318 



THE GARDENEK'S ASSISTANT. 



Fig. 390— Ribes speciosum. 



R. sanguineum, Flowering Currant. — This familiar 

 shrub has roundish-lobed leaves and clusters of showy 

 red flowers. The variety atrorubens has darker- crimson 

 flowers than the or- 

 dinary form ; those 

 of at?'osanguineum 

 are still richer col- 

 oured ; glutinosum 

 has pale-rose flowers ; 

 malvaceum has dark 

 flowers and very 

 rough leaves ; Gor- 

 donianum is a hybrid 

 between sanguineum 

 and aureum, having 

 reddish flowers 



tinged with yellow. 

 There is also a white- 

 flowered variety, and 

 another with double 

 flowers. North- Wes- 

 tern America, 1826. 



R. speciosum {R. 

 fuchsioidcs)(fig.S90). 

 — A spiny shrub, 

 clothed with glandu- 

 lar prickles, and axil- 

 lary, Fuchsia -like 

 pendent flowers, 



which are extremely 

 elegant, of a rich 

 crimson colour, and 



borne in twos or threes. Requires the protection of a 

 south wall in the colder districts. California, 1829. 



Robinia. — Thorny deciduous trees, with unequally pin- 

 nate leaves, and racemose, white, rose, or pink flowers. 

 They are fast-growing, sparsely branched, and shallow- 

 rooting. 



R. hispida, Rose Acacia. — A shrub from 4 to 8 feet 

 high. Young branches densely clothed with sharp bristles ; 

 leaves pinnate; flowers large, rose-pink, borne in clusters 

 in the summer. Carolina, 1758. 



R. neo-rnexicatia. — A small tree with beautiful rosy-pink 

 flowers. The seed -pods are covered with large viscid 

 bristles. New Mexico, 1882. 



A'. Pst udacacia, False Acacia. — A variable tree both 

 in habit and foliage. Its branches are very brittle. 

 Among the best varieties are — i aerials, thornless, dwarfish, 

 and round-headed; Bcssoniana, of free bold habit, with 

 thornless branches ; Decaisneana, with bright rosy-pink 

 flowers ; moaophylla, leaves reduced to a single leaflet ; 

 and pyramidalis, of close, erect, columnar habit. North 

 America, 1646. 



ft. viscosa. — A smaller tree, with clammy shoots and 

 rose-pink flowers. North America, 1797. 



Rosa. — The garden varieties of the Rose are dealt with 

 elsewhere. The following are the wild types, many of 

 which, although they do not last in flower so long as the 

 "Teas" and "Hybrid Perpetuals ", possess great beauty 

 and elegance. The climbing species are valuable for 

 covering walls, unsightly buildings, arbours, &c, whilst 

 the sturdier, more erect kinds may be used effectively in 

 shrubberies, the wild garden, &c. 



R. alpina. — The type of the Boursault Rose. Araadis 

 is one of the best varieties, being very hardy, a profuse 

 bloomer, and almost destitute of thorns. The flowers are 

 large, semi -double, and of a deep-purple colour. Europe, 

 1603. 



R. arvensis {R. repens). — The Ayrshire Roses belong to 

 this native species, and from their hardiness and rapid 

 growth are valuable for covering trunks of trees, build- 

 ings, &c. We have seen living trees of the Spruce Fir, 40 

 feet high, festooned to the top with that excellent variety 

 Bennett's Seedling or Thoresbyana, a very profuse-flowering 

 double white variety, with blossoms of medium size. 



R. Banksice. — The Banksian Rose, which needs shelter 

 and a warm aspect. The glossy foliage, and large clusters 

 of small white or yellow flowers, render it exceedingly 

 ornamental; and, moreover, it is almost thornless. China, 

 1807. 



R. canina, Dog Rose. — There are innumerable forms of 

 this native Rose, some very handsome when in fruit. 



R. centifolia. — A low bushy shrub, with large, droop- 

 ing, exquisitely - scented, white or red, single or double 

 flowers. Caucasus, 1596. This includes the well-known 

 Provence or Cabbage Rose and the Moss Rose, which are 

 old favourites in gardens. 



R. indica, China Rose. — Numerous hybrids and varie- 

 ties of this have been raised, one of the best of which is 

 sanguinea, with deep-crimson flowers produced continu- 

 ously from the middle of summer until autumn. China, 

 1789. 



R. lutea, Austrian Brier. — A dwarf species with erect 

 prickly stems, and yellow flowers produced in June. The 

 double variety and var. Harrisoni are very beautiful. 

 Orient, 1596. 



R. macrophylla. — A strong grower 8 feet high, with 



Fig. 391.— Rose (Crimson Rambler). 



much-divided leaves. Flowers bright rosy-red. India, 

 China. 



R. microphylla. — A very distinct and beautiful species 

 of sturdy habit, the fruits armed with spines. Flowers 

 of a delicate blush colour. China, 1828. 



