Part 5

ROSA indica.

Indian Rose.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

ROSA, germinibus subrotundis, pedunculisque læviter hispidis; glabra, et nitida, semper florens; petiolis aculeatis; foliolis oblongis, acuminatis, nitidissimis; caule viridi, nitido, ad basin spinoso.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

ROSE, with roundish seed-buds, and peduncles slightly hispid; smooth and shining, ever blooming; the petioles are prickly; the leaflets are oblong, sharp-pointed, and very shining; stem green, shining, and thorny towards the base.

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This most elegant rose is justly considered as one of the greatest ornaments ever introduced to this country. The light delicacy of its pinky flowers, and its bright shining green leaves, aided by its unceasing and abundant bloom, render it so attractive that very few roses can compare with it; in fragrance it is inferior to most; for although at times we have found it slightly scented, we must confess to have found it sometimes so deficient in this particular as to be almost induced to regard it as a scentless rose.

All the information that we have been able to acquire respecting its introduction is, that it was first seen in the garden of the late Mr. Parsons of Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire, in the year 1793, soon after which period Messrs. Colville procuring a plant, cultivated it, and it has been ever since increasing in estimation. In the cold season of the year its blossoms are very pale; too great an exposure to the sun likewise produces the same effect. We have frequently seen it of a rich flesh-colour, but never deep.

It is commonly called Pale China Rose; but we have preferred the literal English name, to avoid confusion, by an appearance of two names for one plant, which can never be desirable.

Our figure was made from a plant in the Hibbertian collection, Clapham Common.

ROSA Belgica, blanda.

Blush Belgic Rose.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

Rosa germinibus globosis, ad basin glandulosis, pedunculis hispido-glandulosis, floribus confertis, pallide carneis; foliolis ovatis, acuminatis; caule et petiolis aculeatis.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

ROSE, with globose seed-buds, slightly glandular; peduncles hispidly glandular, flowers crowded, and of a pale flesh-colour, leaflets are ovate, and pointed; the stem and petioles prickly.

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This fine pale variety of the Belgic Rose is much esteemed. Its flowers are in succession abundant, but rarely more than two are in perfection at one time. A considerable degree of sameness certainly pervades the Dutch species, to which a judicious curtailment will be very serviceable, by excluding those very trivial florescent varieties from a figurative description; by which abbreviation, a much greater degree of interest will be attached to those, that actually possess a character sufficiently distinct, to require a separate figure, and at the same time it will get rid of an heterogeneous mass of superlative phrases made use of occasionally by way of discrimination. The Author will nevertheless give as satisfactory a reason as possible for the apparent expulsion of any of this attractive genus.

Our figure was made from a fine plant in the nursery of Messrs. Colville, King’s Road, in the month of July, from which period till September it is in constant bloom.

ROSA menstrua, Var. flore racemoso.

Monthly Rose, Cluster-flowered Variety.

CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.

ROSA, germinibus oblongis, sæpeflorens, racemosa, fragrans; pedunculis petiolisque hispidis, et glandulosis; aculeis ramorum sparsis, rectis; foliolis oblongis, subtus villosis.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

ROSE, with oblong seed-buds, often flowering, clustered, sweet-scented; the peduncles and petioles are hispid and glandular; the prickles of the branches are scattered and straight; the leaflets are of an oblong form, and villous beneath.

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This cluster-flowered Variety is undoubtedly the most attractive of that species of Rose denominated Monthly. To its fine abundant and frequent bloom is attached a fragrance of unequivocal sweetness, for which it is much esteemed. It bears so great a resemblance to the Damask Rose, that we are strongly induced to regard it as a continuation of that species, and have but little doubt, if the flowers were dried and analysed, they would be found to contain the same medicinal virtues. The title of Monthly is certainly a term of latitude with regard to its flowering; for, in the literal sense, it should imply a perpetually blooming Rose; which undoubtedly a Rose must be that blossoms every month; but this is by no means the case with the present species, although in mild seasons it may be found in bloom in December or January; which gives it a decided superiority over many of the summer species.