CHAP. XT. CISTA^CEJE. ci'stus. 319 



flowers are of a bluish rose colour, with a bright yellow spot at the base; 

 and the petals are imbricate, and much crumpled. The leaves are very 

 small, and the whole plant has the appearance of a miniature tree. It is a 

 native of uncultivated hills in Algiers; but by whom it was discovered, and 

 when brought to the country, are unknown. It is rather tender, and requires 

 protection during winter. It does best trained against a wall, where it 

 has a very brilliant appearance in June and July, when it is covered with 

 flowers. The seeds sometimes ripen in this country ; and, when they do, 

 they afford the best means of propagating the plant, as it does not strike 

 freely from cuttings. It requires a light rich soil, and does best in a mix- 

 ture of sandy loam and peat. (G. Don. Sweet.) 



n. 3. C. parviflo v rus Lam. The small-flowered Cistus, or Rock Rose. 



Identification. Lam. Diet., 2. p. 14. ; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 264. ; Swt. Cist, t. 14. ; and Don's Mill., l.p. 298. 

 Engravings. Swt. Cist., t. 14. Smith's Fl. Graec, t. 495. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Leaves ovate, acute, somewhat tomentose, drawn out into 

 the footstalks at the base, and somewhat connate. Peduncles 1-flowered, 

 3 or 4 together, almost terminal. (Don's Mill., i. p. 298.) A shrub 

 about 3 ft. in height ; a native of Crete. Mr. Sweet thinks it was pro- 

 bably introduced by Dr. Sibthorp, having been found in our collections ever 

 since the doctor's return from that country. The petals are small, purplish, 

 or pale rose-coloured, and distinct or separated from each other. It 

 flowers in June and July, and sometimes ripens seeds, from which, or from 

 cuttings, it is readily propagated. Plants were in the Chelsea Botanic 

 Garden, and in the Fulham Nursery, in 1 826. {Sweet.) 



t*. 4. C. complica v tus Lam. The complicated Cistus, or Rock Rose. 



Identification, Lam. Diet., 2. p. 14 ; Don's Mill., 1. p. 298. 



Spec. Char., 8(C. Leaves roundish-ovate, bluntish, approximate, clothed with white tomentum ; under 

 surface reticulated ; footstalks dilated at the base, with pilose margins, channeled above, and 

 sheathing at the base. Peduncles short, 1-flowered, three or four together, somewhat terminal. 

 (Don's Mill., i. p. 298.) A'shrub, from the Levant, and from the mountains of Valencia, in Spain, 

 growing to the height of 3 ft., and producing small rose-coloured or purplish flowers in June and 

 July. Introduced into England in 1818. 



n. 5. C. villo v sus Lam. The villous Cistus, or hairy Rock Rose. 



Identification. Lam. Diet., 2. p. 12. ; Lin. Sp., 736. ; Willd. Sp., p. 1181. ; Hort. Kew., 2d. edit., 3. 



p. 303. ; Dec. Prod., 1 p. 264. ; Don's Mill., 1. p. 298. 

 Synonymes. C. salvifblius Hort. ; C. undulatus Mcench ; Cistus mas major folio rotundiore Duh. ; 

 ' C. creticus Hort. Lam. ; the shrubby Cistus Mart. Mill. ; Ciste velu, Fr. ; Raube Cisten Rose, Ger. 

 Engravings. Duh. Ar., 1. t. 64. ; Swt., t. 35. ; Willd., p. 2. 1181. 



Spec. Char., Sj-c. Leaves roundish-ovate, wrinkled, tomentose, and hairy, 

 stalked; footstalks furrowed, connate at the base. Peduncles 1-flowered, 

 I or 3 together. Sepals villous. (Don's Mill., i. p. 298.) A shrub 3 ft. high. 

 A native of the south of Europe and the north of Africa, which has been in 

 the English and French gardens for the last two hundred years. It is, as 

 Mr. Sweet observes, one of the commonest species in all the nurseries 

 about London, where it is sold under several names, and generally for 

 C. salviaefolius ; which, however, is a white-flowered species, though it resem- 

 bles the present plant in habit. This shrub forms a " snug compact bush," and 

 continues in flower for a long time. The flowers vary in colour from a pale 

 lilac to a dark purple, and even very much on the same plant at different times. 

 In severe winters it requires a little protection ; and it will generally be found 

 safe to keep a reserve of young plants in pots, in a pit. or cold-frame. 

 Variety. 



«- C. v. 2 rotundifolius. The round-leaved villous Cistus, or Rock Rose. 



C. rotundifolius Sweet; C. villosus /3 virescens Dec. (Swt. Cist. 



t. 75.) — Leaves more obtuse than in the species. 



«*- 6. C. cre'ticus L. The Cretan Cistus, or Rock Rose. 



Identification. Lin. Sp., 1. p. 738. ; Jacq. Icon, rar., 1. t. 95. ; Smith's Fl. Grasc, 495. ; Buxb. Cent. 



3. p. 34. t. 64. f. 1. ; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 264. ; Swt. Cist., t. 112. 

 Synonymes. Zedon Diosc. ; Ciste de Cr£te, Fr. ; Cretische Cisten Rose, Ger. 

 Engravings. Jacq. Icon, rar., 1. t. 95. ; Fl. Gr., t. 495. ; Buxb. Cent., 3. p. 34. t. 64. £ 1. ; Swt. Cist 



t. 112.; and our Jig. 66. t '' 



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