127— ROSA CANINA, var. EXILIS Keller 
Rosa canina , var. exilis : a typo recedit habitu gracili ; foliolis et floribus 
parvis ; stipulis glanduloso-ciliatis ; stylis glabris ; fructu parvo. 
R. canina , var. exilis Keller in Ascherson Sc Graebner, Syn. Mitteleur. FI. 
vol. vi. p. 159 (1901). 
R. exilis Crepin in Bull. Soc. Bot. Belg. vol. vii. p. 220 (1868).— Deseglise in 
Bull. Soc. Bot. Belg. vol. xv. p. 322, No. 167 (Cat. Rais. Ros. p. 153, No. 167 [1877]) 
(1876). 
Stems low, slender, green ; prickles small, uniform, hooked. Leaflets 5-7, 
oblong, acute, green, about ^ inch long on the flowering shoots, sharply simply 
serrated, glabrous on both surfaces ; petioles glabrous, slightly glandular ; stipules 
narrow, gland-ciliated, with small, ovate, free tips. Flowers 1-3; peduncles short, 
naked. Calyx-tube subglobose ; lobes copiously compound, naked on the back. 
Petals small, nearly white. Styles free, glabrous, included. Fruit subglobose, 
red ; sepals reflexing, deciduous. 
This interesting Rose was found by Dr. P. Wirtgen in the 
valley of the Nahe in Prussian Rhineland, growing in company with 
typical Rosa canina L. and var. dumalis Bechst. As described by 
Crepin it is dwarf in its native habitat, but in cultivation it grows into 
a large bush, though preserving the diminutive character of its flowers 
and leaflets. This disparity gives the plant a singular appearance. It 
rather resembles Rosa agrestis Savi in its slender habit and small 
leaflets, but is quite destitute of glands on the back of the leaf. 
Crepin considers that it comes near Rosa aciphyUa Rau. As known 
in cultivation it cannot be described as a free-flowering Rose, and 
its pretty pale pink blossoms are less than half an inch in diameter. 
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