Rubus serpens Weihe ex Lej. & Courtois (Rosaceae L.), with related taxa and names

The lectotype (Weber 1985: 370) of Rubus serpens Weihe ex Lej. & Courtois (1831: 172) appeared to not match with the characteristics of the protologue. Therefore a new type specimen was selected which corresponds with the requirements. This type is morphologically very similar to R. picearum (A. Beek) A. Beek (1984: 58), as which it was identified initially. In order to attain certainty, plants of different localities were transferred to the garden. From this experiment it became clear that both are clearly distinct species. It also turned out that the material attributed to R. picearum was not homogeneous. Another species was included in it. This new species is described here as R. edentulus A. Beek & K. Meijer. Rubus serpens was also published as R. flexuosus Lej. ex K.Koch (1853: 119). Because this is an earlier homonym of R. flexuosus P.J.Müll. & Lefèvre (1859: 240) the latter must have the correct name R. saltuum Focke ex Gremli (1870: 30).