46 THE BOOK OF ROSES. 



branches and twigs partaking of the same na- 

 ture, modified. Of the latter it is further to be 

 observed, whether they are divergent, conver- 

 gent, fasciculated, drooping, erect, flagelliform, 

 kneed or forming an angular excrescence at 

 each shoot. 



ARMS. Under this head may be included 

 thorns, bristles, and even glands. Of thorns, 

 an important character is their durability. 

 Some are deciduous like the leaves, some tem- 

 porary or lasting a few years, and some perma- 

 nent and hard as the wood itself. With respect 

 to their position, they are either scattered, 

 grouped, geminated or in pairs, stipulary or 

 placed under the stipules. As regards relative 

 proportion, they are termed even or uneven, 

 according to their uniformity of length ; simple 

 or composite similar, as when all are straight 

 or all crooked ; or dissimilar, when some are 

 crooked, some straight. They may be straight, 

 bowed, bent, crooked, or very crooked ; thin, 

 thick, long, short, and setiform or degenerating 

 into bristles. What are termed bristles seem to 

 be abortive thorns, and are equal or unequal, 

 hard or soft, green or coloured, glandulous, &c. 

 It may be observed that a thorn proceeds from 

 the wood, and a bristle from the bark. The 

 glands are spherical, irregular, fragrant, ino- 

 dorous, viscous, &c. 

 ROOTS. The roots of the rose-tree are unim- 



