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.
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.
