2604
R U B U S rhamnifolius.
Buckthorn-leaved, Bramble.
ICOSANDRIA Polygyria.
Gen. Char. Cal. 5-cleft. Petals 5. Berry superior,
of several single-seeded grains, placed upon a
protuberant spongy receptacle.
Spec. Char. Stem arched, obsoletely angular and
furrowed, with horizontal or deflexed straight
uniform prickles. Leaves digitate, of 5 stalked,
ovate or roundish, somewhat cordate, pointed
leaves. Panicle spreading, twice compound.
Calyx loosely reflexed.
Syn. Ruhus rhamnifolius. Weihe and Nees Rubi
Germ. 22. t. 6. excl. the syn. from Engl. Bot.—
Sm. Engl. FI. v. 2.401. Lindl.Syn. Brit. 92.
T h e elaborate Monograph of Weihe and Nees has
thrown much light upon this difficult genus, but still our
knowledge of the boundaries of the various species is very
imperfect. That before us is common, and, unless we include
forms which ought to be separated, very variable. It
is nearly allied to R . fruticosus, t. 715, but differs in the
following particulars.
The stems are less distinctly angular and furrowed, sometimes
almost cylindrical: the glaucous tinge, often very remarkable
on the young shoots of that species, is never seen,
we believe, in this; nor is the older wood usually of so dark
a purple, but often bright red on the exposed sides, and frequently
shining. The prickles are less powerful, and less
dilated at the base : in both species they either stand out at
right angles or are deflexed, but are rarely curved, except
on the stalks and midribs of the leaves, and occasionally on
the panicle. The pubescence of the stem, sometimes wanting
in both, has in this, when present, a less considerable
intermixture of the minute starry hairs, which in the other
are usually persistent, and give a greyish appearance, especially
to the angles of the stem and the bases of the prickles.