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XXXI. A'otice respecting a Native British Rose, Jirst described in Ray's 

 Synopsis, as discovered by Jambs Sherard. By Joseph Sabine, Es(j., 

 F.R.S. 8s L.S., ^c. 



Read June 21st, 1S36. 



IF the adding to the British Flora a new plant is a great delight to an En- 

 glish botanist, the finding and making out one, the existence of which has 

 been long involved in doubt, is not less agreeable. The subject of the pre- 

 sent communication is of the latter description. 



In the Addenda, page 478, to the third edition of Ray's Synopsis of British 

 Plants, published in 1724, is the following description of a native English 

 Rose : " Rosa sylvestris folio molliter hirsuto, fructu rotundo glabro, calyce 

 et pediculo hispidis. Diversa species videtur a Rosa sylvestri fructu majore 

 hispido D. Dale (p. 454.) ceu quae vulgari propius accedit, in hac vero specie 

 folia moUi hirsutie pubescunt, fructus rotundus glaber est, verum calyces et 

 pediculi crebris spinulis brevibus obsiti sunt. Ceterum fructus umbellatim 

 nascitur, et calyx non decidit in hac specie : pediculi modice longi sunt. 

 Found by Mr. J. Sherard a little on this side Kingston by the Thames." 



The Rose with which Sherard's plant is compared is thus described at 

 page 454 of the work referred to : " Rosa sylvestris fructu majore hispido. 

 Wild Briar or Dogs Rose with large prickly Heps. In sepibus non infrequens 

 a D. Dale observata. Calyx in hac specie non decidit postquam fructus ma- 

 turuit quemadmodum in praecedente, sed ei pertinaciter adhseret." Hudson 

 {Flora Jnglica, edit. alt. p. 219,) has made this Rose the variety /S of his 

 R. villosa, very accurately distinguishing it. His Rosa villosa a, which he refers 

 to Ray's " Rosa sylvestris pomifera major nostras," in my opinion is the Rosa vil- 

 losa of Woods*, whilst the variety /3 belongs, as I conceive, to Rosa tonientosa 



* I am aware that Mr. Woods refers the " Rosa sylvestris pomifera major nostras" of Ray to his 

 Rosa tomentosa ; but though I venture, notwithstanding the great authority of my friend, to diifer with 

 him on this point, I do so with diffidence, for I must ever consider him as my best instructor on the 

 subject of British Roses, and as the first botanist whose inquiries led to a good understanding of the 

 genus. 



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