ROSACE M. 261 



XIII. ROSE. ROSA. 



Erect, scrambling or climbing shrubs, more or less prickly with, pin- 

 nate leaves, leafy stipules adhering to the leafstalk, and showy flowers, 

 either solitary or in small corymbs at the ends of the branches. Calyx- 

 tube globular or ovoid, contracted towards the top ; the limb divided 

 into 5 segments, often unequal, and sometimes lobed. Petals 5. Sta- 

 mens numerous. Carpels several, 1 -seeded, hairy, enclosed within the 

 tube of the calyx, which becomes succulent when ripe, and sometimes 

 slightly pulpy between the carpels, the whole forming a rather dry red 

 or black berry. 



A well-marked genus, widely diffused over the northern hemisphere, 

 in the new world as well as the old. It comprises a considerable num- 

 ber of true species ; but several of them being of very ancient and uni- 

 versal cultivation, and having been hybridized and multiplied with all 

 the skill of modern horticulturists, their more or less marked races and 

 varieties are now reckoned by thousands. Even in the wild state en- 

 deavours have been made to characterize so large a number of pro- 

 posed species, that the confusion amongst them is almost as great as in 

 the Brambles. The forms indigenous to Britain appear to be reducible 

 to five types, which are probably real species. It must, however, be 

 admitted, that the characters separating them are not so decided as 

 could be wished, and that specimens will occasionally be found that 

 the most experienced botanist will be at a loss to determine, and cer- 

 tainly not the less so if the number of British species be extended, as 

 proposed, to 15 or 20. # 



Prickles mostly straight, or very slightly curved, scarcely 

 dilated at the base. 

 Stem seldom above a foot high when wild. Leaflets 7 or 



9, usually small, and simply toothed 1. Burnet R. 



Stem 2 feet or more. Leaflets 5 or 7, usually doubly 



toothed, downy on both sides 2. Doiony R. 



Prickles, at least the larger ones, more or less curved, and 

 dilated at the base. 

 Styles slightly protruding from the mouth of the calyx in 

 a dense tuft, but not united. Stem scarcely trailing. 

 Calyx-tube globular, more or less prickly or bristly . 2. Downy R. 



* See Hooker and Arnott, ' British Flora,' 7th edit. pp. 3 37 to 141 ; and 

 Babington's 'Manual,' 4th edit. pp. 110 to 113, where 19 species are described, 

 in both cases from the careful observations of Mr. Borrer (Hook . Brit. Fl. cd. 

 1 and 2, pp. 223 to 242). The above number includes, however, the R. Dick- 

 soni and R. cinnamomea, since admitted not to be British. 



