ROS A hibernica.
Irish Rose.
b /
ICOSANDRIA Polygynia.
Gen, Char. Cal. urn-shaped, fleshy, contracted at
the orifice, terminating in 5 segments. Petals 5.
Seeds numerous, bristly, fixed to the inside of the
calyx.
Spec. Chap.. Fruit nearly globose, smooth, as well as
the flower-stalks. Prickles of the stem slightly
hooked. Leaflets elliptical, smooth, with hairy ribs.
D i s c o v e r e d many years ago in the county of Down, about
Belfast harbour, where it grows abundantly, by our often-
mentioned friend John Templeton, Esq., who consequently
found himself entitled to the reward of 50l. so liberally offered
by the patrons of botany at Dublin for the discovery of a new
Irish plant. We adopt the name by which Mr. Templeton
has communicated wild specimens to us, for the singularity
of the anecdote, and that we may not rob him or his countrymen
of a particle of their honours. Otherwise we profess
ourselves totally adverse to geographical specific names, except
of the most comprehensive kinds, like lorealis, europcea,
americana, &c.
This is easily known from every described Rose with a globose
germen, by the above characters. The fruit indeed is
slightly elongated upwards, so as to approach an ovate figure,
but is always round and broad at the base. The stem is 6 feet
high, upright, much branched and very prickly. Prickles
scattered, slightly hooked or deflexed. Leaflets broad-ovate
or roundish, smooth, their ribs and veins hairy at the back,
as in R. collina and scabriuscula, t. 1895, 1896. Flower-
stalks often solitary, often 2 or 3 together, smooth. Petals
pale blush-coloured. Styles distinct at the base. It is remarkable
for continuing in blossom from the early part of
June till the middle of November. The scarlet fruit distinguishes
this species from every variety of R. spinosissima,
1. 187.