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R O S A canina.
Common Dog-rofe.
ICOSANDRIA Polygynia.
Gen. Char. Cal. urn-fhaped, flefhy, contra&ed at
the orifice, terminating in 5 fegments. Petals 5.
Seeds numerous, briftly, fixed to the infide o f the
calyx.
Spec. Char. Fruit ovate, fmooth as well as the
flower-ftalks. Prickles of the Hem hooked.
Leaflets ovate, pointed, very fmooth.
Syn. Rofa canina. Linn. Sp. PI. 704. Sm. FI.
Brit 540. Hudf. 219. With. 467. Hull: 111.’
Relh. 194. Sibth. 158. Abbot, i n . Curt.Lond.
fafc, 5. /. 34.
R, fylveftris inodora, feu canina. Raii Syn. 454.
T
A O be feen everywhere in hedges and thickets, flowering in
une, nor have we any plant that conduces more to the orna-
ment ot the country, whether we confider its graceful branches
and leaves, its elegant buds, its bloflbms blufhing with every
int of carnation, or its rich coral fruit. Nor muft we forget
the fweet and delicate fcent of its flowers; which, though lefs
powerful, is perhaps as grateful as that of any rofe in the world.
I he flavour of the fruit, when ripened by froft, is alfo peculiarly
agreeable A conferve prepared fr<Jm it is ufed in medicine
as a vehicle for powders, or other drugs, of fmall bulk. Were
it not for the unpleafant affociation of ideas which this oc-
cahMis, few fweetmeats would be more welcome at table.
The fmooth Aiming leaves of the Dog-rofe diftinguifli it at
once from our two other fpecies with oval fruit, fee the.a laft
1 f fCS l ■ JPnlnoJluma anc] arvenfis have globular fruit. The
iatter has its flowers more in cymes; petals white with a yellow
tinge at their bafe; Hems and fruit of a mahogany hue
, R' c“ n}™ the flower-ftalks are more commonly (though not
always) fohtary ; they are peculiarly fmooth and poliftied not
t!lefruit of-R. rubiginofa is occafionally fmooth,
Rev! M r S u t t r IS ^ rarely aliUle hifPid> as obferved by the