TREES AND SHRUBS 79 



THE ROSE FAMILY (Rosaceae.) 



This is a large family and is represented by many species 

 and genera in our State; most of them, however, being herba- 

 ceous plants. Many of our cultivated plants of the utmost 

 economic importance have been derived from wild plants of 

 this and closely related families. Twelve genera of shrubs 

 occur within our limits, several of which are valuable either as 

 forage plants or for decorative purposes. 



The Wild Roses (Rosa spp.j are represented in New 

 Mexico by 10 species, several of which are very closely related 

 and with difficulty separable. The best known species are 

 Rosa fehdleri and Rosa suffiilta, both of which are fairly com- 

 mon in the mountains above 6,000 feet. Rosa neomexicana 

 has grown very well with a little care in the Experiment Sta- 

 tion garden, and bloomed very profusely. Rosa stellata and 

 Rosa mirifica are well worth cultivation, on account of the 

 large size and the color of their flowers. The former is known 

 from but a single locality in the Organ Mountains, where it 

 covers the side of one small dry hill. The latter is common in 

 the higher mountains further east. Any of the species will 

 repay the gardener who likes to grow wild flowers. They are, 

 of course, not to be compared with the ordinary cultivated 

 types for beauty. 



Opulaster monogynns is a small shrub, generally 2 or 3 

 feet high, profusely branched and covered with small clusters 

 of white flowers that suggest some of the garden spireas. For 

 decorations of lawns or for massed shrubbery it should be a 

 very satisfactory little plant. It occurs at elevations of from 

 6,000 to 8,000 feet. 



Petrophyton caespitosum is a rather rare prostrate woody 

 plant with stems several inches long and sometimes as large 

 as a lead pencil but rarely over one or two inches high, with 

 crowded small leaves and slender spikes of small white flow- 

 ers. It would be valuable for use only in rockeries. 



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