16 



A NEW BRITISH RUBUS. 

 By the Rev. E. P. Murray, M.A., F.L.S. 



Rubu* Durotrigum, n. sp. — R. caule prostrato (vel scander te) 

 aculeis parvis e basi longa compressa declinatis, aciculis setisque 

 inrequalibus crebris, foliis quinato-pedatis vel raro ternatis, foliolis 

 subaequalibus, latis, acuminatis, grosse dentato-serratis, subtus in 

 venis tantum parce pilosis, foliolo terminali cordato- vel subcordato- 

 ovato-acuminato ; paniculse angustae foliosse ramis brevibus dis- 

 tantibus, racliide flexuosa, aculeis tenuibus declinatis, pilis setisque 

 inaequalibus munitis, sepalis ovato-acuminatis aciculatis setosis 

 tomentosis paten tibns vel a fructu laxe reflexis. 



Stem prostrate when unsupported, angular, glabrous, densely 

 •prickly, aciculate and setose, bright red when exposed to the light. 

 Prickles slender, declining from a long compressed base, almost 

 confined to the angles. Aciculi resembling the prickles, passing 

 gradually into abundant setae. Leaves subpersistent, quinate- 

 pedate or rarely ternate, thin, flexible, pale green, especially 

 beneath, almost glabrous above, and onlv very slightly hairy on 

 the veins beneath, Rtronglv dentate- (or lobate-) serrate. Leaflets 

 remarkably broad, sometimes slightly imbricate ; terminal leaflet 

 broadly ovate-acuminate or almost orbicular, with cordate or sub- 

 cordate base ; petioles armed and coloured like the stem. Stipules 

 linear, ciliate, setose, adnate to the petiole. Panicle long, with 

 distant short ascending or subpatent axillary branches, and narrow 

 ultra-axillary top. Terminal pedicel short. Sometimes, but rarely, 

 the lowest branch of the panicle mav slightly exceed its subtending 

 leaf. Leaves ternate ; leaflets like those of the barren stem, except 

 that the terminal one is sometimes narrower in proportion and 

 generally not cordate at the base. Upper simple floral leaves 

 sharply triangular with acute dentate serrate teeth. Rachis dis- 

 tinctly wavv, armed and coloured like the stem, only still more 

 thickly clothed with seta* and aciculi, and with some hairs inter- 

 mixed. Petals small, distant, clawed, caducous, pinkish. Stamens 

 white, clasping and hardly equalling the stvles, which are at first 

 greenish, and ultimately red. Sepal* thickly felted, setose and 

 aciculate, ovate-attenuate, patent or loosely reflexed from the fruit. 

 Young carpels pilose. Flowers in Julv and the early part of August. 



A very handsome plant, remarkably constant in its characters. 

 It does not appear to me to be very closely allied to any previously 

 described species. Probablv its nearest affinities are with R. 

 rqwceu* ami R. Bfommii, The latter plant grows abundantly in 

 the same district, but I have never found 7?. to aeeu* anywhere near 

 it. Some years since I sent it to Dr. Focke, who remarked that it 

 seemed to be near ft, lampropkyllw Gremli, a Swiss and Bavarian 

 plant, but it does not at all agree with the description of this form, 

 and Dr. Focke has not repeated the suggestion in succeeding years. 

 Prof. Babington did not know it when I showed it to him a year 

 ago, nor has any other specialist who has seen the plant been able 

 to recognise it. It grows abundantly for a space of quite two miles 



