ROSACEAE ROSE FAMILY 



The Rose family is economically important because it 

 is the great fruit family, furnishing among others the 

 Apple, Pear, Peach, Plum, Cherry, Apricot, Strawberry, 

 Raspberry and Blackberry. In addition to the fruits there 

 is a large number of highly prized ornamental plants, espe- 

 cially the Rose and such shrubs as Bridal Wreath. 



Practically all members of this family are insect 

 pollinated; in fact so necessary are insects for the polli- 

 nation of many fruit trees that in large orchards it is 

 customary to keep bees as pollinating agents. 



KEY TO GENERA 



1. Strictly woody shrubs or small trees 2 



Shrubs armed with prickles 5 



Herbs 6 



2. Petals attached below ovaries; fruit dry Spiraea p. 146 



Petals attached above ovaries 3 



3. Branches armed with thorns Crataegus p. 149 



Branches without thorns 4 



4. Leaves sharply and finely toothed Amelanchier p. 148 



Leaves coarsely toothed Pyrus p. 147 



5. Petals attached below ovaries Rubiis p. 154 



Petals attached above ovaries Rosa p. 156 



6. Petals attached below ovaries 7 



Petals attached above ovaries Agrimonia p. 155 



7. Styles jointed, elongated and persistent Geum p. 153 



Styles not thus 8 



8. Receptacle pulpy, enlarged and edible in \rmt .Fr agar i a p. 150 

 Receptacle dry, often hairy Potentilla p. 151 



T..ove. it is tho time of roses I 



In bright fields and garden-closes 



How they burgeon and unfold ! 



How they sweep o'er tombs and towers 



lu voluptuous crimson showers 



And untrammelled tides of gold ! 



How they lure wild bees to capture 



All the rich mellilluous rapture 



Of their magical perfume. 



And to passing winds surrender 



And their frail and dazzling splendor 



Kivalling your turban plume ! 



The Time of Hoses — Saroiini Naidu 



145 



