PARSONS ON THE ROSE. 



CHAPTER I. 



BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION. 



The Rose is a shrub or dwarf tree, with mostly decidu- 

 ous foliage, and large, beautiful, and fragrant flowers. Its 

 branches are slender, almost always armed with thorns, 

 thinly furnished with leaves, which are alternate upon the 

 stem. Its leaves are pinnate, and vary in color and char- 

 acter, from the rich, dark green, and somewhat rough leaf 

 of La Reine, to the glossy smoothness and rich purple 

 edge of Chromatella. The blossoms are variously ar- 

 ranged at the extremity of the newly formed branches. 

 The calyx is single and tubular, swelling at its lower part, 

 contracted at its opening, and divided at the edge into 

 five lance-pointed divisions, which are whole or pinnati- 

 fid. The corolla is inserted at the mouth of the tube of 

 the calyx, and is composed of five heart-shaped petals, 

 which constitute the Rose in its single or natural state. 

 The double blossoms are formed by the change of the 

 stamens and pistils into petals or flower leaves, shorter 

 than those of the corolla proper. The fruit or seed ves- 

 sel, or hlp^ is formed by the tube of the calyx, which be- 

 comes plump and juicy, globular or oviform, having but 

 one cell, and containing numerous small, one-seeded, dry 

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