262 
THE ROSE. 
THE HOSE. 
Pliny has in a great measure followed the footsteps of Theophrastus, and repeats the 
characters mentioned by that author by which Roses may be distinguished. In speaking 
of the Rose generally, Pliny thus describes it : — “ The Rose grows upon a thorny rather 
than on an herbaceous plant, it grows also upon a plant resembling a bramble. Then it 
has an agreeable smell, but not perceptible at any great distance. The whole flower 
sprouts at first enclosed in a calyx full of seeds, which in a short time swells and becomes 
pointed at the summit and in shape resembles green alabastri. Gradually the flower 
grows, opens and expands itself, containing in the centre of its calyx the erect yellow 
stamina.” He then proceeds to enumerate eleven kind of Roses which he says were well 
known to the Romans. They are the following : 
1. Rosa Praenestina. 
2. R. Campana. 
3. R. Milesia. 
4. R. Tracliinia. 
5. R. Alabandica. 
6. R. spineola. 
7. R. centifolia. 
8. R. Grseca 
9. R. Graecula. 
10. R. Moscheuton. 
11. R. coroneola. 
Six other kinds of Roses are mentioned by this writer in different parts of his Natural 
History, but of these he does not give any description, probably because they were not in 
such general repute as the others above-mentioned for ornamental purposes, though 
esteemed somewhat for their medicinal properties. The kinds thus incidentally alluded 
to, are 
1. R. alba. I 3. R. praecox. I 5. R. sylvestris. 
2. R. pallida. | 4. R, spinosa. | 6. R. quinquefolia. 
Of the first two kinds of the eleven more particularly noticed by Pliny, the Campanian 
was the earliest in flower, and the Prsenestine the first which ceased from blowing. 
The Milesian Rose was of a very bright colour, and consisted of not more than twelve 
flower-leaves ; it was the latest which came into blossom. 
The Trachinian Rose was less red than the Milesian. 
The Alabandic Rose had flower-leaves the colour of which inclined to white. It was 
less valued than the preceding kinds. 
The R. spineola had a large number of very small flower-leaves, and was the least 
esteemed of all these kinds of Roses. 
The Hundred-leaved Rose had many small petals. 
The R. Grseca appears not to have been a Rose, and was known to the Greeks, it is 
probable, under the name of Lychnis. A plant mentioned by Dioscorides under the name 
of Lychnis stephanomatick, or Lychnis coronaria, may be considered as the plant enumerated 
by Pliny among his Roses, and was probably included with them as being a flower used in 
wreaths or crowns. Dioscorides says that the Lychnis resembles the wdiite violet, but it 
is of a purple colour. Pliny also says, that in size it equalled the violet, grew only in 
moist places, and that it was without any fragrance. The R. Grseca may perhaps be 
reasonably considered as a species of the genus Lychnis, commonly known as the 
Rose-campion. 
The R. Graecula had very broad flower-leaves which were rolled or convoluted into 
the form of a ball ; they did not unfold themselves except when forced to do so by the 
hand, and presented an appearance of always growing. 
The R. moscheuton had flower-leaves resembling in form the Olive-fruit, and grew 
upon a stem similar to that of the Mallow. 
The R. coronella was an autumnal Rose and when compared with other kinds of Roses, 
had a middle-sized flower. 
All of the above-mentioned Roses were, according to the statement of Pliny, destitute 
of fragrance with the exception of the R. coronella, and that which grew on the bramble- 
like plant, and this absence of fragrance he alleges to be caused by some treatment they 
underwent, which is not very clearly explained by him. 
