344 CISTUS 



C. CORBARIENSIS, Pourret. CORBIERES ROCK ROSE. 



(Sweet's Cistineae, t. 8.) 



A densely bushy, evergreen shrub, 3 or 4 ft. high, often more in width ; 

 young branches smooth, or with a very minute down. Leaves ovate, pointed, 

 heart-shaped or rounded at the base, f to 2 ins. long, \ to i in. wide ; minutely 

 toothed and wavy at the margin, each tooth crested with a tuft of minute hairs; 

 net-veined, dull dark green above, paler beneath, both surfaces with starry 

 down ; stalks to \ in. long, downy. Flowers i^ ins. across, white with a 

 yellow stain at the base of the petals, produced in June at the end of short 



CISTUS VILLOSUS (see p. 349) , 

 i 



axillary shoots ; there are from one to three flowers on each stalk, which is 

 slender, stellately hairy, and about 3 ins. long. Outer sepals heart-shaped, 

 in. long, hairy. 



A natural hybrid between the Narbonne variety of C. populifolius and 

 C. salvifolius, taking its name from Corbieres, in the south of France. This is 

 one of the hardiest and best of cistuses, and like many hybrids possesses a 

 vigour and constitution superior to that of its parents. In the debacle of rather 

 tender plants which followed the great frosts of February 1895, this Cistus was 

 one of the three which survived at Kew, the other two being Loreti and 

 laurifolius. Large groups of plants raised from the survivors now give most 

 pleasing displays from June onwards every year. The general aspect of the 

 plant is that of a small-leaved C. populifolius, of which it has been known as 

 " var. minor." 



