Part 13

ROSA Pennsylvanica; Var. flore pleno.

Pennsylvanian Rose; Double-flowered Variety.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

Rosa germinibus globosis, pedunculisque hispidis: foliis patentibus: foliolis ovatis, acuminatis, serratis, glabris: spinis ramorum oppositis, rectis, rubris. Caulis humilis.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Rose with round seed-buds, and hispid peduncles. Leaves spreading. Leaflets of an ovate form, sharp-pointed, sawed, and smooth. The thorns of the branches opposite, straight, and red. Stem low.

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This delicate little Rose is a most desirable variety, as it continues in bloom all the summer, and is amongst those few that do not retire till late in autumn. It is of a dwarf growth, inclinable to spread, and sometimes almost creep upon the ground. In dry weather, the sun frequently extracts so much of the colour from the outer petals as to leave them almost bleached; which gives a comparatively richer appearance to the centre. It then bears some resemblance, in its flowers, to the larger Pompone Rose.

The powerful transition it has experienced, from single to completely double flowers, gives it a very different aspect from its original; but in every other particular it is closely allied. Its bloom is durable, and succession abundant. We however rather think it is of a tender habit, not having seen any large plants of it.

Our figure was taken from a luxuriant plant at the nursery of Mr. Williams, at Turnham Green.

ROSA alba, semi-duplex.

Semi-double White Rose.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

Rosa germinibus ovatis, glabris: pedunculis hispidis: floribus albis, semi-duplicibus: foliis sub-glaucis: foliolis ovatis, acutis, ad margines serratis: caulis erecto-patens, superne sub-glaber, ad basin aculeis rigidis instructus.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Rose with smooth, egg-shaped seed-buds, and hispid peduncles. Flowers white, and semi-double. Leaves nearly of a glaucous green. Leaflets broadly egg-shaped, sharp-pointed, with serrated margins. Stem between erect and spreading, nearly smooth on the upper part, but furnished with strong spines towards the base.

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This semi-double Rose so nearly resembles the single in its habit and foliage, that it can only be regarded as a florescent variety; for, when the plant is not in bloom, it is scarcely possible to distinguish the one from the other: but when in flower it certainly forms a very distinct appearance from its original, and is by far the more desirable plant: not that its beauty is by any means considerable; but as it preserves a regular progressive approach to completely double flowers, (generally regarded as the perfection of the plant,) it is on that account particularly estimable. Like its original, it is only retained by those who wish to have every distinct Rose, to form a complete collection. Its flowers are of a fine white, but not of long continuance. The foliage is of a blueish or glaucous green. In habit, its native origin (the wild species) is very discernible. It is at present rather a scarce plant, from not possessing attraction sufficient to recommend it as an object of general culture.

ROSA spinosissima, rubra; Var. flore pleno.

Red Thorny Rose; Double-flowered Variety.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

Rosa germinibus sub-globosis, glabris: pedunculis hispidis: floribus semi-duplicibus, incarnatis: foliis patentibus: foliolis ovatis, costatis, crenatis: caule et petiolis aculeatissimis.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Rose with nearly round seed-buds, smooth. Peduncles hispid. Flowers semi-double, and flesh-coloured. Leaves spreading. Leaflets ovate, ribbed, and notched at the edges. Stem and petioles very prickly.

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This fine semi-double Rose is generally known by the appellation of the Double Red Scotch. It is evidently a thorny Rose, and powerfully resembles the spinosissima in most particulars except the flowers, whose pale delicate character reminds us so much of the Indica, that, were a flower detached from the plant, and compared with that ever-blooming species in a confined mode of culture, the resemblance would be found considerable. How or by whom it was first cultivated, we have not been able to learn with any degree of certainty: it must, therefore, with several other unavoidable deficiencies of the same description, pass on till the conclusion of the work, when we shall be better enabled to fill up these little chasms--at the same time that we give a Dissertation on the Genus.

Our figure was made from fine plants in the nursery of Messrs. Whitley and Brames.

ROSA Indica rubra.