THE ROSE FAMILY 
[ORDER XXVI. ROSACE^E] 
T HE flowers of the Rose Family, like so many members of the Buttercup Order, have 5 
sepals and petals and numerous stamens, but the sepals are always united at the base 
into a little cup or tube which generally adheres to the seedcase, and the stamens are always 
inserted at the top of this cup or tube and so arise from around the seedcase and not from 
below it. The fruit is very varied, though occasionally resembling that of the Buttercup tribe. 
It is a large family and is to be found all over the world, but it is best represented in the tem- 
perate and cooler zones. Some of our loveliest garden flowers and shrubs belong to it — our Roses, 
Spiraeas, Potentillas and Geums, our Hawthorns, Cotoneasters, Japanese pear(Pyrus japonica), Com- 
mon and Portugal Laurel, and many others. But it is for its fruits that the Rose Family is best known 
and valued. The genus Prunus provides us with Plums, Cherries, Apricots, Peaches, Nectarines, 
and Almonds ; the Raspberry and Blackberry belong to the genus Rubus ; the Apples, Pears, and 
Medlar to the genus Pyrus ; and the Quince to the genus Clydonia. 
The various members of the genus Prunus contain more or less of the deadly poison prussic 
acid, which is found in the seeds or kernels of the plums, cherries, apricots, etc., and in the leaves 
of the Common Laurel which contain so much of the poison as to render the shrub dangerous ; 
its crushed leaves are used for killing butterflies and moths, and sheep straying and cropping 
the leaves frequently die. 
The well-known Rose-water and Attar of Roses are distilled from certain species of the 
Rose. 
HAWTHORN. (CRAT^GUS, LINN.) — Flowers white or pink, in flat clusters (corymbs). 
Sepals 5, united into a fleshy tube which adheres to the seedcase, and separating into 5 short 
teeth ; petals 5, not united (free), inserted in the throat of the calyx-tube ; stamens numerous, 
inserted with the petals ; carpels 1-5, united into a 1-5-celled seedcase (ovary), which adheres to 
the fleshy calyx-tube, and separating into the same number of styles. The fruit a roundish, pulpy 
pome, crowned with the faded calyx-teeth, containing 1-5 hard, bony, stone-like cells, each 
containing 1 seed. Small spiny trees or shrubs with undivided (simple) leaves which are often 
lobed. 
Hawthorn, May, Whitethorn. (Crataegus Oxyaeantha, Linn.)— The only British 
species (as just described). The flowers f inch across, sweet-scented, white, numerous, in dense 
clusters (corymbs) ; the styles 1, 2, or 3 ; the fruit roundish, crimson, crowned with the calyx-teeth, 
and containing 1, 2, or 3 hard, i-seeded stones. A shrub or small tree 10-20 feet high, with stiff, 
prickly branches, and leaves deeply lobed towards the midrib into 3-5 lobes (pinnatifid). \Plate 38. 
Very common. Hedges, woods, heaths. May — June. Tree or shrub. 
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