3 6— ROSA FORTUNIANA Lindl. 
(ROSA LAEVIGATA x BANKSIAE Crep.) 
Rosa Fortuniana : ram is scandentibus, glabris ; aculeis parvis, falcatis, distan- 
tibus ; foliolis 3-5, ovato-lanceolatis, nitidis, argute serratis ; floribus solitariis ; 
calycis tubo hemispherico, nudo ; lobis ovatis, indivisis. 
R. Fortuniana Lindley & Paxton, Flow. Gard. vol. ii. p. 71, fig. 1 7 1 (1851). — 
Forbes & Hemsley in Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. xxiii. p. 249 (1886). 
R. Banksiae x laevigata Koehne, Deutsche Dendrol. p. 281 (1893). 
R. laevigata x Banksiae Crepin in Bull. Soc. Bot. Belg. vol. xxxiii. p. 127 
(1894). 
Stems long, slender, sarmentose ; prickles small, scattered, uniform, slightly 
hooked. Leaflets 3-5, ovate-lanceolate, shining, acute, simply toothed, middle- 
sized, green, firm in texture, persistent ; petioles glandular, aciculate, glabrous ; 
stipules linear, free, deciduous. Flowers solitary ; pedicels aciculate. Calyx-tube 
globose, naked or aciculate ; lobes small, ovate, simple. Petals much larger than in 
R. Banksiae , white or pale yellow. Fruit not seen. 
This Rose was sent by Robert Fortune to Chiswick in 1 850, and 
was described by Lindley for the first time in Lindley & Paxton’s 
Flower Garden in 1851. Lindley evidently did not think as highly 
of it as Fortune did, for he described it as a scrambling shrub, with- 
out much beauty as far as the flowers are concerned, but, from its 
exceedingly rapid growth, useful for covering walls and buildings. 
In response to the inquiry of a correspondent Fortune wrote : 
“The white climbing Rose referred to is cultivated in gardens about Ningpo 
and Shanghai, and is held in high esteem by the Chinese ; indeed it is one of the 
best white kinds which I have met with in China. It is frequently seen of a large 
size covering trellis-work formed into alcoves or built over garden walks. For this 
purpose it is well suited, as it is a luxuriant grower, and it blooms profusely and 
early. This Rose was amongst my first importations to the Horticultural Society, 
and is no doubt well worth cultivation in English gardens. It may not please in 
every respect Rose-fanciers, but it is very beautiful nevertheless, and it has some 
advantages peculiar to itself.” 1 
On the Riviera it is largely employed as the best stock on which 
to graft other varieties, having proved extremely potent in transmitting 
its remarkable vigour to the scion. 
1 Gard. Citron, i860, p. 623. 
109 
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