Part 19

Rose with nearly round seed-buds and hispid peduncles: flowers large, and semi-double: leaves spreading: leaflets ovate, large, and glandular on the edges: the stem and petioles are furnished with prickles recurved and red.

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This Eglantine Rose is the spontaneous effusion of nature in the nursery-ground of Mr. Williams of Turnham Green, who informs me that he found it on his premises in the year 1786, growing luxuriantly in the midst of a hedge of single Sweetbriars. Its growth is so rapid, that it will form shoots of seven and eight feet in one season; which joined to the largeness of its flowers and foliage, induced us to adopt the specific appellation of major, a title by which we think it may (at present) be distinguished from any other, as the largest Sweetbriar we have as yet seen is certainly altogether in size a minor, when compared with this fine plant. Seeds, but not freely, and is propagated (slowly) by layers.

ROSA Eglanteria, multiplex.

Double Eglantine Rose, or Williams’s Sweetbriar.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

Rosa germinibus sub-globosis, pedunculisque hispidis et glandulosis: floribus multipetalis: foliolis ovatis, glandulosis, et pilosis: caule et petiolis aculeatis.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Rose with nearly round seed-buds, and peduncles hispid and glandular: flowers of many petals: leaflets ovate, glandular, and hairy: stem and petioles prickly.

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Of all the fragrant-leaved Roses, this is certainly the finest, and for which we are indebted to Mr. Williams, who discovered it in his nursery about 23 years ago, growing promiscuously in the same Sweetbriar-bush with the Eglanteria major; and although found vegetating at the same time, and under the same auspices, yet is its character altogether very different; this being as slow in growth as the other is quick. It is the only Eglantine Rose at present known with perfectly double flowers, and is with difficulty increased by layers, which are a long time in forming a root; and the seeds, which it very rarely ripens, remain in the ground a long time dormant.

ROSA gracilis.

Slender Rose.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

Rosa germinibus sub-globosis: pedunculis leviter hispidis, gracilibus: floribus multipetalis, imbricatis, equalibus, incarnatis. Caulis glaber, flexibilis: aculeis sparsis.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Rose with nearly round seed-buds, and peduncles slightly hispid and slender: flowers of many petals, imbricated, equal, and flesh-coloured. Stem smooth and flexible: spines scattered.

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This delicate Rose was raised about the year 1796 by Mr. Shailer, nurseryman, of Little Chelsea. It is as yet so little known, that a dwarf variety of the Province is frequently sold for it; a mistake most probably owing to its being commonly called amongst cultivators Shailer’s Province Rose: but it certainly bears most resemblance to the Rosa Indica, and is, as far as we can understand, a hybrid production between the two species; and if so, it might come under the description of variety only. But, whilst nature produces such distinct and beautiful varieties, specific titles can only be regarded as a variation of terms. It makes a most graceful appearance, from the drooping of its branches and nodding of its flowers, whose close and numerous petals are too heavy for its weak and slender stem to support. It appears to be a Rose calculated to train against a trellis to great advantage. It is as hardy as most Roses, and is increased (but not easily) by layers. Flowers during the months of June and July.

ROSA ferox.

Fierce or Hedge-Hog Rose.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

Rosa germinibus globosis, pedunculisque glabris: foliis quadrijugis, cum folio terminali: foliolis ovatis, rugosis, serratis: petiolis aculeatis: caule aculeis numerosis rectis albicantibus armato.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Rose with round seed-buds and smooth peduncles: leaves composed of four pairs, with a terminal leaf: leaflets ovate, wrinkled, and serrate: footstalks prickly: stem armed with numerous straight whitish thorns.

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Of this distinct species of Rose we can gain but little information, as it is not enumerated in Willdenow, at least not under our specific title; but we are inclined to think his Rosa rugosa is meant for it, as the description accords exactly with our figure. It is well known to cultivators by the specific appellation of ferox,--we have therefore retained it; although hystrix would have been a much better specific title, as it seems by nature formed to be admired at a distance, from the numerous large thorns with which the stem is surrounded, that appear calculated to express the old adage of ‘Noli me tangere.’

Our drawing was made from a plant in the nursery of Messrs. Whitley and Brame, in the month of June.