CIS'TUS PURPU'HEUS. 
PURPLE ROCK-ROSE. 
Class. 
POLYANDHIA. 
Order. 
MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
CISTINACE/E. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Habit. 
Introduced 
Levant. 
2 feet. 
May to July. 
Shrub. 
in 1815. 
No. 857. 
For the meaning of the word Cistus, see No. 449. 
The Cistus ranks amongst the very gayest of the 
shrubby tribe. So prodigal, so profuse of their 
flowers, are some of its species, that substantial 
complaint is made against the litter they produce. 
They unfold them by thousands; spread them like 
a laundress for a few hours to the sun ; and then, 
careless of their delicacy, fling them to the winds. 
The morrow comes, and again is the same profusion 
seen ; and again the evening sees the gay destruc- 
tion of all that morning boasted. We are here 
reminded of the Iliad of Homer, where Apollo is 
made to reflect on mankind ; who, 
“ Like yearly leaves, that now with beauty crown’d, 
Smile on the sun ; now, wither on the ground.” 
Again — 
“Another race the following spring supplies, 
They fall successive, and successive rise.” 
Our present fugitive-flowered little shrub is very 
ornamental, and bears ordinary winters without 
protection. It should be planted in a very dry 
situation ; and increased by cuttings, taken soon 
after midsummer. 
21 - 3 . Don’s Syst. Bot. 1 , 298. 
