128 MBS. E. M. EEID OX TWO [vol. lxxvi, 



Rubus. 



The fossil Bubi of Castle Eden are distinguished by their very 

 small size and coarse pitting. All belong to the section Ideobatus* 

 At first sight, it might be thought that all are variants of some 

 common species ; but a careful study of the fruits of living liitbi 

 (which are exceptionally well represented by fruiting specimens in 

 the Kew Herbarium) shows that the endocarps are characteristic 

 and conformable to type, and that the degree of variation exhibited 

 by these fossils is much in excess of that occurring in any living- 

 species. The same species does not produce endocarps — some with 

 straight and others with double-curved ventral margins, some long 

 and narrow and others semilunar, some thick and others thin. 

 Such differences are specific. All species are not equally distinct, 

 some are more difficult to distinguish than others ; but it happens 

 that the Castle-Eden Mubi show three very marked types which 

 are rare among living species. I have, therefore, separated these 

 types, and classified them under the living species which show 

 them and in which alone I have been able to find them. It is. 

 possible that, among the distorted specimens, other species should 

 be separated ; but these I cannot recognize. All three species are 

 inhabitants of China, though one also inhabits Japan. 



Rubus lasiostylus Eocke. (PI. IX, figs. 1 & 3.) 



Endocarp narrow oval, sub-terete, thick-walled ; ventral margin 

 nearly straight ; surface-sculpture of large pits elongate longitudi- 

 nally, and curved from the style to the attachment. 



Length=2 mm. ; breadth = "8 mm. 



Three broken endocarps. One shows the complete length and 

 breadth (though broken), another the breadth and thickness. 

 They agree in nearly every detail with E. lasiostylus (PI. IX, 

 fig. 2). So complete is the agreement that, although broken, they 

 must be referred to the species. It is an inhabitant of Central 

 China. 



Rtjbus adenophorus Rolfe. (PL IX, figs. 1 & 5.) 



Endocarp ovate, flat (partly by pressure ?), thin-walled ; ventral 

 margin convex below, concave above, causing the apex to be hooked 

 and turned to the ventral side ; dorsal margin semicircular ; 

 surface-sculpture consisting in large, deep, irregular pits. 



Length = l - 7 mm. ; breadth=l'3 mm. 



Endocarps of Rubi showing the double curve of the ventral 

 margin seen in these species are very rare. The thin-walled flat 

 endocarp of JR. kuntzeamis shows it, but the apex is too long and 

 slender to agree with the fossil. H. adeuophorus Rolfe (PI. IX, 

 fig. 6) is much nearer both in size and in shape, and in the 

 character of its pitting. It is somewhat more inflated ; but, if we- 

 take into account the fact that a thin-walled endocarp necessarily 

 flattens and crumples, the agreement is exact. 



S. adenophorus inhabits Western Hupeh, a, province of China. 



