24 PARSONS ON THE ROSE. 



ture, and the plant, in consequence, is of but temporary 

 duration. R. Donald's R, Grevillei died in three or four 

 years. 



Var. Rasselliana is a variety differing considerably, in 

 flowers and foliage, from the species, but retaining the 

 fringed footstalk ; and is, hence, quite distinct from R. 

 semjjervirens Russelliana. 



Var. Boursaulti, Boursatjlt Rose, is placed, in Don's 

 Miller, under this species ; though it differs more from the 

 preceding vaiiety than many species do from each other. 

 It is comparatively a hard-wooded, durable rose, and valu- 

 able for flowering early and freely. This is a very re- 

 markable rose, from its petals having a reticulated appear- 

 ance. 



R. moschatai Mill. — Musk Rose. — Si/n. R. glandulifera, 

 Roxb. — Shoots ascending. Prickles upon the stem slen- 

 der, recurved. Leaflets 5 to 7, lanceolate, acuminate, 

 nearly glabrous, the two surfaces of different colors. Stip- 

 ules very narrow, acute. Flowers, in many instances, 

 very numerous, white, with the claws of the petals yel- 

 low, very fragrant. Lateral peduncles jointed, and, as 

 well as the calyx, pilose, and almost hispid. Sepals almost 

 pinnately cut, long. Fruit red, ? ovate. 



The branches of the Musk Rose are generally too weak 

 to support, without props, its large bunches of flowers, 

 which are produced in an umbel-like manner at their ex- 

 tremities. The musky odor is very perceptible, even at 

 some distance from the plant, particularly in the evening, — 



"When each inconstant breeze that blows 

 Steals essence from the musky rose." 



It is said to be a native of Barbary ; but this has been 

 doubted. It is, however, found wild in Tunis, and is cul- 

 tivated there for the sake of an essential oil, which is ob- 

 tained from the petals by distillation. It has also been 

 found wild in Spain. The first record of the musk rose 

 having been cultivated in England is in Hakluyt, in 1582, 

 who states that the musk rose was brought to England 

 from Italy. It was in common cultivation in the time of 



