ROSA PENDULINA 
Stem often low and erect, sometimes reaching a height of 5-6 feet ; flowering 
branches usually unarmed, bright red-brown in exposure. Prickles slender, straight, 
scattered, unequal, mixed with aciculi. Leaflets 5-9, oblong, moderate-sized, simply 
or doubly toothed, usually green and glabrous on both surfaces ; petioles glabrous 
and glandular; stipules adnate, gland-ciliated, with small free tips. Flowers usually 
solitary ; peduncles long, densely glandular. Calyx-tube ampullaeform ; lobes lanceo- 
late, usually simple, glabrous or glandular on the back, leaf-pointed, f-i in. long. 
Corolla bright red. Styles free, densely villous, not protruded. Fruit narrowly 
urceolate, bright red, pulpy, an inch long, | in. diam., crowned by the persistent 
sepals , usually pendulous. 
The Alpine Rose is one of the great ornaments of all the 
mountains of central and southern Europe, for both flowers and fruit 
are beautiful. It ranges from the Alps westward to the Pyrenees and 
eastward to Greece. Many of its varieties have received specific 
names ; it hybridizes with Rosa spinosissima L. and other species, 
and, crossed artificially with Rosa chinensis Jacq., it has formed the 
Boursault Rose. 1 It is figured by Besler in the Hortus Eystettensis 
under the name of Rosa rubra praecox fl. simp.? and is said to have 
been introduced into Britain by Mr. James Sutherland in 1683. 
Rosa pendulina is an earlier name than Rosa alpina , but was originally 
applied by Linnaeus to one of the hybrids between Rosa alpina and 
Rosa spinosissima ; the type of his herbarium is, however, this species. 
The glands on the fruit and peduncle have a strong smell of turpentine. 
It has borne the popular name of Rose of Sharon, to which it has no 
title, but the name was given in allusion to its harmless character. 
Several authors have given specific rank to certain curious forms 
of Roses which may be included under the Alpine Rose considered 
in a broad sense, such as the following : intercalaris Desegl., adjecta 
Desegl., lagenaria Vi 1 1 . , pyrenaica Gouan, monspeliaca Gouan, pendula 
Salisb., mermis Mill., etc. Rouy gives a large number of others. 3 
True synonyms are those which arise from errors. But when an 
author describes as a species a variety which he considers a species, 
being perfectly well acquainted with the type to which this species or 
variety belongs, it is because he holds it to be sufficiently distinct to 
be given specific rank. Until the contrary is proved, we may at least 
allow it to be a variety. Where the authors have published figures, 
it is easy to see, by referring to the sources, if we have to do with 
a good species or an undoubted synonym. 
1 For an account of the alpina hybrids see Crdpin, who gives Rosa alpina x pomifera ; Rosa 
alpina x glauca ; Rosa alpina x montana ; Rosa pimpinellifolia x alpina ; Rosa alpina x rubrifolia : Bull. 
Soc. Bot. Belg. vol. xxi. pp. 80-4 ( Primit . Monogr. Ros. fasc. vi. pp. 740-4) (1882). 
2 Vern. Ordo. VI. fol. 5, iii. (1613). 
3 Flore de France , vol. vi. pp. 400-3 (1900). 
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