236 Mr. C. C. Babington on the British Rubi. 
recent observers in combining two plants of the ‘ Rubi Germ.,’ 
but. adopted the above name (which stands first in the ‘ Rubi 
Germ.’) in order to avoid the confusion attending the use of that 
of R. rhamnifolius. It is also the more appropriate. 
Obs. 2. Plants are occasionally found which would, at sight, 
be referred to this species, but which from their nearly sessile 
lower leaflets overlapping the intermediate pair can hardly be 
joined with it. In some other respects they seem to occupy a 
place between this and the preceding species, to which they are 
the more nearly allied in technical character. One of these du- 
bious specimens, from Islay, N.B., has the terminal leaflet of 
one of its leaves partially subdivided at the base, thus showing 
an approach to the suberect group : the same leaflet is also quite 
abrupt at the end, closely resembling that of R. discolor, var. 
abruptus. Another, from near Midford Castle near Bath, is mark- 
ed “agrees with a specimen of R. rhamnifolius from Nees in Mr. 
Borrer’ s herbarium exactly.” Another from Crow Moele, Salop, 
is ticketed by Mr. Leighton “R. rhamnifolius, approaching R. 
cordifolius, Nees,” on that author’s authority. On table 6 of the 
‘Rubi Germ.’ two plants are figured as R. rhamnifolius a. and B, 
the former with distinct lower leaflets, the latter with overlapping 
ones. No reference is made to these varieties in the text of that 
work, nor is arything said about this character. Mr. J. Adam- 
son has given to me a specimen gathered near Gouroch, Ayrshire, 
in which the leaves are thin and flexible with a convex upper sur- 
face. It is rather more hoary in appearance than is usual in this 
species, but seems to be referable to R. cordifolius. 
10. R. discolor (W. et N.); caule arcuato anguloso seepissime sulcato 
strigoso-sericeo, aculeis rectiusculis decurvatis horizontalibusve, 
foliis quinatis coriaceis tenuibus marginem versus decurvatis subtus 
albo-tomentosis, foliolo terminali cbovato vel oblongo acuminato, 
panicula elongata angusta subaphylla tomentosa. 
R. discolor, Rub. Germ. 46. t. 20. 
R. fruticosus, Hing. Bot. 715 ; Rub. Germ. 24. t. 7. 
Stem long, usually deeply furrowed. Prickles large, strong, 
numerous. Leaflets variable in shape, usually, in English plants, 
obovate and acute, sometimes (R. abruptus, Lindl.) euneate-ob- 
long, abruptly truncate and cuspidate. Panicle with patent 
branches, occasionally with long axillary ones below. Petals 
roundish-obovate. 
3. thyrsoideus (Bell Salt.!); caule subglabro, aculeis rectis, foliolis 
planis subtus molliusculis, paniculee plerumque breviusculis to- 
mentosz ramis patentibus. Phytol. ii. 104. 
y. macroacanthus (Bell Salt. !) ; caule sericeo pilis paucis patentibus 
ornato, aculeis validis pilosis, foliolis planis subtus pn 
