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NOTES OX ENGLISH RUBI. 99
The only way wliicli can lead to a better knowledge of our
indigenous Rubi is the study of the constant species retaining the
same appearance under different circumstaiices and in ditferent
countries. The first rule must be not to name every single bush
and every local form. What we want is a clear idea of the leading
species, and a positive nomenclature which will be generally
understood.
Last summer (1889) I visited some parts of Southern England,
I spent several days at Plymouth, where I was favoured with the
l\ind guidance of Mr. Archer Briggs, who accompanied me to
Bournemouth. Hei*e I enjoyed during a repeated sojourn the
hospitality and the valuable instructions of the Rev. W. Moyle
Rogers. I am very much indebted to my English friends who
Lave introduced me to tlie study of the living British Rubi.
I do not intend to give complete descriptions of the Rubi I have
seen, because my English friends know them much better than I do.
Moreover, I put aside all discussions about local and doubtful
forms, although I suppose several brambles, which I so far know
from a limited locality only, will prove to be frequent in other
places or other countries. My only purpose is to compare the
British Rubi with the continental species. Having seen a good
deal of the English brambles at their natural stations, I can rely
upon an accurate knowledge of the discussed plants. I shall name
the localities where I observed them in a living state. Several
other Enghsh species, which I have seen in dried specimens only,
may be mentioned in case I am quite sure about tlie determination.
A general remark will be of some interest. Many species of
Rubi develop much more compound and more conspicuous inflorescences
near the eastern and northern limits than in the centre of
their area of distribution. The reason of this occurrence will be
easily understood. In a rough climate tlie barren stems of our
brambles freeze down until near the ground. The short remaining
part produces only a few, but very compound and showy, flowering
branches. Such forms have often been considered to be specifically
distinct.
Enumeration of some Species.
I. Stons ylahrons, suhercct, or tjrowiwj in a lihjh arch, rarely rooting at
the end. So glandular seta.
1. R. suijerectus G. Anders.—Seen near Buckland, Lymington,
S. Hants ; Bickleigh Vale, S. Devon.
Continental distribution. W. Russia, S. Sweden (northward to
GO''), and Norway (northward to 02^^ 45') ; the whole of Central
Europe.
2. R. Fissus Lindl.—The true species is a bramble with many
"cleft" (= fissm) or septenate leaves. All parts of it, with the
exception of the prickles only, are smaller than in //. suhcrcftus
the leaflets are often plicate, the stamens do not exceed the styles,
and the mature fruits are purplish. The stem is armed with
frequent straight slender prickles, not confined to the angles, very
different from tlio short ones seen in //. siitirrt. It is a decidedly
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