CISTINE^. 



93 



stem, and annual procumbent or ascend- 

 ing flowering branches, from a few inches 

 to near a foot long. Leaves shortly 

 stalked, mostly oblong, but varying from 

 ovate to lanceolate, scarcely curved 

 down on the edges, glabrous or slightly 

 hairy, green above, and more or less 

 hoary or white underneath. Stipules 

 linear-lanceolate, 1 to 2, or even 3 lines 

 long. Racemes loose, the pedicels de- 

 flected before and after flowering. The 

 3 larger sepals marked with 3 very pro- 

 minent ribs, and often scarious between 

 them ; the 2 outer very small. Petals 

 broadly spreading, bright yellow, near 6 lines long and broad. 



In dry meadows and pastures, throughout Europe and western Asia, 

 except the extreme north. Not uncommon in England, Ireland, and 

 southern Scotland. Fl. all summer. A curious variety, or rather an 

 accidental deformity, occasionally seen in gardens, and supposed to 

 have been originally found near Croydon in Surrey, with small, nar- 

 row, deeply- cut petals/ has been figured under the name of H. surre- 

 janum (Eng. Bot. t. 2207). The Hock-roses of our gardens are chiefly 

 varieties of this species, which, under cultivation, varies much in the 

 colour of its flowers. 



Fig. 117. 



4. White Rockcist. Helianthemum polifolium, Pers. 



(Pig. 118.) 



(Cistus, Eng. Bot. t. 1322.) 



Very near the common It., and by 

 some considered as one of its numerous 

 varieties. It is less straggling, the leaves 

 are narrow, much rolled back on the 

 edges, and hoary on both sides, and the 

 flowers are always white. 



On limestone, rocky wastes, common 

 in south-western and some parts of cen- 

 tral Europe. In Britain only on Brent 

 Downs in Somersetshire, and at Torquay 

 and Babbicombe in Devonshire. Fl. 



summer. 



Fig. 118. 



