36 ROSA LUCIDA. DWARF WILD ROSE. 



istic of this species that they will generally lead the student to a 

 correct decision as to its identity, in spite of the variability of 

 other characters. This peculiarity has been very well shown by 

 our artist, who has carefully preserved the botanical characteristics 

 of his original, while at the same time he has been admirably 

 successful in reproducing the poetical spirit which pervades our 

 liower. 



It is now believed that there are but very few good species of 

 roses, and that many forms which, even comparatively a short 

 time ago, had names of their own, must be looked upon as mere 

 varieties. This state of things has given rise to a great many 

 synonyms and a good deal of attendant confusion, so that it is 

 sometimes difificult to tell what particular species an author may 

 be alluding to ; and it is also owing to the same cause that the 

 geography of our present species has been somewhat obscured. 

 Prof. Wood says it grows "in dry woods and thickets throughout 

 the United States"; Dr. Chapman says, " Florida and Mississippi 

 northward, mostly in dry soil, common"; and according to Dr. 

 Gray, it is "common in dry soil or along the borders of swamps"; 

 while Torrey and Gray's " Flora of North America " locates it 

 " in dry places in the margins of swamps, Newfoundland, and 

 New England States to Georgia." So far as we can ascertain, it 

 is most common in the Seaboard States, and is rather abundant 

 through Ohio and Michigan to Nebraska, in the western part 

 of which state it gradually disappears. It has quite recently 

 been found in Iowa, by Messrs. Coleman and Burgess, but only 

 in very few locations, while in Kansas it has not yet been found 

 at all. How far it extends south along the eastern shore of the 

 Mississippi, it is scarcely possible to say, owing to the uncer- 

 tainty in the application of synonyms. In Northern Texas it 

 has recently been collected by Mr. Ruffner. 



We have adopted the common name, " Dwarf Wild Rose," 

 given by Dr. Gray, as it seems to be the most appropriate, 

 although our flower is also known as the " Shining Rose," or 

 simply as the " Wild Rose." 



