the shoots for the most part perish, 

 generally only a portion near the original root, and those parts which have 

 formed new ones survive. From that portion of the original plant which sur- 

 vives, there are put out generally a number of branches, which tear fruit the 

 following summer, which do not, however, live after the perfection of the fruit; 

 young shoots at the same time spring up from the old roots, and extending like 

 those the year before, often to several yards distance ; and as the appearance of 

 the shoots and their leaves is different from those of the stem and fruit bearing 

 branches, it is necessary in most instances to be acquainted with both. The best 

 discriminating characters are those of the stem, the prickles, and the leaves. 

 In speaking of the stem, the barren root shoots are described ; and of the leaves, 

 those of the barren stems, but frequently it is necessary to take into consideration 

 both those of the barren and flowering stems, and in the form of the leaflets the 

 middle one is always referred to. So many are the difficulties in discriminating 

 the species of this genus, notwithstanding the valuable assistance which is 

 afforded by the elaborate Monograph of Weihe and Nees Von Esenbeck, who 

 have described and figured in their " Jlubi Germanici" forty-eight supposed 

 species, that Dr. Lindley, who has made them an especial object of his study for 



