THE ROCK ROSE FAMILY 
[ORDER VIII. CISTINE^E] 
T HIS family is distinguished by the 3 large and 2 small sepals, the 5 petals, and the numerous 
stamens, all inserted below the united carpels which develop into a capsular fruit 
(superior). 
It is a small order, mostly of shrubs, chiefly confined to the south-west of Europe and 
the north of Africa, and in the British Isles limited to one genus. It corresponds with the order 
which contains the beautiful Gum-Cistuses of our gardens, shrubs and trailing plants which thrive 
in dry sunny places, exposed in the summer to great heat and drought, and in the winter to frost, 
but in the summer early morning ablaze with gorgeous flowers which only last a few hours. 
ROCK-ROSE. (HELIANTHEMUM, HALL.) — Flowers in loose terminal clusters (racemes), 
yellow or white in the British species. Sepals 5, the 2 outer smaller ; petals 5, falling quickly 
(fugacious) ; stamens numerous ; carpels 3, united into a 1 -celled seedcase, 1 style, and 3 stigmas. 
Fruit a round capsule opening from top to base by 3 valves, many-seeded. Herbaceous plants or 
shrubs with entire opposite leaves. 
Common Rock-Rose. (Helianthemum Chamaecistus, Mill.)— As just described. The 
flowers about 1 inch across, stalked, yellow, in long one-sided clusters (unilateral racemes), with a 
small bract at the base of each little flower-stalk; the stem 3-10 inches long, prostrate, woody, 
much branched (an under-shrub) ; the leaves entire, opposite, shortly stalked, oval or narrower, 
white with downy hairs underneath, and with stipules fringed with hairs at the base of each 
leaf-stalk. [ Plate 1 7 . 
Common on chalky pastures. July — September. Perennial. 
There are four other species of Rock-Rose found in England, but they are rare and local. 
Spotted Rock-Rose. (Helianthemum guttatum, Mill.) — With smaller flowers, bright 
yellow, each petal having a dark-red spot at its base, without bracts and with an upright stem. 
Very rare. Dry banks, Cork and the Channel Isles. July — August. Annual. 
Brewer’s Spotted Rock-Rose. (Helianthemum Breweri, Planch.)— Like the ordinary 
Spotted Rock-Rose, but with each little flower-stalk having a bract at its base. 
Very rare. Dry banks in Anglesey. July — August. Annual. 
Hoary Rock-Rose. (Helianthemum marifolium, Mill.)— With small yellow flowers 
with bracts, prostrate stems, leaves white with hairs underneath, and no stipules. 
Rare. Chalky or limestone rocks. May — June. Perennial. 
White Rock-Rose. (Helianthemum polifolium, Mill.) — With large white flowers with 
bracts, a shrubby and prostrate stem, and leaves hoary with white hairs on either side. 
Very rare. On Babbicombe and Brean Downs. July — September. Perennial. 
