112 



American Midland Naturalist Monograph No. 4 



Fig. 49. Greene's mountain ash {Sorbus scopuUna). 



species even the midribs on the backs of the leaves are often thickly covered 

 with sharp bristles. 



Numerous species have been described by different botanists, but the char- 

 acters are so variable, even on the same plant, that we are here following the 

 conservative recommendations of Erlanson-- in recognizing comparatively few 

 species as distinct. Other species names are listed as synonyms in their re- 

 spective places. 



The roses, known since earliest times, have featured in many of the old 

 legends and myths. The familiar expression, "bed of roses," originated in 

 Egypt where mattresses of rose leaves were especially prepared for people of 

 high rank. The early European custom of suspending a rose from the ceiling 

 when proceedings were to be kept secret goes back to the legend that cupid 

 bribed the god of silence with a rose. 2 3 The Indians gathered the fruits for 



22 Erlanson, Eileen Whitehead. Experimental data for a revision of the North 

 American wild roses. Bot. Gaz. 96: 197-259. 1934. (See p. 228.) 



23 Range Plant Handbook, B 135: United States Department of Agriculture, For- 

 est Service. 1937. 



