178 



PORTUGAL 



Rubus lusitanicus,n. sp. — E. caule arcuato-prostrato angulato 

 subglabro parce glanduloso, aculeis e basi dilatata declinatis ienui- 

 bus,foliis quinatis, foliolis subduplicato-patenti-dentatis, vel dentato- 

 serratis, supra subglabris, subtus pallide viridibus, tomentosis hirto- 

 velutinis vel in venis tantum pilosis, foliolo terminali elliptico 

 acuminato basi subcordato, paniculse hirtae tomentosse setosae pyra- 

 midalis ramis patentibus corymbosis, inferioribus axillaribus, 

 aculeis parvis declinatis, sepalis hirtis tomentosis ovato-attenuatis, 

 petalis albis. — In silvis prope M Caldas do Gerez " (Lusitanic), 

 abundat. Junio. 



I much regret that I have been unable to bring this very hand- 

 some bramble under any previously named form. Its nearest 

 relations seem to be with R. villicaidis W. & N. and with R. macro- 

 phyllns Weihe. Yet it seems too distinct from either not to require 

 a distinguishing name. The number of aciculi and setae on the 

 barren stems seems to vary much ; in some cases they are present 

 in fair number ; in others they are almost wanting. The stamens 

 (green ?) exceed the styles. The plant is abundant and very 

 luxuriant in the woods a short distance above the village of Caldas 

 do Gerez. The highest point at which I noticed it was at Leonte 

 (900 m.) ; here it grew less luxuriantly, and the panicle was in 

 many cases much depauperated. I have not seen fruit. 



For Leguminosae I was a little late, and so probably missed 

 several species. I was pleased to meet with Vicia Gerardi VilL in 

 one spot. Genista lusitanica L. grew sparingly on the very top of 

 Borrageiro, while in many places the slopes were thickly covered 

 by a dense growth of G. tridentata L. This plant is collected and 

 brought to Oporto in large quantities to serve as "kindling" for 

 fires. It is so dry that I have seen a large patch in full flower 

 spring into flame within a few seconds of a lighted match being 

 applied to it. Other characteristic plants of the lower regions are 

 Cytisus albas Lk., Sarothamnns eriocmyxts Bss. Reul., and Adtnocarpus 

 intermedins DC. Passing rapidly over several orders, I cannot omit 

 to mention Hypericum Imarifolium VahL, Silene colorata Poir., 

 Cistus hirsutus Lamk., Helianthemiun occidentals Wlk., and H* 

 glolndari a folium P. Hesedacea are represented by Reseda media Lej. 

 and Astrocarpus Clit.ni J. Gay, both fairly common ; while among 

 RanuncMlacea, the fine Ranunculus bupleuroidrs Brot., Thalictrum 

 ylaucum Desf., and Aquileybi dichroa Freyn. deserve mention. 



I must pass rapidly over the remaining localities. In the early 



part of July I spent a week in exploring the Serra da Estrella with 



Mr. Moller, of Coimbra. This serra forms a huge granite mass, 



and may be considered as the back-bone of Portugal. It may be 



about 120 miles south of the Gerez Mountains, and reaches a 



height of 7500 ft. Unfortunately we were unable to reach the 



highest levels. Many rare plants grow here, but for the most part 



at long intervals, almost every accessible spot being kept closely 



cropped by the innumerable sheep which form the wealth of the 



country. Near S. Eomao I found Diyitalis Thapsi L. and Lavandula 



pedunculata Cav., both in plenty ; and a very pretty pink, probably 



Dianthus lusitanicus Brot. Iu a neighbouring wood I again saw 



