CIS'TUS RO'SEUS. 
ROSY ROCK ROSE. 
Class. Order. 
POLYANDRIA. ■ MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
CISTACE^. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Habit 
Introduced 
S. Europe. 
3 feet. 
June. 
Shrub 
in 1830? 
No. 896. 
The name, Cistus, is of Greek origin, and bears 
an allusion to the matured seed-vessel. See No. 
649 . 
One of the prominent characteristics of the 
flower of the Cistus, is strongly marked in that 
which we have now figured, we allude to its crum- 
pled petals. These exist in their wrinkled state 
before they expand, and retain the peculiarity till 
their decay. Another characteristic of the flower, 
and it is probable that a connection may be traced 
betw^een the two peculiarities, or that they may be 
referred to the same predominating condition of the 
plant, is the fugacious character of the petals. 
They last but a day, but have immediate successors. 
Yet though the gauzy bells fall fast. 
Long ere appears the evening crescent ; 
Another bloom succeeds the last. 
As lovely, and as evanescent.” 
The very multitude of the flowers produced by 
the Cistus, is sometimes made a charge against it. 
Who has not heard it said of that shrub, usually 
known as the Gum Cistus, that its flowers are gay 
and beautiful, and has not heard this praise abated 
