94 ROSE FAMILY 



Rosa bracteata. Macartney rose. Flowers similar to above 

 species, but calyx is silky and is surrounded by an involucre 

 of broad bracts. Stems very prickly. Leaves evergreen of 

 5-11 leathery leaflets. Roadsides and waste places. Bloom- 

 ing in spring and summer. Fla. to Va. and Miss. 



Blackberry. Bramble (Genus Euhtis) 



Blackberries in the Florida peninsula begin to bloom in 

 midwinter. One of the most common and most attractive 

 is a trailing dewberry, R. trivmlis, whose flowers are like 

 small roses, and have a faint fragrance. The berries are 

 ripe in April in the southern part of the state. 



Among the many curious theories that man has in- 

 vented to account for the origin of different characteristics 

 of plants (concerning which he still knows little) the 

 conclusion of an "herbalist — astrologer" of the seventeenth 

 century has, at least, the merit of being logical. After de- 

 claring the blackberry bush to be under the dominion 

 of "Venus in Aries/' he adds: "If any ask the Reason 

 why Venus is so prickly ? Tell them 'tis because she is in 

 the house of Mars.' 



» 



Rubus trivialis. Dewberry. Flowers white, about 1 in. 

 across. Sepals 5, petals 5, stamens many. Stems long, 

 trailing, prickly. Leaves evergreen, of 3 or, rarely, 5 leaflets. 

 Fruit black, juicy, edible. Sandy soil. Blooming in winter 

 and spring. Fla. to Va. and Texas. 



Rubus cuneifolius. Flowers white or pinkish, nearly 1 in. 

 across. Stems erect, shrubby, prickly, 1-4 ft. tall. Leaves of 

 3 or 5 leaflets, downy beneath. Fruit black, edible. Sandy 

 soil. Blooming in spring. Fla. to Conn, and La. 



Rubus floridus. Flowers white, 1 in. or more across. 

 Leaves of 3 leaflets, not downy beneath. Stems erect or 

 spreading, 2-6 ft. long, prickly. Fruit edible. Thickets. 

 Fla. and Ga. 



