158 Rosacece Rosa. 



white to deep carmine, belong here, and are often confounded 

 with those of the common Centifolia or Provence. We 

 may mention the Rose de Champagne or de Meaux, which 

 is a dwarf variety, and Tricolore de Flandre, which is supposed 

 to be a hybrid between the Provins and some other species. 

 This rose is of medium size, very double, admirably streaked 

 with bright carmine on a white ground. It is perhaps the 

 most beautiful of striped Eoses. 



R. Damascena, Damask or Monthly Rose, may be nothing 

 more than a tolerably distinct race of R. centifolia, so much 

 does it resemble this species in all its essential characteristics. 

 It is distinguished from it, however, by its longer spines, 

 oblong fruits, flowers in corymbs, and the recurved calyx- 

 leaves at the time of flowering in the latter character 

 approaching R. alba. The origin of this species is equally 

 obscure with that of the preceding ; but according to tradition 

 it comes from Syria, and particularly from the neighbourhood 

 of Damascus, whence it was brought by a certain Comte de Brie 

 on his return from the Crusade. Some authors, among others 

 Lindley and Loiseleur-Deslongschamps, unite R. Belgica, the 

 Belgian Rose, which differs in its smaller stature and larger 

 clusters of flowers, and R. hi/era, remarkable for the long 

 duration of its flowering season, with JR. Damascene^ as 

 simple varieties. 



Horticultural catalogues mention numerous varieties of the 

 Damask Rose, with rose, white or striped flowers. Many of 

 these varieties are indubitably hybrids, and not always re- 

 cognisable from those issuing from R. Portldndica, which itself 

 may be of hybrid origin. We may cite the following as being 

 some of the best : Leda or Painted, blush, edged with lake ; 

 La Ville de Bruxelles, very large and double, of a rosy salmon 

 colour ; Madame Soetmans, creamy white, large and full ; 

 Madame Hardy, the most beautiful of the White Roses of this 

 group ; and lastly, according to some Rose growers, Gloire des 

 Rosomanes, discovered by M. Vibert, of Angers, amongst his 

 seedlings, and by some without further proof referred to the 

 Tea Rose ; but William Paul makes a subordinate group of this 

 and the varieties it has given rise to in the Hybrid Perpetual 

 class. 



R. Portlandica, the Portland Rose, so named in honour of 

 the Duchess of Portland, a great admirer of Roses, who had 



