SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Rose, with many-flowered panicles, scented like musk; peduncles villose, petioles prickly; the leaflets are oblong, pointed, and smooth; the spines of the branches are broad, scattered, and straight.
This variety of the Musk Rose differs but little, if at all, from the single, except in its semi-double flowers, which in that particular give to the plant a very distinct appearance; but in every other respect it is so closely allied, that it may justly be called the prototype of the former; more especially as upon the single plant double flowers have sometimes been found, but not frequent; and careful cultivation has now rendered it a circumstance of very rare occurrence. Its blossoms certainly form a richer appearance than the single; their fragrance is by some thought stronger, by others weaker; on the propriety of which we shall make no further comment, than merely to observe that we regard an appeal to the olfactory organs of all references the most imperfect.
This plant, as well as the former, is frequently on the upper part of the branches free from spines, but on the lower part of the stems they are extremely large and strong.
Our figure was made from plants in the nursery of Messrs. Colville, King’s Road.
