20 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [JULY 
portions of the stem bearing floriferous branchlets where they 
are also scattered or rarely irregularly paired, also irregularly 
paired but more often scattered on the floriferous branchlets; 
(2) that the leaves are thin and bright green, with teeth usually 
simple and directed somewhat towards the apex; (3) that the 
stipules of the cauline leaves are quite strongly denticulate, but 
so also are the upper stipules of the floriferous branchlets and 
the bracts. But Mr. Greene has not remarked the fact that the 
upper stipules and bracts are dilated, while those of R. Californica 
remain narrow. This dilatation of stipules and bracts, in my_ 
judgment, constitutes an important distinctive character. 
I observe, moreover, that the inflorescences are all pluriflor- 
ous, with 2 to 5 flowers, that the pedicels are long and slender, 
quite often a little pubescent, that the pubescence may invade 
the receptacle, that the sepals may be silky on the back and the 
exterior ones sometimes furnished above with one or two small 
very narrow and entire lateral appendages, and, lastly, that th : 
corolla is quite small. Mr. Greene seems to lay stress upon the 
fragrant glands of the leaves. I would remark, however, that 
the glandular character of certain varieties of R. Californica is : 
more marked and persistent. In 2. gratissima, as in the forms: 
of R. pisocarpa with glandular leaves, the leaf glands are very 
small, sessile, very abundant on very young leaves and as abun: 
dant on the petioles as upon the lower surface of the leaflets 
but these glands are fugacious and disappear with age, for th 
most part quite promptly. InR, gratissima these minute glands 
may also invade the upper surface of the leaflets. 
The question suggests itself whether R. gratissima constitutes 
an autonomous specific type, or is an aberrant variety of XR. Cat 
fornica. The material which I have received, obtained perhaps 
from one bush, does not permit me to decide with certainty 
Nevertheless, by reason of its dilated upper stipules and bracts, — 
and its straight spines, I consider that R. gratissima is specifically 
distinct from R. Californica, and that other characters do 10 
permit it to bea variety of R. pisocarpa. 
It is important to know whether the character drawn from 
