The roses are the best known genus of the large and very impor- 

 tant rose family (Rosaceae) ; in fact, they constitute probably one of 

 the most familiar plant groups extant. Originally native to the 

 cooler and temperate climates of the Northern Hemisphere, they 

 have a world-wide distribution through introduction and cultivation. 

 Most peoples of the Northern Hemisphere, and particularly those of 

 Aryan descent, have admired and cultivated roses since practically 

 the dawn of time. Even today, many commonly known words, 

 phrases, and legends reflect this ancient regard for the rose. The 

 legend that Cupid bribed the god of silence with a rose seems to have 

 given birth to the early European custom of suspending a rose 

 from the ceiling when proceedings were to be kept secret; hence the 

 expression, sub rosa ("under the rose"). 1 The familiar phrase, "bed 

 of roses", originated in Egypt, where mattresses of rose leaves, even 

 today, are especially prepared for people of high rank. 2 The rose 

 gardens and festivals of Persia were, perhaps, the most famous in 

 ancient history. Today, these mostly fragrant and handsome flow- 

 ers of various hues are almost universal favorites, as is amply demon- 

 strated by their presence in gardens and parks, and also by the elab- 

 orate rose pageants and festivals celebrated annually in many cities. 

 The various species of wild rose, although largely neglected in favor 

 of their cultivated relatives, are still held in esteem by many flower- 

 lovers because of their natural, simple, and individual charm. Their 

 popularity is evidenced by the fact that Georgia, Iowa, New York, 

 and North Dakota have selected the wild rose, or a particular species, 

 as their respective State flowers. 



Although the genus Rosa is a very natural one, distinguished by 

 well-marked characters from allied genera and seldom, if ever, con- 

 fused with other plants, the taxonomic limits of its individual species 

 are difficult to determine, this being complicated by their tendency 

 to hybridize freely and by the high variability of many of the diag- 

 nostic characters. Certain minor characteristics recur in various 

 combinations in each of the sections, or larger groups of species, and 

 are therefore not sufficiently constant to be trustworthy in distinguish- 

 ing a particular species. This is especially true of the presence or 

 absence of prickles and their form ; the texture, hairiness, and glan- 

 dular character of the leaflets as well as the kind of teeth ; the form 

 of the "hips" ; and the absence of hairs or the type of glandular hairs 

 present on the sepals. 3 The most conservative estimates recognize 

 well over 100 species. The roses are erect, trailing, or climbing 

 shrubs, usually with prickly stems, that often arise from underground 

 rootstocks. The alternate leaves are odd-pinnate (very rarely 

 simple) , with the leaflets commonly saw-toothed ; the base of the leaf- 

 stalk usually appears winged because of the two partly fused (ad- 

 nate) stipules. Generally, the beautifully colored, and mostly fra- 

 grant flowers are attractively displayed, either occurring singly or in 

 clusters at the ends of the branchlets. The five (rarely four, six, 

 seven, or eight) red, pink, or white (also yellow in exotic and culti- 

 vated roses) petals are rounded or reverse-heart-shaped, and are in- 



1 Lindley, J. ROSARUM MONOGRAPHIA ; OR, A BOTANICAL HISTORY OF ROSES . . . New 

 ed., 156 pp., illus. London. [1830.] 



2 Clements, E. S. FLOWERS OF COAST* AND SIERRA. 226 pp., illus. New York. 1928. 



3 Erlanson E W. FIELD OBSERVATIONS ON WILD ROSES OF THE WESTERN UNITED 

 STATES. Mich. Acad. Sci., Arts, and Letters, Papers (1929) 11: 117-135. 1930. 



