364 Dr. T. Bell Salter on some forms of Rubus. 
their degree of expansion ; also the form and surface of the seed, 
and that of the form of the fruit. This latter has, | am aware, 
been employed in the descriptions of many ; but in this genus, as 
in Rosa, it 1s desirable to describe the primordial fruit, it having 
been pointed out to me by Mr. Thomas Meehan, that the form 
of it is far more characteristic, and frequently differs very cons1- 
derably from the other fruit. 
The date and duration of the flowering period afford somewhat 
characteristic distinctions ; some species flowerimg much earlier 
and some much later than others ; ; some also passing very quickly 
out of flower, while others contmue im bloom durmg nearly the 
whole fruiting season, or till actually cut off by the early frosts. 
With respect to the value of the characters depending on the 
calyx, it may not be out of order to mention im this place, that 
though in general constant as to form and vestiture, there 1s one 
particular in which it is by no means so, and that is in the foli- 
aceous point, in the species in which this appendage exists. When 
this is found in any species, as in the genus Rosa, so also in 
Rubus, it is extremely variable in degree, “sometimes being little 
more than rudimentary, while at others it 1s developed extremely. 
This remark applies to some of the forms we shall presently have 
to notice. 
The leaves, though often presenting a form highly character- 
istic m certain species, are yet unfortunately by no means con- 
stant, and this both as respects the number of the leaflets and the 
form of the latter. With respect to form, there are two kinds of 
change to which they are peculiarly lable ; changes which I have 
seen In so many species, that I can believe that a// may be subject 
to them. And they are, moreover, such complete removes from 
what may be considered the normal form of the leaflets, that 
several supposed species have been built on these characters. The 
one of these alterations is that of beimg laciniated. This some- 
times takes place to a very considerable degree, so as almost 
completely to mask the species. - The other alteration is one I 
have been in the habit of calling the abrupt form of leaf: it con- 
sists in the leaflets, the terminal one more particularly, being 
abruptly contracted below the point, or nearly truncated with a 
slender acuminated point. This latter variation has led to the 
naming of several mere varieties as species. 
Having premised these general observations, I would proceed 
to notice several forms, some of which are now described for the 
first time, others as British for the first time ; and notices of others 
are introduced for the sake of expressing what appears to have 
been misunderstood respecting them, and to refer them to their 
true position either as species or as varieties only. The majority 
of the forms, eighteen im number, are of the value of varieties 
