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ROSA SETIGERA Michx. 
THE PRAIRIE ROSE 
Rosa setigera: caulibus longis, erectis, arcuatis; aculeis parvis, sparsis, robustis; 
foliolis plerumque ternis, oblongis, acutis, simpliciter serratis, facie glabris, dorso 
pubescentibus ; rhachi pubescente, parce setosa et aciculata ; stipulis longe adnatis, 
apicibus liberis ovato-lanceolatis ; floribus paucis, laxe corymbosis ; bracteis parvis, 
linearibus ; pedicellis setosis ; calycis tubo turbinato ; lobis oblongis, acutis, saepe 
simplicibus, dorso pubescentibus et glandulosis; petalis cuneatis, emarginatis, roseis 
vel albis; stylis in columnam protrusam coalitis; fructu globoso, rubro, magnitudine 
mediocri, nudo ; sepal is caducis. 
R. setigera Michaux, FI. Bor. Am. vol. i. p. 295 (1803). — Lindley, Ros. Monogr. 
p. 128, No. 73 (1820).— Gray, Man. Bot. North U. States , p. 127 (1848). — Chapman, 
FI. South U. States, p. 125 (i860). — S. Watson in Smithsonian Mi sc. Coll. vol. xv. 
p. 313 (1878). — Koehne, Deutsche Dendrol. p. 278 (1893). — Sargent in Garden and 
Forest , vol. x. p. 320, fig. 42 (1897). — Rehder in Bailey, Cycl. Am. Hort. vol. iv. 
p. 1550 (1902). 
R. rubifolia Aiton, Hort. Kew. ed. 2, vol. iii. p. 260 (181 1). — Thory in Redoute, 
Roses, vol. iii. p. 71, t. (1824). 
R. setigera, var. tomentosa Torrey & Gray, FI. N. Amer. vol. i. p. 458 (1838). — 
Rehder in Bailey, Cycl. Am. Hort. vol. iv. p. 1550 (1902). 
Stem very tall and arching; prickles small, scattered, uniform, robust. Leaflets 
usually 3, very rarely 5, ovate or oblong, acute, thin, simply serrated, glabrous 
on the upper surface, pubescent beneath, the end one 2 or 3 in. long ; petioles 
pubescent and slightly aciculate and setose ; stipules adnate, gland-edged, with 
small, ovate-lanceolate, free tips. Flowers few, laxly corymbose ; pedicels setose ; 
bracts small, linear. Calyx-tube turbinate, naked or slightly glandular; lobes oblong- 
cuspidate, in. long, pubescent and glandular on the back. Corolla pink or white, 
ii or 2 in. in diameter; petals obovate-cuneate, emarginate. Styles united in a 
protruded column. Fruit globose, middle-sized, red, naked ; sepals deciduous. 
The Prairie Rose is found in a wild state from Florida and Texas 
northward to the Great Lakes, but does not extend westwards as far 
as the Rocky Mountains. According to Crepin , 1 this Rose is the only 
American representative of the section Systylae . 
It is a very distinct species and is not so much cultivated as it 
deserves. Parkman 2 suggests that perhaps national prejudice may to 
1 Bull. Soc. Bot. Belg. vol. xv. p. 27 ( Primit . Monogr. Ros. fasc. iv. p. 388) (1876). 
2 Book of Roses, p. 155 (1866). 
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