ROSA ALBA 
Yorkists in the Wars of the Roses, and Rosa gallica to have been 
the badge of the Lancastrians. Turner in 1551 mentions the “ In- 
carnation Rose.” In Gerard’s Catalogue of 1596 “ Rosa anglica alba 
simplex ” and “ Rosa anglica alba multiplex ” are named. Parkinson 1 
distinguishes “ Rosa incarnata ” from “ Rosa anglica alba.” There 
is a type-specimen of Rosa alba in the herbarium of Linnaeus and one 
of Miller’s Rosa incarnata at the British Museum. The Rosa incarnata 
of Boreau, which is figured in the Botanical Magazine , 2 is quite 
different, being a variety of Rosa gallica . 
That Linnaeus’ Rosa alba has been known to cultivation from 
very ancient times is abundantly proved by the references to it in the 
early writings upon flowers. It is often mentioned and figured by 
the botanists of the sixteenth century : by Dodonaeus as Rosa sativa , 3 
by Bauhin as Rosa Candida plena , 4 by Besler as Rosa Jlore albo pleno 
et simplicii etc., etc. Matthiolus, Gesner, Caspar Bauhin, and many 
others have written about it, and Pliny also, according to Bauhin. 
Rosa alba is said to be a native of the Crimea, but it has been 
found subspontaneous in the hedges in different parts of Europe, far 
away from habitation. Crepin thought that it was a natural cross 
between Rosa canina L. and Rosa gallica L. It certainly has many 
ooints in common with Jacquin’s Rosa collina . It has transmitted its 
ong, vigorous shoots covered with flowers, its almost unique foliage, 
and its admirable constitution to many of our garden varieties. 
Formerly several varieties were to be found in old gardens; among 
them the Cnisse de Nymphe , or Maidens Blush , was the most popular. 
The flower which Redoute figured under the name of Rosa alba 
foliacea 6 was raised at Fleury-sur-Meudon. It is remarkable for the 
glistening white of its flowers and for its long foliaceous sepals. 
Redoute also figures Rosa alba regalis 7 and Rosa alba Jlore pleno* 
both double forms, and Andrews 9 gives three forms. 
In the ninth edition of his Rose Garden , William Paul enumerates 
fifteen varieties of Rosa alba : 10 
Belle de Segur (Josephine 
Beauharnais). 
Blanche Belgique. 
Blush Hip, N ew. 
Celestial. 
Felicite Parmentier. 
La Seduisante. 
Lucrece. 
1 Paradisus , ed. i, p. 412 (1629). 
2 Vol. cxv. t. 7035 (1889). 
3 His tor ia, p. 187 (1583). 
4 Historia , vol. ii. p. 44 (1651). 
5 Hort. Eyst . Vern. Ord. VI. tab. 3 (1613). 
Madame Audot. 
Madame Le Gras. 
Maiden’s Blush. 
Pomifera. 
Princesse de Lamballe. 
Queen of Denmark. 
Sophie de Marsilly. 
Vicomte de Schrymacker. 
6 Roses, vol. iii. t. 17 (1824). 
7 Ibid. vol. i. t. 97 (1817). 
8 Ibid. vol. i. t. 1 17 (1817). 
9 Roses , vol. i. t. 10, ir, 12 (1805). 
10 Pp. 245-6 (1888). 
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