154 Rosaces Rosa. 



R. sulphurea, Sulphur-coloured Rose. A bush 3 to 6 feet 

 high ; leaves with 7 glaucescent leaflets ; stem armed with un- 

 equal spines intermingled with bristles. The flowers are large 

 and very double, of the most beautiful yellow ; but they do not 

 open well, which may perhaps be attributed to unfavourable 

 conditions of cultivation. The celebrated Banks affirms having 

 seen it flower in the most perfect manner upon swampy ground. , 

 Linnaeus confounded this species with the Eglantine, R. lutea, 

 which is now known to be an entirely distinct species. It 

 is not known whence it comes, but we have reason for believing 

 it to be a native of Western Asia. Its principal varieties are 

 the Old Yellow with large very full flowers of a bright yellow, 

 and the Yelloiu Pompon which differs only in its smaller 

 dimensions. 



R. alplna, the Alpine Rose, is found on all the principal 

 mountain chains of Europe, and grows from 5-10 feet high. 

 The stems are erect, almost spineless, or sparsely furnished with 

 spines, often of a purple-brown colour. Leaves with 7 to 9 

 oval or elliptical acute dentate leaflets. Flowers solitary, of 

 a rdddish carmine ; fruits orange-red when ripe. This species, 

 like most of the others, is extremely variable according to 

 localities, and consequently its synonomy is very complicated. 

 Cultivated for a long time in our gardens, it has produced a 

 great many varieties, doubtless through intercrossing with other 

 species, of which the Boursaults are the most important. 

 These are supposed to have been the result of a cross between 

 this species and the Tea Rose of China. Amadis is one of the 

 best of this class, being very hardy, a profuse bloomer, and 

 almost destitute of thorns, with a climbing habit. The flowers 

 are large, semi-double, and of a deep purple colour. No class 

 of Roses is better suited than this for covering trellis-work or 

 dwelling-houses. 



V. Rbs^E CENTIFOLLE, the Provence or Cabbage and Moss Roses, 

 form the most interesting group in the genus, and contain those 

 races longest in cultivation. Here also, and perhaps more than 

 elsewhere, we find great divergence of opinions among bota- 

 nists as to the number of species and the characters they should 

 rest upon. For our own part we are inclined to look upon the 

 whole group as one species, which, either by natural variation 

 or hybridisation with other species, has given birth to all these 

 secondary forms. We shall pass in review the principal 

 varieties. 



