41 WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND BLOSSOMS. 



Dog-rose (Rosa canina). 



Probably most non-botanical ramblers feel able to distinguish 

 at once between the Dog-rose and the Field-rose, and a few 

 may be learned enough to separate either or both from the 

 Burnet-rose and the Sweet-briar and they may do it. But 

 the scientific botanist has difficulties, and he is not quite sure 

 where one species leaves off and another begins. Many 

 workers have so split up our six or seven British roses into a 

 vast multitude of species, sub-species, and varieties that it is 

 difficult to follow them. In this work we shall not attempt it. 

 The Dog-rose is the largest of the British roses. It forms a 

 bush of considerable size, with long arching branches, covered 

 with broad hooks. The leaves are broken up into five leaflets, 

 each of which is sharply toothed. The sepals are five in 

 number, pinnate, and turned back towards the stem when the 

 flower is open. The petals are five, pink and notched. 

 Stamens many. Styles free, hairy. The ovary is sunk in the 

 calyx, which changes to the pitcher-shaped scarlet fruits the 

 "hips" of the schoolboy in which are the hairy achenes. 

 Flowers mostly solitary. Generally common in hedges and 

 copses, flowering from June to August. 



I. The Field-rose (R. arvensis) is very similar to R. canina, but the flowers are 

 generally in clusters, the petals white. Sepals falling off. In similar places. June 

 and July. Easily distinguished by its trailing habit. 



II. The Burnet- or Scotch-rose (G. spinosissima) is a much-branched shrub, 

 with the leaves divided into seven or nine leaflets. Stem crowded with nearly 

 straight prickles, showing every stage in the transition from thorns to stiff bristles 

 and glandular hairs. Petals white or pink. Fruit nearly globular. Heaths and 

 open places chiefly, on sand and chalk, especially near the sea. May and June. 



III. Sweet Briar (R. rubiginosd). A small bush with erect or arching branches, 

 set with hooked prickles mixed with glandular hairs and bristles. Leaflets densely 

 glandular and aromatic. Flowers small, pink. Fruit globose. Bushy places, 

 chiefly in South of England. June and July. 



