ROSA VIRGINIANA 
the American species to be introduced into Europe, and is still a 
favourite in gardens. It is the Rosa sylvestris virginiensis of Parkinson 1 
and the Rosa parvo rubello flore foliis lucentibus of Sutherland. 2 
Dillenius figures it in Hortus Elthamensis under the name of Rosa 
Carolina fragrans and his figure is cited by Linnaeus and Alton under 
Rosa carolma L. There can be no doubt about the synonym of Miller, 
as there is an authentic specimen from his herbarium at the British 
Museum. Lindley has identified this on the sheet as Rosa lucida 
Ehrh., but by mistake he cites Miller’s plant under Rosa fraxinifolia 
Borkh., 4 which has misled K. Koch 5 and Koehne, 0 who have taken up 
Miller’s name for Rosa blanda Ait. 
d he double-flowered form, Rose d' Amour, has been a favourite 
in English gardens since Miller introduced it in 1768. It has been 
identified with Rosa rapa of Bose, and both the double and single 
forms are the St. Mark’s Rose of Venice, where it is expected to flower 
on April 25th, St. Mark’s day. 
This Rose is more commonly known as Rosa lucida Ehrh., but 
as the latter name was not given until some twenty years after it had 
been described by Miller as Rosa virginiana , we follow the rule of 
priority and adopt Miller’s name. 
For its many good points this Rose has every claim to our 
appreciation ; it is equally valuable in garden and in woodland. The 
individual flowers remain long on the bush, the outer petals becoming 
paler while the centre keeps its bright, rich colour. The leaves, which 
are a glossy polished green in summer, turn a brilliant yellow in autumn, 
and remain long on the branches, while the clusters of bright red fruit 
give it a glowing beauty scarcely to be surpassed. Harshberger, 
writing in Garden and Forest , describes the beauty of Rosa virginiana 
as he saw it with its hall-ripe hips tinged with orange, glistening in the 
sunlight on Barnegat Peninsula, flourishing in sand and rejoicing in 
the salt-laden breezes. 7 
Andrews figures this Rose under the names of Rosa hicida and 
Rosa pennsylvanica Jl . pll 
1 Theatrum , p. 1017 (1640). 
2 Hort. Med. Edin. p. 297 (1683). 
3 Vol. ii. p. 325, t. 245, fig. 316 (1732). 
4 Ros. Monogr. p. 26, No. 17 (1820) ; Bot. Reg. vol. vi. t. 458 (1820). 
5 Dendrol. vol. i. p. 243 (1869). 
6 Deutsche Dendrol. pp. 298, 299 (1893). 
7 Vol. v. p. 45 (1892). 
3 Roses , vol. ii. plates 78, 10 r, 102 (1828). 
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