roses

There are numerous rose recorded from Britain. The BSBI records the following species.

1. Rosa agrestis (small-leaved sweet briar)


2. Rosa arvensis (field rose)


3. Rosa blanda


4. Rosa caesia (hairy and glaucous dog roses)


5. Rosa canina (dog rose)


6. Rosa carolina (Carolina rose)


7. Rosa centifolia (cabbage rose)


8. Rosa chinensis (China rose)


9. Rosa ferruginea (red-leaved rose)


10. Rosa gallica (red rose)


11. Rosa lucieae (memorial rose)


12. Rosa majalis


13. Rosa micrantha (small-flowered sweet brian)


14. Rosa mollis (soft downy rose)


15. Rosa multiflora (many-flowered rose)


16. Rosa noisettiana (Noisette rose)


17. Rosa obtusifolia (round-leaved dog rose)


18. Rosa pendulina (alpine rose)


19. Rosa rubinginosa (sweet briar)


20. Rosa rugosa (Japanese rose)


21. Rosa sempervirens


22. Rosa sericea


23. Rosa setigera (Prairie rose)


24. Rosa sherardii (Sherrard's downy rose)


25. Rosa spinosissima (burnet rose)


26. Rosa stylosa (short-styled field rose)


27. Rosa tomentosa (harsh downy rose)


28. Rosa virginiana (Virginian rose)


29. Rosa willmottiana

and many hybrids between these species.

Several of these are aliens, occurring infrequently, and in restricted locations.

The taxonomy of roses is difficult, and other sources list other species, or at least other names.

I've been looking at roses growing in the area, but I'm only attempting to identify them as far as one of several aggregates. Even when the aggregate contains only one species, the possibility of hybrids being present has to be taken into account.

Rosa pimpinellifolia (an alternative name to Rosa spinosissima for the Burnet rose)agg.: apart from the existence of several hybrids, diploid ("pimpinellifolia") and tetraploid ("spinosissima") cytotypes are known, but I haven't found a statement of which cytotype(s) are present. These can be recognised by the erect stems, the smaller and more numerous leaflets of the leaf, the presence of both erect (not hooked) thorns and prickles, and, in fruit, the dark hips. I have seen these at two locations.

Rosa arvensis agg.: this can be identified by the fused, columnar, styles. I have seen this at three locations.

Rosa multiflora: shares with the preceding the fused, columnar, styles, but the flowers are smaller, and occur in heads containing many more individual flowers. I have seen this, but outside the Florula Prima area, and in a location where it may have been planted, rather than spontaneous.

Rosa rubiginosa agg.: these (RR. rubiginosa and micrantha) can be identified by the glandular leaves which produce an aromatic odour when rubbed or crushed. (The darker pink flowers are a marker that at least presents candidates for checking the foliage.) I have seen these at two locations.

Rosa tomentosa agg.: these (RR. tomentosa, sherrardii and mollis) can be identified by the dull, downy, leaves. Unless I have overlooked them for some reason I have not seen these.

Rosa stylosa: this can be identified by the conical disc. I now believe that my previous identification of plants as belonging to this species was in error, having confusing the "styles forming a cone" of other species with the conical disc.

Rosa agrestris: I have not seen this.

Rosa rugosa: This is easily recognised by the larger, rough, foliage, and larger, red, flowers. I have seen this at one locality alongside the nearer canal.

Rosa canina agg.: these (RR. canina, caesia and obtusifolia) is the commonest rose in the area. It is identified more by elimination of the other possibilities than anything else, but markers included pale flowers, arching stems, and recurved thorns.