THE BOOK OP ROSES. 301 



A. TRIBE THE FIRST. 



CHINA OR BENGAL ROSES. 



Rosa Semperflorens. 

 Rosa Indica. 

 Rosa Bengalensis. 

 Rosa Chinensis. 

 Rosa Diversifolia. 



Shrub, vigorous, with long branches. 



Thorns, not numerous ; straight or crooked, the largest 

 compressed and large at the base. 



Leaves, distant ; often reddish or purplish when young. 



Leaflets, pale or rather glaucous underneath ; the odd 

 leaflet largest, the inferior pair much smaller; 

 toothing usually simple, not often deep ; inclined 

 and convergent when the leaflets are plane, diver- 

 gent when undulated. 



Flowerstalks, sometimes solitary ; oftener in clusters of 

 from two to eight, or even more. 



Tube of calyx, ob-conical, turbinated, oval or pear- 

 shaped, the base more or less lengthening into 

 the flowerstalk. 



Sepals, reflexed before expansion ; rising afterwards ; 

 deciduous before the maturity of the fruit ; having 

 small appendages. 



Flowers, usually middle-sized, erect, almost without 

 fragrance. 



Styles, thready, straight, salient; from twenty to se- 

 venty-five in number. 



Fruit, variable, even on the same tree ; but never de- 

 pressed. 



These roses retain their leaves and yield flowers 

 throughout the fine weather. They have afforded a 

 considerable number of sub-varieties. 



