238 FLORA HISTORICA. 



CISTUS OR ROCK-ROSE. Cistus. 



Natural Order Rotacea. Cisti, Juss : a Genus of the 



Polyandria Monogynia Class. 



" With what enchantment, nature's goodly scene, 

 Attracts the sense of mortals." 



Akenside. 



Under the title of Cistus is comprised an ex- 

 tensive genus of plants, all equally celebrated for 

 their beauty and their fragility. These favourites 

 of Flora are of so transient a nature as always 

 to end their existence with the same sun that 

 gives them birth ; but as they have a great pro- 

 fusion of flower-buds, this imperfection is the 

 less regarded, since as some wither others ex- 

 pand, so as to keep up a succession of gaiety for 

 a considerable length of time, embelKshing this 

 spray to-day and that to-morrow. 



In floral language we have placed the Cistus 

 as the emblem of popular favour, since the du- 

 ration of the one cannot be relied on more than 

 the continuance of the other. 



