THE ROSE FAMILY 45 



Various trees of this group form the characteristic flora of 

 desert regions. Some of them have a peculiar mode of growth. 

 Their croitm is not round like that of the Mango tree, but flat 

 like a palm-leaf umbrella (catra, fig. 45). It is thus, indeed, 

 more exposed to the sun's rays, but it presents its edges to the 

 scorching winds instead of a large surface and thereby is better 

 protected from loss of moisture by transpiration. The effect of the 

 sun's rays is lessened by the trees' power of folding their leaves. 



10. The Rose Family 



(Rosaceae). 



Trees, shrubs, or herbs. Leaves alternate, stipulate. Flowers 

 radial. Sepals and petals each five, imbricate in bud. Stamens numer- 

 ous, free, incurved in bud. Carpels distinct (apocarpous). Fruit often 

 fleshy, and in its formation aided by the receptacle. 



The Rose {Rosa centifolia). 



(Kan. Gulabi. Mai. Paninlrpu.) 



The Rose is the queen of flowers. Its graceful shape, 

 beautiful colour, and delicious scent make its charm irresistible. 

 It is the symbol of youth, of innocence and of beauty. With roses 

 we decorate our houses on festive occasions, and make beautiful 

 the graves of our beloved ones. 



1. The Double Rose {Rosa centi/olia) is cultivated in our 

 gardens. If a bush with double flowers is not attended to and 

 pruned and manured, it will in course of time yield single flowers. 

 One of the species with single flowers is the Hedge Rose {Rosa 

 canina) which in colder climates grows wild in hedges. 



2. The prickles on the Stem are worthy of special notice. 

 They are sharp and bent down (recurved) . With their help 

 the weak stems seek support on other plants that are stronger 

 than themselves. But the prickles are also powerful weapons 

 against enemies, such as cattle, which would feed on them, or 

 snails which would crawl up to the tender leaves, or mice 

 which would eat the sweet fruits, called hips. It may be 

 noticed that the prickles of the Rose are like hairs only loosely 



