190 Mr. Woods on the Brit ink Species of Rosa. 



Frutex 6 — 8-pedalis. Rami vagi, fusci, jimiores glaucescentes, aculeati ; aculei recti, 

 graciles, subcequalcs, plerumque binato-stipulares. Peliu/i tomentosi, glaiidulosi, 

 aculeisque parvis falcatis iminiti. Slipiilce lineari-laiiceolatae, glaiiduloso-ciliatae, eai 

 floribus etiam solitariis piopiores latiorcs, et demum folds deficientibus in biacteas 

 late ellipticas acuminatas immutatae. Foliola 5, rarius 7, par siiperiiis et foliolum 

 impar ceteris iiiajora, rhombeo-elliptica, duplicato-serrata, utriiique hirsuta, superne 

 inollissima, subtus riigosa, et preecipue marginem versus glandulosa. Fedunculi 1, 2, 

 sctis inaequalibus armati, bracteas superantes. Eeceptacuhim suligiobosum, setis for- 

 tioribus, scd paucioribus quam qux in peduncido, muiiitum. Calycis foliola simplicia, 

 triangulari-lanceolata, vix pctala loiigitudiiie aetiUHiitia, glandulosa, setosa ; fructus 

 reflexa. Flores concavi, saturate rubentes, rarius albi niaculis sanguiiiels, vel ru- 

 bescentes. Styl'i inclusi, stigmatibus convexis. Fructus globosus, setosus, ruber. 



"Gathered by ihc late Mr. G. Jackson in Scotland, and by the 

 Rev. Hugh Davies in Wales; also between Edinburgh and 

 Ravclston-Wood. It appears to be not very uncommon in 

 England and Wales." Engl. Bot. 



The specimen in the I,inna"'an Herbarium marked Rosa villosa 

 is undoubtedly this species, though the aculei are shorter, stronger, 

 and more curved than I have generally observed them. It is 

 probable that the plant of our gardens which is generally known 

 by that name, and R. tomentosa, were included by Linneeus under 

 the same species; but as the existing specimen agrees with the 

 description, as far as that defines any one Rose, 1 have preferred 

 assigning the name of R.v/llosa to this species, instead of retain- 

 ing that of R. mollis, given in English Botany. We may be cer- 

 tain that Linnaeus intended the 2:)resent plant — that he would 

 have included the others is matter of supposition ; and when it is 

 found necessary to subdivide an original species, the Herbarium 

 is the best authority to determine which plant shall retain the 

 name at first intended to include the whole. In this case a 

 further argument arises from the uncertainty of the plant intended 

 under this name by other authors, and our inability to distinguish 

 most of them from the numerous varieties of R, tomentosa. 



On 



