VIII. CISTACE^: CI STUS. 



55 



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

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

 from kis, a worm or weevil. 



f<i'-,uijicalw)i. Tourn., Lin., Dec, G. Don. 



^yiiunymes. Holly Rose, Gerard ; Gum Cistus ; Clste, Fr. ; Cisten Rose, Oer. ; Cisto Ital. 



(Jen. Char. Calyx of 3 sepals. iS'epflj/s disposed.in a double series; 9 outer 

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

 caducous. Stamens numerous, usually exserted frora 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. Floivers 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 

 clunate of London. 



- 1. 6'i'sTUS PURPUREUS Lam. The [mr^Xe-Jlowered Cistus, or Rock Rose. 



Identification. Lam. Diet., 2. p. 14.; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 264.,; Don's Mill., 1. p. 29S. 



Synonymes. C. creticus Hort. Kew. ; the purple Gum Cistus. the purple shrubby Cistus ; Ciste 



pourpre, Fr. ; purpurrothe Cisten Rose, Ger. 

 Sngravings. Bot. Reg., t. 408. ; Swt. Cist., t. 17. ; and our^g^. 77. 



Spec. Char., ^c. 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 arid concave at the f^ \ 

 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 shcjrt ; and stigma large, capitate, 5-lobed, papil- 

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

 Height 3 ft. to 4 ft. Litroduced in 1659. Flowers 

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

 base. June and July. Capsule brown ; ripe m 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 miirk, 

 surrounded with red, and slightly branched. Tlie 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. 



77. Cistus puTp J reus. 



a. 2. C. inca'nus L. The hoary Cistus, or Rock Rose. 

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

 J C. cymdsus Dec. ; Ciste cotonneux, Fr. ; 

 Swt. Cist., t. 44. ; and our Jig. 78. 



S2}ec. Char., d^c. Leaves spathulate, tomentose, wrinkled, 



Identification. Lin. Sp., 737. 



p. 298. 

 Synonymes. C. ^Ibidus Hort. 



bestaubte Cisten Rose, Ger. 

 Engravings. But. Mag., t. 43. ; 



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

 up|ier ones narrower. Peduncles 1 3-flov/ered. {Don's 

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

 2 ft. to 3 ft. 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. 



E 4 



Cistus inc^nus. 



