ROSA CANINA 
both of leaves and flowers, shape, size, dentition of leaflets, number 
and length of peduncles, and shape of fruit may be found within the 
limits of our description. These forms have been variously classified. 
A convenient method is to group them under certain typical forms 
which have more merit as species than their minor subdivisions : thus, 
Rosa lutetiana Lem., comprising those with glabrous, uniserrate leaflets 
and eglandular peduncles ; Rosa dumalis Bechst., the same, but 
biserrate ; Rosa andegavensis Bast., with glabrous, uniserrate or biserrate 
leaflets and glandular peduncles. Some authors also include Rosa 
dumetorum Thuill., with pubescent leaflets, either beneath or on both 
sides, uniserrate or biserrate, and eglandular peduncles, Rosa collina 
Jacq., the same with glandular-hispid peduncles, Rosa glauca Vill. 
(Rosa rubrifolia ), which covers forms with more or less glaucous, 
uniserrate or biserrate, glabrous leaflets, short peduncles, sepals per- 
sisting on the fruit till it ripens, and woolly styles, and Rosa coriifolia 
Fries, which is similar but with pubescent leaflets. 
Rosa canina, in a collective sense, is distributed throughout 
Europe, and reaches the Canaries, north Africa, and western Asia, 
but not the Himalaya nor Japan. In the mountains of Mexico it 
reappears in the form of Rosa Montezuma e H. B. K. 
The classical writers did not acknowledge Rosa canina as a Rose, 
but called it Cynorrhodon. In his Libcllus of 1538 Turner calls it 
“ Cynosbatos : wild hep or brere tree,” but in his Herbal of 1551, 
“ Rubus canis : Brere bush or hep tree.” Lobel 1 classified it as a 
Rose under the name of “ Canina Rosa odorata et silvestris.” 
The variety A ndersoni differs from typical R os a canina in its leaves, 
which are pubescent on the under surface, and in its hispid peduncles 
and bright red flowers. It is to be found in many old gardens, where 
it grows into a strong bush, flowering early in the summer. It is a 
Canina form, but nothing definite can be ascertained as to its origin. 
1 leones, vol. ii. p. 210 (1581). 
380 
