Sweet-briar. Rosa rithiginosa. 



Found in pastures during June. 



This lovely, branching, leafy bush grows to be 7 or 8 feet high 

 under favoring conditions, but is most often about 3 or 5 feet in height ; 

 its stalks and branches are large and strong, round, firm-fibred, and 

 smooth, vi^ith frequent slender thorns which curve backward. In color, 

 a full clear green when young, only dashed with red-bronze, but becom- 

 ing red-brown when old. The thorns are highly polished, and of a 

 strong red color when old. 



The little leaflets, of the 3- to 7-divided leaf, are oval, with a promi- 

 nent midrib (upon which they are occasionally creased) ; the margin is 

 doubly notched, the ribs and foot-stems hairy with little prickles ; the 

 upper surface is soft to the touch, while the under is slightly sticky 

 with a resinous gum, which yields a delicious aromatic perfume. The 

 color is a cool and beautiful green. The leaves clasp the stalk with a 

 pair of small fine-pointed wings (" stipules ") ; they are placed alter- 

 nately, either singly or in groups, and close together. 



The flower is composed of 5 heart-shaped petals, curving like a 

 shell, of an exquisitely delicate texture and smoothness ; their color a 

 lovely creamy-rose tint. The stamens are many, curling, and pale straw 

 color. The calyx is 5-parted, the spreading tips notched 3 or 5 times ; 

 they are smooth, with a velvet lining which is tinted a very pale creamy, 

 green, while the outside of the calyx is bright green. The flowers are 

 set in groups on little twigs, and scattered profusely along the stalks. 



When the flower opens, the calyx-tips turn back. The haws are 

 large, and of a brilliant coral-red color which they retain through the 

 winter. The sturdy young shoots, which grow rapidly, are thickly pro- 

 tected by long bristles of a rusty red color. An element of beauty, in 

 the growth of this most perfect rose, exists in the free curve with 

 which its branches bend downward their wreaths of bloom. The odor 

 of the leaves is like that of green apples. 



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