THE WILD ROSES OF OTHER LANDS 143 



forms of Rosa damascena may be found with dark red 

 flowers. 



Rosa ferox is worthy of mention on account of its 

 being very distinct from other dwarf-growing species of 

 roses. Of quite low stature, its stiff branches are armed 

 with stout, hooked spines, and clothed with tiny green 

 leaves, amongst which the small white, or pinkish flowers, 

 which are barely more than one inch across, appear 

 during June and July. It is a native of the Caucasus. 



Rosa Fortuneana was obtained from China many 

 years ago, and is considered to be a natural hybrid 

 between Rosa Banksice and Rosa IcBvigata rather than 

 a species. The evergreen leaves are usually made up of 

 five lance-shaped leaflets, and the semi-double yellowish 

 flowers are two to three inches across. It is only suit- 

 able for the warmer parts of the country. 



Rosa gallica, the common rose of Eastern Europe 

 and parts of Central and South Europe, is a very im- 

 portant species, and was the forerunner of many of our 

 garden roses of the present day; the majority of the 

 old fragrant Cabbage roses of bygone days were closely 

 related to it. It is also the parent of the various roses 

 from which the famous attar of roses is obtained. 

 Growing two to three feet in height, it is recognised 

 by its large, often semi-double flowers, which may be 

 white, pink, or red in colour. There are many varieties, 

 of which centifolia, with good-sized heads of fragrant, 

 pink, semi-double flowers is very showy. The variety 

 muscosa is the type of the numerous Moss roses, a term 

 applied on account of the peculiar moss-like appear- 



