BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION. ^ 223 



fer calls K. shirazensis (from its growing about Shiraz), in preference to 

 others : this may be either R. damascena. or R. gallica, or R. centifolia, 

 or perhaps R. moschata. The species contained in the present section 

 are all setigerous, by which they are distinguished from the following 

 divisions : their thickened disk and divided sepals separate them from 

 the preceding. To the section of RubigiuosjB the glanduliferous sorts 

 approach ; but the difference of their glands, the size of their flowers, 

 and their dissimilar habit, prevent their being confounded. 



35. R. DAMASCE^NA Mill. The Damascus, or Damask Rose. 



Identification. Mill. Diet., No. 15; Don's Mill., 2, p. 571. 



Synomjmcs. R. beigica Mill. Diet., No. 17; 7?. calendarum Munch. Hausv. ex Dark. 

 Holz. 330, Rossig. Eos., t. 8, and t. 33; R. bifera Poir. Suppl. 6, p. 276, Red, Ros. 1, p. 

 107 and p. 121 ; Rose a quatre Saisons. 



Spec. Char., i^'c. Prickles unequal, large ones falcate. Sepals reflexed. Fruit 

 elongated. Native of Syria. Flowers large, white or red, single or double. The 

 present species may be distinguished from R. centifolia by the greater size of the 

 prickles, the greenness of the bark, the elongated I'ruit, and the long reflexed se- 

 pals. The petals of this species, and all the varieties of R. centifolia, as well as 

 those of other species, are employed indiscriminately for the purpose of making 

 rose-water. A shrub growing from 2 ft. to 8 ft. high, and flowering in June and 

 July. This species is extremely beautiful, from the size and brilliant color of its 

 flowers. It is asserted by some writers to have been brought from Damascus in 

 Syria at the time of the crusades, but there is every probability that it came from 

 Italy, since it is the same as the bifera or the twice-bearing rose of the ancient 

 Roman gardeners, and is the original type of our Remontant Roses. The Roman 

 gardeners could have produced a certain autumnal bloom only by a sort of re- 

 tarding process similar to that mentioned in our chapter on culture, for although 

 the Damask Rose will, under peculiar circumstances, bloom in autumn of its 

 own accord, yet it cannot always be relied upon to do so. During the early 

 period of the French monarchy, when none of the Remontant Roses were known 

 and this species was common, it was considered quite a phenomenon to see them 

 appear naturally in winter. Gregory of Tours, speaking of the year 584, says, 

 " This year many prodigies appeared and many calamities afflicted the people, for 

 roses were seen blooming in January, and a circle was formed around the sun." 

 And of the year 589 he says, " This year trees blossomed in autumn and bore fruit 

 the second time, and roses appeared in the ninth month." 



R. centifo'lia Lin. The hundred-petaled, Provence, or Cabbage Rose. 



Identification. Lin. Sp., 704; Don's Mill., 2, p. 571. 



Synonymes. R. provincialis Mill. Diet., No. 18; R. polyanthos Ros.ng. Ros., t. 35; 

 R. earyophy'llea Poir. Suppl., 6, p. 276; R. unguiculata Desf. Cat., lit; R. varians 

 Pohl Dohevi., 2, p. 171. 



Spec. Char., d^c. Prickles unequal, larger ones falcate. Leaflets ciliated with 

 glands. Flowers drooping. Calyxes clammy. Fruit oblong. Native of Eastern 

 Caucasus, in groves. Flowers white or red; single, but most commonly double. 

 This species is distinguished from R. damascena by the sepals not being reflexed, 

 and the flowers having their petals curved inwards, so as, in the double state, to 

 give the flower the appearance of the heart of a cabbage ; whence the name of the 

 cabbage rose. Its fruit is either oblong or roundish, but never elongated. From 

 R. gallica it is distinguished by the flowers being drooping, and by the larger size 

 of the prickles, with a more robust habit. A shrub, growing li'om 3 ft. to 6 

 ft. high, and flowering in June and July. When this rose becomes unthrifty from 

 age, it is renewed by cutting off the stems close to the ground as soon as the flow- 

 ers have fallen ; shoots will then be produced sufficiently vigorous to furnish a 

 beautiful and abundant bloom the following spring. 



Varieties. Above 100 varieties have been assigned to this species, and classed 

 in three divisions : 



R. c. 1 provincialis Mill. ; the Provence, or Cabbage Rose. 



