ROSA VILLOSA. rE) 
disk elevated, not very thick; styles hairy, distinct, 
usually inuch shorter than the ripe fruit. Fruit either 
' purple or deep red, round, with a thickened short pe- 
duncle, covered with stiff setae and crowned by the 
connivent pale brown clammy sepals. 
The distinction between this and the following hav- 
ing been ill understood by the greater part of botanists, 
it has become not only very difficult, but in many cases 
absolutely impossible, without authentic specimens, to 
extricate their synonyms. ‘The above are therefore all 
I have thought it safe to cite. 
_ The characteristic definition of Linnzeus, “ germi- 
nibus globosis aculeatis, pedunculis hispidis, &c.” by 
which he meant to contrast the rigidity of the arms of 
the former with the weakness of those of the latter, 
places his plant beyond the reach of doubt, especially 
because there is no state in which the fruit, either youn 
or old, of tomentosa can be called aculeated. Mr. 
Woods, however, judging from the specimens marked 
villosa in Linnzeus’s herbarium, conceived that, not- 
withstanding his specific character, he really intended 
that variety of fomentosa which I have called mollis, 
and which he considers a distinct species. But I am 
assured by the learned possessor of that collection, that 
the specimen there is no authority whatever, because 
it was acquired after the publication of the first edition 
of Species plantarum. It however confirms me in the 
opinion that Linnzeus did not distinguish the two plants; 
at least not in his publications. For, in addition to 
the proof afforded by his herbarium, Afzelius has as- 
certained that R. tomentosa alone grows in the places 
indicated by Linnzus as producing his R. villosa. 
The most essential point of difference between the 
two is in the fruit, which has in R. villosa a consider- 
able number of rigid sete and even prickles scattered 
over its surface: while that of tomentosa can never be 
termed more than hispid. It is also much larger in the 
former than in the latter, and is more fleshy. The leaves 
are larger, more exactly on gem and coarsely serrated. 
L 
