356 BICTIOlNrAKY OF POPULAR NAMES ROSE 



years. It is also native of S}Tia, Egypt, and Noith Africa, grow- 

 ing in dry desert places. Of late years two small weedy plants 

 of tte Composite family have come into notice as the Eose of 

 Jericho — namely, Asteri^scus pygmceus and Gymnarrhena mi- 

 crantha, common in the plains of Jericho, both hygroscopic, like 

 ATiastahca, 



Rose of Sharon. (See K"arcissus.) 



RoseUe (SiUscus Sabdarifa), a biennial of the Mallow family 

 (Malvaceae), native of India ; recorded to have been cultivated by 

 Gerard in 1596 ; it is now common in most warm countries. 

 The calyces of the flowers when ripe are pleasantly acid, and 

 used for flavouring tarts and jellies; they also make a cool 

 refreshing drink. 



Rosemary (Bosmarimcs officinalis), a stiff-branching, bushy 

 shrub of the Mint family (Labiatse), 3 or more feet high, having 

 narrow hoary leaves. It is a native of the South of Europe and 

 Western Asia. Like lavender, it is cultivated for its perfume, 

 which is of a stimulating and refreshing nature, and has received 

 the name of Herb of Memory. It grows abundantly in some 

 parts of France, especially in Narbonne, where it scents the air, 

 and imparts a flavour to honey. A conserve and liqueur are 

 made from it, and it is also used in the manufacture of Hungary 

 Water and Eau-de-Cologne. An oil is obtained from it which is 

 used as a perfume. Eosemary was held in high esteem by the 

 Greeks and Eomans, it being a powerful stimulant to the nervous 

 system, and it was regarded as the emblem of fidelity. 



Rosewood, the name given to the timber of several different 

 kinds of trees in their respective countries. The best is con- 

 sidered to be the wood of several species oiDalbergia, hard-wooded 

 trees of the Bean family (Leguminosae) ; D, mgra, the Eosewood 

 of Brazil, being considered the finest. 



Rosewood, African {Fterocarpus ermaceus), a large wing- 

 leaved tree of the Bean family (Leguminosse), native of Western 

 and tropical Africa. 



Rosewood, Burmese {Pterocarpus ind%cus\ a large tree of 

 the same family as the preceding, native of Burmah. 



