Part 14

Red Indian Rose.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

Rosa germinibus subrotundis, pedunculisque leviter hispidis, glabris, et nitidis: floribus rubris, magnis, odoratis: foliis glabris, nitidis, et atro-purpureo-viridibus: petiolis aculeatis: foliolis oblongis, et margine serratis: caule viridi, glabro, ad basin spinis rubris.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Rose with roundish seed-buds, and peduncles slightly hispid, smooth, and shining: flowers red, large, and sweet-scented: leaves smooth, shining, and of a dark purply green colour: petioles prickly: leaflets oblong, and sawed at the edges: stem green, smooth, with red thorns on the lower part.

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The Indica rubra is regarded as the finest of the ever-blooming China Roses. By some it is thought to be a distinct species, from the dark colour and smaller size of its foliage: but this is most likely the effect of its recent importation; and, when it becomes more familiarised to our climate, may in part if not totally disappear. As a variety of the Indica we think it may with propriety be considered, from the flowers being sometimes found as pale as that species: a circumstance that has not as yet occurred in the semperflorens already figured, although it has been so many years in cultivation with us; and which would doubtless have sometimes been the case, had it not been a distinct species, as permanence of character, either in shape or colour, can never be expected to characterize mere varieties.

It was introduced last summer from China by T. Evans, esq. of Stepney, and flowered first at the nursery of Messrs. Colville.

ROSA Indica, minor.

Small Indian Rose.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

Rosa germinibus subrotundis, pedunculisque leviter hispidis, glabris: floribus parvis, carneis, semperflorentibus: foliis glabris: petiolis aculeatis: foliolis oblongis, acutis, margine serrulatis, glabris: caule viridi, ad basin spinis rubris.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Rose with roundish seed-buds, and peduncles slightly hispid and smooth: flowers small, flesh-coloured, and ever-blooming: leaves smooth, and petioles prickly: leaflets oblong, pointed, with finely serrated edges, and smooth: stem green, with red thorns on the lower part.

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This delicate little Rose was raised from seed of the Rosa Indica by Mr. Colville, and can only be regarded as a variety of that favourite species: but every material variation of a Rose that is in continual bloom, will most probably be considered equally as interesting, as the more specific distinction of any other whose beauty is lost to us above half the year. The very short time this variety has been in cultivation with us, precludes at present the possibility of ascertaining with accuracy the latitude of its growth: as yet we have not seen any plant above twice the size our figure represents, and never with larger flowers; but frequently in very small plants the blossoms have scarcely been an inch in diameter.

ROSA Provincialis; Var. flore pleno.

Province Rose; Double-flowered Variety.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

Rosa geriminibus subglobosis, pedunculisque hispidis et glandulosis: floribus saturate carneis, odoratissimis: foliolis ovatis, acutis, serratis, et subtus villosis.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Rose with nearly round seed-buds, and peduncles hispid and glandular: flowers of a deep flesh-colour, and very sweet-scented: leaflets egg-shaped, pointed, sawed, and villose beneath.

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This Rose is one of the most abundant, and, from being extremely common, is perhaps best known, but the least valued. Yet, if fragrance and beauty were instead of scarcity to fix a price, very few would be deserving of a higher sum.

We have sometimes seen this fine Rose, in well cultivated luxuriant plants, acquire the height of nearly fifteen feet, adorning the front of a house in a most elegant manner during the summer months.

Rosa Provincialis, nana.

Dwarf Province Rose.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.