1 54— ROSA FEROX M. Bieb. 
CRIMEAN SWEET BRIAR 
Rosa ferox : caule brevi, erecto ; ramulis compactis ; foliolis 5-7, ovatis, 
parvis, viridibus, rigidulis, duplicato-serratis, utrinque glabris, dorso et margine 
dense glandulosis ; rhachi glabra, dense glandulosa ; stipulis adnatis, glanduloso- 
ciliatis, apicibus liberis, parvis, ovatis ; floribus saepissime solitariis ; pedunculo 
brevi, aciculato ; calycis tubo globoso, glanduloso ; lobis brevibus, ovatis, exteri- 
oribus copiose pinnatifidis, dorso glandulosis ; petalis parvis, albis ; stylis liberis, 
inclusis, glabris ; fructu urceolato-globoso, parvo, rubro, serotino, glanduloso ; 
sepalis caducis, reflexis. 
R. ferox M. Bieberstein, Cent. PL Rar. Ross. vol. i. t. 37 (1810) ; FI. Tanr . 
Cane. vol. iii. p. 339 (1819). — Boissier, FI. Orient, vol. ii. p. 687 (1872). — Crepin in 
Bull. Soc. Bot. Belg. vol. xviii. pt. i. p. 157 (Priniit. Monogr. Ros. fasc. v. p. 505 
[1880]) (1879); vol. xxxi. pt. 2, p. 87 (1892). — Christ in Boissier. FI. Orient. SuppL 
p. 220 (1888). 
R. provincialis M. Bieberstein, FI. Tanr. Cauc. vol. i. p. 396 (non Miller) 
(1808). 
R. rubiginosa, var. minor Ledebour, FI. Ross. vol. ii. p. 80 (1844). 
R. horrid a Desdglise in Bull. Soc. Bot. Belg. vol. xv. p. 539 (Cat. Rais. Ros . 
p. 283 [1877]) (1876). — Nyman, Conspect. FI. Etirop. p. 233, No. 17 (1878). 
An erect, compact bush, not more than 2 feet high. Prickles scattered, stout, 
slightly hooked, intermixed with copious aciculi. Leaflets 5-7, very small, ovate, 
green, rather rigid, doubly serrated, glabrous on both surfaces, densely glandular 
beneath and on the margin ; petioles glabrous, densely glandular ; stipules adnate, 
gland-ciliated, with small, ovate, free tips. Flowers usually solitary ; peduncles 
short, densely aciculate. Calyx-tube globose, glandular ; lobes short, ovate, glandular, 
the outer copiously compound. Corolla white, very small. Styles free, glabrous, 
not protruded. Fruit small, red, urceolate-globose, glandular, late in ripening ; 
sepals reflexing, deciduous. 
Rosa ferox is very nearly related to Rosa Serafini Viy., and is 
remarkable tor its very dwarf, compact habit, small leaflets, and white 
flowers. Specifically it is quite distinct from Rosa Egianteria L., 
Rosa micrantha Sm., and Rosa agrestis Savi, resembling rather the 
Greek and oriental Rosa ghetinosa Sibth. & Sm., and it is without 
appreciable sweet-briar fragrance. 
Formerly its only known European habitat was among the dry, 
sandy hills in the south of the Crimea, hence its name of Crimean 
477 
VOL. II. — GG 
