Part 3

Our drawing was taken from a plant in the nursery of Messrs. Colville, King’s Road.

ROSA parviflora, Provincialis.

Small-flowered Province or Blandford Rose.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

Rosa parviflora, germinibus sub-globosis; pedunculis glandulosis; caule et petiolis aculeatis; aculeis ramorum sparsis, rectis, sub-reflexis; foliolis ovatis, subtus villosis, marginibus glandulosis.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

ROSE, with small flowers, and nearly round seed-buds: the footstalks are glandular; the stem and petioles prickly; the spines of the branches are scattered, straight, and slightly reflexed; the leaflets egg-shaped, villous or hairy beneath, with glandular margins.

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The Kingston, or Blandford Rose as it is most generally called, was introduced by Mr. Kingston, nurseryman at Blandford near Dorset, in the year 1791. In its character it has every thing in common with the Province Rose, with a specifically distinct small flower (whence our name); which contrasted with the largeness of its leaves, gives a singularity to its appearance. In its blossom it approaches nearest to the Roses of Burgundy and de Meaux; in shape like the former, but in colour more resembling the latter: but no affinity whatever to the leaves of either. It is certainly a very desirable Rose, as the number of those with very small flowers is very circumscribed, and therefore renders every addition particularly valuable. Like most of the Roses, it continues to bloom during the months of June, July, and August, and makes a handsome bushy appearance.

Our drawing was made from a fine plant in the nursery of Messrs. Whitley and Brames, Old Brompton.

ROSA Eglanteria, Var. flore pleno.

Double Sweet Briar or Eglantine Rose.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

ROSA, foliis odoratis; germinibus ovatis, pedunculisque hispidis; caule et petiolis aculeatis; aculeis magnis, recurvis; foliolis ovatis, subtus rubiginosis, glanduloso-pilosis.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

ROSE, with sweet-scented leaves and egg-shaped seed-buds; peduncles hispid; stem and petioles prickly; prickles large and recurved; the leaflets are ovate, rusty beneath, and glandulosely hairy.

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This fine semi-double variety of the Sweet Briar is an acquisition highly esteemed; and so we think will be every addition to this charming species, whose leaves diffuse such aromatic fragrance. In its semi-double flowers only, it is particularly distinct from the Single, and certainly makes a much handsomer appearance. Its flowers are gracefully crowded together, but rarely more than two flowers expand at one time; but the succession of buds approaching maturity gives it a very picturesque appearance. We observed but a slight proportion of the rusty character so powerfully attached to the wild species. Its fruit, when ripening, acquires a beautiful orange red, which is an addition to the plant when out of bloom. There is a paler-coloured variety of this plant, of stouter growth, but which we have not as yet examined with sufficient accuracy, to ascertain whether it is distinct enough to require a separate figure.

Our drawing was made from a fine plant in the nursery of Messrs. Loddige, Hackney.

ROSA Gallica, officinalis.

Officinal or French Red Rose.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

ROSA, germinibus globosis; floribus magnis, rubris, stypticis, pedunculisque hispidis; caule petiolisque hispido-aculeatis; foliolis sub-ovatis, subtus villosis.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

ROSE, with globular seed-buds; the flowers are large, red, and astringent; peduncles hispid; the stem and petioles hispidly prickly; the leaflets are nearly egg-shaped, and villous beneath.

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This large grand Rose is both useful as well as ornamental. The flowers are used in medicine (whence its term officinal) in preference to many other restoratives. By the Arabian physicians they were in great estimation for their mild astringent and corroborant virtues, most particularly in phthisical cases. The flowers cannot be too quickly dried, as slowly drying of them impairs both their colour and quality. They are prepared as a conserve, by an infusion of honey. The bloom is but of short duration, but the succession is rapid. It is of a semi-double character, and of a fine red colour; from three to four feet high, and very bushy. It is in great perfection during the months of June, July, and August, and is extremely beautiful. Its foliage is rather rough and coarse, and when out of bloom in the autumn it is very subject to mildew.

Our drawing was made from the nursery of Messrs. Whitley and Brames, Old Brompton.