27. R0SACE2E. 
237 
Funchal, Sr. J. M. Moniz. This last habitat precisely accords 
witii that assigned by Masson ( in BH.) long ago, “ ad ripas ri- 
vidorum Ciu’ral dos Bomeiros.” The tr. at the Palheiro are 
affirmed by the old gardener to have been all brought thither 
originally from the Santo da Serra ; and those at the Mount, 
in the grounds of the Quintas do Bello Monte and de Prazer 
below the church, are doubtless, from their size and age, of the 
native stock. Old stumps of this tr. are met with occasionally 
in various other places. July, Aug. — A large tr. 40-60 ft. high, 
with a distinct trunk sometimes 6 ft. in circumference, and a 
close bushy head of dark shining evergTeen foliage ; loaded 
profusely with long rac. of white fl. with a yellowish eye, hang- 
ing or spreading loosely, and almost weighing down the branches. 
Besides the great difference in habit from the low rounded stem- 
less form, branched from the base of the pi., in English shrub- 
beries and gardens, the 1. are more oblong narrower and more 
pointed (about 5 in. long by If broad), and the fl. less crowded 
on the rac., which are 6-8 in. long. FI. strongly but not agree- 
ably fragrant. Berries passing through red to nearly black, 
not poisonous, but scarcely wholesome or palatable, though 
occasionally eaten by children. 
The wood of Las Mercedes near Laguna in Tenerife is 
chiefly composed of this tr., not attaining, however, nearly the 
size it reaches in Mad. I found it in full fl. in July. 
The common “ Laurel ” (properly Cherry -laurel, Prunus Lauro- 
cerasus L.) of English shrubberies and gardens, which also be- 
longs to this section of Cerasus, thrives well in Mad. in plea- 
sure-grounds and gardens, principally at a height of 1500-2000 
ft., and especially at the Palheiro ; but it is by no means general 
or common. 
Order XXVII. EOSACEJE. 
The Eose Family. 
Fl. mostly perfect regular, rarely imperfect. Cal. persistent 
not adhering to the ovary; sep. 5-4 or 10-8, valvate in bud. 
Pet. 5-4 or 0 deciduous, inserted on a disk or ring at the base 
of the sep., imbricate in bud. Stam. indefinite inserted with 
the pet. Ovaries free. Carpels distinct indefinite, sometimes 
reduced to 1-2, mostly 1- rarely 2-many-ovulate. Styles 
mostly lateral and free, rarely connate. Fr. various, composed 
of the dry or drupaceous and juicy, 1-seeded and indelnscent 
distinct carpels, forming a head on the receptacle, or enclosed 
within the hardened or fleshy cal. -tube. Seeds exalbuminous ; 
cot. fleshy; embryo straight. — Shr. or per. herbs. L. mostly 
compound, pinnate. Stip. united to the petiole, persistent. Fl. 
w., pink, or y. cooctaneous with the 1. Fr. often edible. 
