Tas. 6548. 
ROSA MICROPHYLLA. 
Native of China and Japan. 
Nat. Ord. Rosacrm.—Tribe RosEx. 
Genus Rosa, Linn.; (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen, Pl. vol. i. p. 425.) 
Rosa microphylla ; frutex erectus, dense ramosus, glaberrimus v. puberulus, eglan- 
dulosus, ramis gracilibus, aculeis ad basin foliorum 2-nis rectis basi dilatatis 
rameis 0, foliis 3-4-pollicaribus, foliolis 3-7-jugis ellipticis subacutis v. 
acuminatis serrulatis, petiolo nudo v. sparse aculeolato, stipulis parvis v. 0, 
floribus solitariis ebracteatis breviter pedunculatis, calycis tubo pedunculoque 
densissime aculeolatis, aculeolis flavidis rectis a latere compressis, sepalis late 
ovatis v. ovato-rotundatis fimbriato-laceris persistentibus, petalis roseis 2-lobis, 
disco incrassato faucem claudente, fructu magno depresso globoso crasse carnoso 
basi intruso, acheniis paucis basilaribus late ovoideis obtuse angulatis apice 
obtusis setosis. 
R. microphylla, Roxb. in Lindl. Monog. Ros. pp. 9,146; Bot. Reg.t.919; Roa. 
Fi. Ind. vol. ii. p. 515; DC. Prodr. vol. ii. p. 602; Bot. Mag. t. 3490; 
Wall. Cat. n. 692; Brandis For. Fl. of N. W. India, p. 200; Hook. f. Fl. 
Brit. Ind. vol. ii. p. 364; Crépin Prim. Monog. Ros. 330. 
The old plate of the double variety of this plant, pub- 
lished nearly half a century ago in this work (Tab. 3490), 
gives no idea at all either of its habit or botanical 
characters. That of Lindley in the Botanical Register, | 
though better as regards foliage, also illustrates only the 
double-flowering state; whilst neither represents the fruit, 
which is quite unlike that of any of its congeners, and is 
now for the first time figured. Like many other Roses, the 
present was known in its cultivated state for long before 
its native country was discovered, though that this was 
China was suspected from its having been early recognized 
by Dr. Lindley as identical with a plant figured in a collec- 
tion of Chinese drawings of plants in the possession of Mr. 
after Sir Henry T. Colebrooke. All we know of its early 
history is, that it was introduced from Canton into the 
Calcutta Botanic Gardens by Dr. D. Roxburgh, from whence 
it has been diffused into Indian gardens generally. M. 
MARCH lst, 1881. 
