CHARACTER SPECIFICUS.
Rosa germinibus globosis, lucidis, et sericeis, ad basin bracteis sericeis dentatis instructis: floribus albis: foliis buxeis: foliolis sub-ovatis, serrulatis, lucidis: pedunculis et petiolis aculeatissimis: caule aculeatissimo, tomentoso: ramis flexuosis, patentibus.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Rose with round seed-buds, shining, and silky, furnished at the base with silky toothed floral leaves. Flowers white. Leaves resembling box. Leaflets nearly egg-shaped, finely sawed, and shining. Peduncles and petioles very prickly. Stem very prickly and downy. Branches flexuose and spreading.
This perfectly distinct species of Rose was introduced from China to this country by Lord Macartney, on his return from his embassy to that court. It is perfectly known under the title of Macartney Rose, and also by the name of lucida, which we have retained: not that we think it is the best name that might have been applied; for lucida is by no means the exclusive character of the present species, and the appellative of buxifolia or bracteata would have been more appropriate, as they could not have been well applied to any other Rose at present known. But, probably, at a future period, some variety of this species, either imported or cultivated in this country, may enable us to make use of these specifics.
Our figure was taken from a luxuriant specimen of this fine training Rose, communicated by the Hon. W. Irby.
