The Brier Roses 



flowers, a hybrid obtained by using the striking copper- 

 hued form of the Austrian Brier, J?. hitea, as the 

 pollen parent. Lord Penzance is commemorated in a 

 fawn-coloured rose with a yellow centre. Altogether 

 there are fifteen or sixteen of these " Penzance Briers." 

 The structure of a Brier flower is interesting. The 

 end of the flower stalk is thickened, and forms a deep 

 cup with thick margin, on which are set five long- 

 pointed and rather peculiar sepals, which are a very 

 noticeable feature of the blossom, and which gave rise 

 to an old Latin riddle, attributed to the monks. 

 According to one English version it runs : 



" Of us five brothers at the same time born, 

 Two from our birthday ever beards have worn, 

 On other two none ever have appeared, 

 While the fifth brother wears but half a beard." 



For two of the five are simple triangles in outline, two 

 have little spurs or appendages on either side, and one has 

 but one spur on one side. The petals are very large and 

 fragile, and stand alternating with the sepals. There is a 

 ring of many bright yellow stamens, and* all these three 

 rings sepals, petals and stamens are on the margin of 

 the receptacle cup. The cup itself is partly covered by a 

 green "lid," on which is spread honey; honey is very 

 rare in Roses, strangely enough. In the centre is an 

 orifice out of which emerges a cluster of columns, each 

 of which stands on a seed-case lying at the bottom of 



J75 



