XXVII 



THE ROCK ROSES 



or 



CISTEN ROSES, HOLLY ROSES OR GUM CISTUSES 



Cistus 



Cistus albidus , . . White Rock Rose 



crispus 



cyprius . - , '-. Cypress Rock Rose 



florentinus 



ladaniferus . . < Ladanum-bearing Rock Rose 



laurifolius , , . Laurel-leaved 



populifolius . . . Poplar-leaved 



purpureus . \ . . Purple Rock Rose 



villosus 



that beareth that excellent gumme lada- 

 num " is Peacham's reference in 1634 to a Rock 

 Rose, and in one of our earliest Herbals Turner's, 

 published in 1551 we are told that " Ladanum hath the 

 propertie to bind together, to warme, to make softe and 

 to open the mouthes of the veynes." And it is a fact 

 that long before these very lovely shrubs were appreci- 

 ated for their beauty they were celebrated for their " fat, 

 clammie, transparent, and sweet-smelling gumme." Even 

 Lanfranc in 1400 refers to it; its reputation is not of 



one century nor of two. 



191 



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