PLATE XIX.— BLACKBERRY or BRAMBLE (Rubus fruticosus). 



The Bramble is a straggling and prickly shrub of common occurrence in hedges and woods. It flowers in autumn and produces 

 the well-known fruit It is very variable in its characters, giving rise to quite a host of sub-species, some even treating these varieties 

 as distinct species. The leaf is very variable and shows all the intermediate gradations from the simple leaf to the compound leaf of 

 five leaflets. The simple leaf develops two leaflets, and becomes Fig. ae; then the lower leaflets may become lobed, as in Fig. 20, 

 and the division may extend till it reaches the midrib, thus forming five leaflets as in Fig. so. This passage from the inferior leaves 

 of the stem with five leaflets, through three leaflets, till nearer the flower the simple leaf appears, is very interesting as bearing on the 

 simplicity of the floral leaves. , 



The Flower is much visited by insects, and the stamens ripen from the outside inwards, so that the stigmas will usually nave 

 received their pollen before the inner anthers have opened. 



Stem — 



Fig. 1. Stem with hooked prickles. These Prickles are superficial structures like hairs, but as they are not derived entirely 

 from the epidermis, but from the underlying tissue as well, they are distinguished as Emergences. 



Leaf — 



Fig. 2. Compound Leaves becoming simpler as they approach the flower. 

 (a.) Compound digitate leaf with five leaflets. 



Stipules adherent to base of stalk. 

 (6.) Leaf with three leaflets, the lower two partly divided. 

 (c.) Compound leaf with three leaflets. 



Flower — 



Fig. 3. Longitudinal median section of flower. . , 



Receptacle, laterally expanded to support the sepals, petals, and stamens, and produced m the middle to bear the 



numerous carpels. 



Sepals inserted on receptacle. 



Petals with narrow base of attachment 



Stamens with minute anthers. 



Carpels, seated on the elevated convex Receptacle. < 



Diagram.— In Flower-bud examine the arrangement of sepals and petals by gently separating them with needle, then make trans- 

 verse section of bud to complete plan. 



Calyx of five Sepals with imbricate arrangement 



Corolla of five Petals with imbricate arrangement, and alternating with sepals. 



Androecium of numerous Stamens in alternating whorls. 



Gyncecium of numerous distinct Carpels. 

 Fig. 4. Sepal continuous with the laterally expanded receptacle. 

 Fig. 5. Petal concave with short and narrow claw and expanded blade. 

 Fig. 6. Stamen with filament expanding into connective. 

 Fruit and Seed — 



FiffS. 7 and. 8. Fruit entire and in vertical section. 



The Receptacle has elongated and become conical, bearing the numerous fleshy drupes. Each little globular 

 drupe has an outer skin or epicarp covering a juicy pulp or mesocarp, enclosing a little stone or endocarp. 

 Calyx and withered Stamens persist 

 Fig. 9. Embryo. 



CLASSIFICATION. 



Class. — Dicotyledon. 

 Division. — Polypetalae. 

 Sub-division. — Calyciflorae. 

 Order. — Rosacese. 



Leaves, usually stipulate and alternate. 



Flowers, regular. 



Receptacle, laterally extended. 



Petals free, on margin of receptacle. 



Stamens free and indefinite usually, also inserted towards margin of receptacle. 



Carpels free, one or more. 



Seeds without endosperm. 



