VIII. CISTA V CEJE I Cl'STUS. 55 



vessel ; on account of the shape of its capsules. In Martyn's Miller, the name is said to be derived 

 from that of the youth Cistus, whose story is to be found in Cassianus Bassus. Others derive it 

 from kfs, a worm or weevil. 



Identification. Tourn., Lin., Dec., G. Don. 



Synonymes. Holly Rose, Gerard ; Gum Cistus ; Ciste, Fr. ; Cisten Rose, Ger. ; Cisto Ital, 



Gen. Char. Calyx of 5 sepals. Sepals disposed.in a double series; 9, outer 

 ones unequal, sometimes wanting. Petals 5, equal, somewhat cuneated, 

 caducous. Stamens numerous, usually exserted from the glandular disk. 

 Style filiform. Stigma capitate. Capsule covered by the calyx, 5- or 

 10-valved, with a seminiferous partition in the middle of each valve, 

 therefore 5- or 10-celled. Seeds ovate, angular. Embryo filiform, spiral. 

 Leaves simple, opposite, exstipulate, sub-evergreen, entire or toothed ; 

 the petioles embracing the stem. Flowers axillary, -or many flowered 

 peduncles ; large, beautiful, resembling a rose, red or white. Shrubs or 

 subshrubs, natives of the South of Europe and North of Africa. Only 

 two or three species ,or subspecies, and their varieties, are hardy in the 

 climate of London. 



!t 1. CYsTUS PURPU'REUS Lam. The purple-Jlowered Cistus, or Sock Rose. 



Identification. Lam. Diet., 2. p. 14.; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 264. ; Don's Mill., 1. p. 298. 



Synonymes. C. cr^ticus Hart. Kew. ; the purple Gum Cistus. the purple shrubby Cistus; Ciste 



pourpre, Fr. ; purpurrothe Cisten Rose, Ger. 

 Engravings. Bot. Reg., t. 408. ; Swt. Cist., t. 17. ; and our Jig. 77. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, obtuse or 

 acute, and more or less rugose ; reticulately veined, 

 with undulated margins. Petioles short, hairy, con- 

 nected at the base, and sheathing the stem. Flowers 

 terminal, from 1 to 6, on short peduncles. Bracteas 

 sessile, leaf-like, pubescent, broad and concave at the 

 base, where they are connected, and terminating in 

 acute points. Pedicels short, and with the calyx hairy. 

 Calyx of 5 sepals. Petals 5 or 6, obovate or wedge- 

 shaped ; very much imbricate, more or less crum- 

 pled. Stamens numerous, filaments smooth. Style 

 very short ; and stigma large, capitate, 5-lobed, papil- 

 lose. (Swt. Cist.) A sub-evergreen low bush. Levant. 

 Height 3 ft. to 4? ft. Introduced in 1659. Flowers 77 ttstua purp 7 ceus< 

 large, bright reddish purple, with a yellow spot at the 

 base. June and July. Capsule brown ; ripe in Sept. Decaying leaves brown. 



Branches numerous, erect, and clothed with a brownish pubescence. 

 The flowers are very large and handsome, of a bright reddish purple, with 

 a yellow spot at the base, above which is a large dark purple velvet mark, 

 surrounded with red, and slightly branched. The petals are imbricate, and 

 much crumpled. It flowers abundantly in June and July ; grows very fast, is 

 easily propagated by cuttings, and is very ornamental. 



tt 2. C. INCA^NUS L. The hoary Cistus, or Sock Rose. 



Identification. Lin. Sp., 737.; Smith's Fl. Grac., 494.; Don'r Mill. 1 



p. 298. 

 Synonymes. C. klbidus Hort. ; C. cym&sus Dec. ; Ciste cotonneux, Fr. ; 



bestaubte Cisten Rose, Ger. 

 Engravings. Bot. Mag., t. 43. ; Swt. Cist., t. 44. ; and our fig. 78. 



Spec. Char., tyc. Leaves spathulate, tomentose, wrinkled, 

 somewhat 3-nerved, sessile, somewhat connate at the base, 

 upper ones narrower. Peduncles 1 3-flowered. (Don's 

 Mill.) A hoary evergreen shrub. Spain and France. Height 

 2 ft. to 3ft. Introduced in 1597. Flowers reddish purple, 

 with the petioles emarginate. June and July. Capsule 

 brown ; ripe in September. Decaying leaves brown. 



Quite hardy in dry soil. 



* 78. Cistu* inciniu. 



E 4 



