1 1 4 — ROSA BORBONICA Morren 
(ROSA CHINENSIS x GALLICA) 
THE BOURBON ROSE 
Rosa borbonica : caule viridi, arcuato ; aculeis majoribus, sparsis, valde fal- 
catis, aciculis intermixtis ; foliolis 5-7, oblongis, acutis, magnitudine mediocribus, 
simpliciter dentatis, haud rugosis, viridibus, facie lucentibus, glabris, dorso obscure 
pubescentibus ; rhachi parce pubescente, glandulosa ; stipulis adnatis, glanduloso- 
ciliatis, apicibus liberis parvis ; floribus vel solitariis, vel paucis, corymbosis ; 
pedunculis glandulosis ; bracteis lanceolatis, glanduloso-ciliatis ; calycis tubo 
globoso, saepe plus minusve setoso ; lobis ovato-acuminatis, 1 poll, longis, dorso 
glandulosis, exterioribus pinnatifidis ; stylis liberis, villosis, haud protrusis ; fructu 
globoso ; sepalis deciduis. 
R. borbonica Morren in Ann. de Gand , vol. ii. t. 42 (1846). 
R. canina burboniana Thory in Redoute, Roses, vol. iii. p. 105, t. (1824). 
Stem green, arching. Prickles rather large, scattered, strongly hooked, inter- 
mixed with a few aciculi. Leaflets 5-7, oblong, acute, middle-sized, simply toothed, 
not at all rugose, bright green, rather glossy and glabrous above, obscurely 
pubescent beneath ; petioles slightly pubescent and glandular ; stipules adnate, 
gland-ciliated, with small free tips. Flowers one or few in a corymb ; peduncles 
glandular ; bracts lanceolate, gland-ciliated. Calyx-tube globose, often more or 
less setose; lobes ovate-acuminate, 1 in. long, glandular on the back, the outer 
pinnatifid. Styles free, villous, not protruded. Fruit rarely produced, globose ; 
sepals deciduous. 
The Bourbon Rose was first figured by Redoute in the year 1824. 
In the text Thory gives a good description and the following account 
of it : 
“This Rose, according to His Highness the Duke of Orleans, grows naturally 
in uncultivated places in the Island of Bourbon. Seeds brought from there some 
years ago have reproduced it in his garden at Neuilly, where our drawing for this 
work was made. Its appearance is very beautiful. The abundance of its flowers, 
which are sometimes nearly single, but more often semi-double, their beautiful 
colour and perfume, will no doubt make it much sought after for out-door 
gardens.” 
M. Loiseleur-Deslongchamps 1 says that this race of Roses was 
so called because it originated in the Island of Bourbon, where it is 
customary to make the hedges and palisades with the Bengal Rose and 
Rosa gallica L. The hedges are clipped two or three times a year, 
1 La Rose, p. 287 (1844). 
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