CHAP. xr. 



cista'^ce^. crsTus. 



S23 



but that it is nearer related to C. villosus. It is somewhat tender, like all 

 the other species from the Levant ; and, in the climate of London, it re- 

 quires a green-house, a cold-frame, or other protection, dui'ing winter, 



§ ii. l^edbnia Dec. 



Derivation. From IMon, a name given by Dioscorides to the plant that produces the ladanum ; but 

 which is supposed by some to be Cistus £edon (Dec. Prod., 1. p. 265.), and by others to be C. 

 creticus. (See p. 320.) 



Sect. Char. Sepals 5, 2 outer ones largest, and very much pointed, or want- 

 ing. Petals white or whitish, with a yellow or purple mark at the base of 

 each. Stamens numerous, longer than the pistil. Stigma almost sessile, 

 large, capitate. Capsules 5- or 10-celled, from being furnished with 5 or 

 10 seminiferous partitions, one in the middle of each valve. Sub-evergreen 

 shrubs or subshrubs. Leaves usually covered with clammy gluten. {Don's 

 Mill, i. p. 299.) This section includes some of the finest species of the 

 genus ; such as C. cyprius, C. ladanlferus, C. ^aurifolius, &c. : almost all of 

 them are evergreen, and many of them form bushes from 4 ft. to 6 ft. in 

 ' height, or more, which, when covered with flowers, are among the most 



• ornamental objects that can be introduced into a shrubbery or flower- 

 garden. 



A. Peduncles \-Jloiverecl or many-flowered, cymose. Sepals 5, outer ones usually 



cordate at the Base, and pointed at the Apex. Capsides 3-ceUed. 

 a. Veduncles naked at the Base, usually hearing beneath their Middle tivo ojjposite 



small Leaves. 



tt. 16. C. ^ALVi^FO^Lius L. The Sage-leaved Cistus, or Rock Rose, 



Identification. Lin. Spec, 38. ; Cav. Icon., 2. p. 31. ; Jacq. Coll., 2. 120. ; Swt Cist, t. 54. ; Smith's 



Fl. Graeca, t. 497. ; Don's Mill., 1. p. 299. 

 Synonymes. Cfstus foe'mina Civs. Hist, 1. p. 70. ; Ciste a. Feuilles de Sauge, Fr. ; Salbey-blattrige 



Cisten Rose, Ger. 



Engravings. Cav. Icon., 2. t. 1.37. j Jacq. Coll., 2. t. 8. j Swt. Cist., t. 54.; Smith's Fl. Grsec, t. 497. 



Spec. Char., 8fc. Leaves stalked, ovate, obtuse, wrinkled ; under surface to- 

 mentose. Peduncles long, white from tomentum, 1-flowered, articulated 

 above, solitary or ternary. (l>o?i's Mill., i. p. 299.) Native of the south of 

 France, Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal. Flowers white. A branchy 

 shrub in British gardens, producing white flowers in July and August, and 

 cultivated since the year 1548. The leaves are of a whitish or pale green 

 colour ; and, like every other part of the plant, are covered with numerous 

 short hairs. It is readily distinguished from other species, by its solitary, 

 1-flowered, jointed peduncles, and its obtuse leaves. It is a very hardy 

 species ; and, in sheltered situations, it will endure the winter without any 

 protection. The sage-like leaves and neat flowers of this plant give it a very 

 pleasing appearance. 



Varieties. 



n. C. s. 2 erectiusciilus Dec. has the stem rather more erect than the spe- 

 cies ; and C. s. 3 ochroleucus Dec. has the flowers cream-coloured. 



*t 17. C OBTUSiFO^'Llus Sivt. The obtuse-leaved Cistus, or Rock Rose, 



Identification. Swt.Cist., t. 42. ; Don's Mill, 1. p. 299. 

 Engraving. Swt. Cist., t. 42. 



Spec. Char., ^c. Leaves almost sessile, tapering to the base, ovate-oblong, 

 obtuse, wrinkled, clothed with starry pubescence ; margins somewhat den- 

 ticulated. Peduncles terminal, cymose, many-flowered. Outer sepals 

 broadly cordate, acute. Petals obcordate, imbricated. {Don's Mill.,i. p. 299.) 



' Native of Crete. Petals white, with a yellow spot at the base of each. 

 This is a dwarf shrub, seldom growing higher than a foot and a half. Being 

 a native of Crete, it requires shelter in severe frost. Mr. Sweet thinks that 

 it has been in our gardens since the time of Dr. Sibthorp, without being 

 noticed as distinct from C. salvisefolius, of which, w-e have no doubt in our 

 own minds, it is only a variety. Plants were in the Fulham Nursery in 1826. 



A A 3 



