102 FLOWERING PLANTS OF THE RIVIERA 



ROSA L. 



Those who require an account of the wild roses of the littoral region and 

 lower mountains will find useful information, with shorter or longer descriptions, 

 in Bicknell's " Flora of Bordighera and San Remo," Bordighera, 1896. It is im- 

 possible here to do more than mention a few of the most important and constant 

 species, without allusion to the innumerable varieties. 



R. sempervirens L. Common in hedges by water-courses, etc., in the 

 littoral and lower mountain region. The leaflets are persistent through the winter, 

 generally 5 in number, and shiny on both sides. The flowers are large and white, 

 usually in a corymb. Fruit red, smooth, globose. May, June. 



R. arvensis Huds. In the montane region. Rare in the Var. May-June. 

 R. pomifera Hertn. In the Maritime Alps and Ligurian Mountains. June. 

 R. micrantha Sm. Common in the greater part of the district. May-June. 



The following are also typical viz.: R. canina L., R. stylosa Desv., R. 

 agrestis Savi., R. Pouzini Tratt., R. alpina L. (in the higher mountains) 

 and R. pimpinellifolia L. etc. The last named is found at Montrieux, Mont 

 Coudon, La Martre, La Ste. Baume, etc., as well as in the Maritime and Ligurian 

 Alps. 



PYRUS L. 



P. communis L. Wild Pear. A shrub or small tree, sometimes slightly 

 spiny. Leaves ovate, limb rather longer than petiole, at first cottony, afterwards 

 glabrous and shining, fascicled on the last year's shoots. Flowers large (25-30 

 mm.), white. Styles free to the base. Fruit pyriform, 1-2 in. long. Polymorphic. 



Woods, hedges, and road-sides. April-May. 



P. amygdaliformJs Vill. Shrub or small tree, with young shoots felted. 

 Leaves oblong-lanceolate, cuneate at base, limb 2-4 times as long as petiole, 

 white felted when young, later almost glabrous. Flowers smaller than the last, 

 on woolly peduncles. Calyx-lobes persistent. Styles rather shorter than stamens. 

 Fruit small, subglobular, with rounded base. 



Dry places, hedges, woods. April-May. 



P. acerba DC. = Malus acerba M'erat. Acid Apple-tree. A small tree ; 

 branches spreading, rather spiny. Leaves ovate-acuminate, toothed crenate, 

 limb at least twice length of petiole, at first slightly hairy, very glabrous when 

 fully developed. Flowers whitish-pink, petals downy below. Fruit large, 20-25 

 mm., very acid. 



Hedges, woods, and rocks in the montane region. April- May. 



SORBUS L. 



S. domestica L. Service-tree. A fairly tall tree, with shoots glabrous and 

 viscous. Leaves pinnatisect, with 11-17 leaflets, which are oblong and serrate 

 except at base, grey felted below, but glabrous later. Flowers white, 8-10 mm. 

 in diameter, lobes of calyx turned down outwards after flowering. Styles 5, woolly. 

 Fruit rather large, 3 cm. long, pear-shaped, reddish-green or rusty-red when ripe, 

 falling in autumn. 



Naturalized in woods. May. 



S. Aucuparia L. Mountain Ash or Rowan-tree. Tree with downy shoots, 

 not viscous. Leaves regularly pinnate, with 11-17 oblong leaflets, serrate almost 

 to base, glabrescent when matured. Flowers creamy-white in showy corymbs, 

 smaller than the last, very numerous and close set, 6-8 mm. diameter. Calyx- 

 lobes curved inwards after flowering. Styles 3. Berries small and numerous, 

 as large as peas, bright scarlet. 



Mountain woods, rare. May-June. 



S. torminalis Crantz. Wild Service-tree. Small tree with glabrescent 

 shoots. Leaves green and glabrous on both sides when mature, broadly ovate- 

 cordate, 6-10 lobed, lobes pointed, serrate. Flowers in corymbs small, white, 



