17 
ROSA CANINA. 
Dog Rose* 
Class IcoSANDRiA.— Ort/er Polygynia. 
Nat. Ord. SENTicoSiE, Linn. Rose^, Juss. 
Gen. Char. Petals 5. Calyx pitcher-shaped, 5-cleft, fleshy, 
contracted in the neck. Seeds numerous, hispid, alRxed to 
the interior side of the calyx. 
Spec. Char. Germs egg-shaped. Peduncles smooth. Stem 
and Petioles prickly. 
The dog rose is a native of Britain, and is commonly found 
growing in hedge-rows, where it adorns rustic nature with its beau- 
tiful blossoms, and perfumes the surrounding atmosphere with its 
fragrance. There are two or three varieties of this species of rose ; 
one with white, another with pink blossoms ; and one with smooth 
leaves ; some botanists have questioned if this last is not a distinct 
species ; f at this time, we believe, it is generally considered as a 
variety only, ot the Rosa Canina. The dog rose grows to the height 
of eight or ten feet, and sends out numerous spreading branches, 
studded with prickles : the leaves grow alternate, and are pinnated, 
consisting generally of seven ovate serrated folioli, the upper sides of 
which are shining, the midrih prickly ; the flowers are terminal, grow- 
ing several together, on smooth, and round peduncles; corolla 
composed of five inversely heart-shaped petals ; calyx pitcher formed 
at its base, and separated above into five long expanding divisions, 
and subdivided into smaller segments ; filaments numerous, crowned 
with ovate anthers ; germina numerous, situated within the tube of 
the calyx; styles filiform, stigmata obtuse and numerous, closely 
uniting and forming a little head ; seed vessel a shining scarlet berry 
of an oval form, with one cavity containing numerous rough seeds. 
* Fig. a. Represents a sprig of the natural size. b. The calyx, c. The pistilla, 
largely magnilied. d. A magnified anther, e. Pericarps, one of which is cut open 
to shew the seed. 
t In some parts of Europe, particularly in Austria and Carniolia, the roses are so 
numerous as to create diflSculties in deteruiining the species. 
VOL, I. D 
