Rose species

Rose species

  • The number of species under the genus Rosa recorded in different literatures, varies from 120 – 200.
    SOME IMPORTANT SPECIES AND THEIR DESCRIPTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
    1. Rosa X alba (White rose) [R. corymbifera x R. gallica)
    • An erect bush with glaucous (grayish blue) foliage.
    • Flower white, semi double, fragrant and born in clusters.
    • It was under cultivation before 1597.
    2. R. banksiae (Banksian rose;1796)
    • A vigorous evergreen climber, grow upto 9 m hight.
    • Stems are thorn less with yellow-green foliage.
    • Flowers are white or pale yellow.
    • Originated in Western China.
    3. R. borboniana (R. chinensis x R. damascena semperflorens) Bourbon Rose
    • Vigorous shrub with erect shoots.
    • Stem dark green with hooked prickles.
    • Floriferous over a long season.
    • Flowers double, deep rosy red, scented and flowers are 7.5 cm diameter.
    • It was under cultivation in 1817.
    4. R. canina (Dog Rose)
    • Vigorous and very prickly shrub having stout stem.
    • Foliage toothed all round margins.
    • Flowers single, white or pink scented, small and in clusters.
    • Hips are oval in shape.
    • Chiefly used as root stock for budding or grafting.
    • Popular in Britain, N-Europe and W-Asia
    5. R. centifolia (Cabbage Rose) (1596)
    • Is a complex hybrid which contains four species viz., R. gallica, R. phoenicia, R. moschata and R. camria.
    • Loose growing shrub.
    • Medium in vigour.
    • Flowers large, fully double with overlapping petals, deep pink with a slight purplish blue towards centre.
    6. R. chinensis {Syn. R. indica (China Rose;1759)}
    • A large climbing evergreen shrub.
    • Flowers single, blush-pink, pink or crimson, rarely white in colour.
    • Non fragrant.
    • Native of China.
    7. R. clinophyllia Syn. R. involucrate (Wild rose of Bengal)
    • An erect or semi-climbing compact shrub with blackish bark.
    • Leaves are composed of 5-9 leaflets.
    • Flowers are white, appear solitary or in small clusters.
    • Fruits roundish, hairy and pale.
    • Native of Bengal.
    8. R. damascene (Damask Rose)
    • R. gallica x R. phoenicia (Summer damask rose );
    • R. gallica x R. inoschata or R. canina
    • A strong climber with white flowers in clusters.
      Autumn Damask – R. bifera came from Rosa gallica
      Crossed with R. moschata x R. canina
    • Vigorous shrub with exquisite fragrance (Sweet scented)
    • Flowers in large clusters, semi-double.
    9. R. eglanteria syn. R. rubiginosa (Sweet Brier) (1551)
    • Vigorous shrub with dense prickly branches.
    • Small leaflets with scented foliage.
    • Flowers bear singly or in clusters.
    • Hips are bright red and rounded.
    • Native to North-Europe including Britain.
    10. R. foetida syn. R. lutea, R. eglanteria (Austrian Briar rose)
    • Erect shrub, with prickly stem.
    • Flowers single, bright golden yellow
    • Native to India
    11. R. gallica syn. R. rubra (French rose) (1542)
    • Thorn less but an abundance of small prickles.
    • Foliage dark green.
    • Flowers single, purplish – crimson, in small clusters.
    • Hips sub-globose dark red.
    • Native to Central and Southern Europe.
    12. R. giganteana syn. odorata var. gigantean (Manipur Tea Rose)
    • Very vigorous climber with thick, hooked prickles on the glabrous stem.
    • Foliage dark glassy green, partially evergreen.
    • Flowers large (7.5 – 12.5 cm across), white or pale yellow.
    • Fragrant, borne singly.
    • Common in Manipur, Nagaland and Sikkim
    • Native to Western China.
    • An important ancestor of the Tea, Hybrid Tea and Noisette roses.
    13. R. moschata (Musk rose)
    • A vigorous climber with reddish, sparsely prickly stem and evergreen.
    • Foliage very fine and flossy, bright green.
    • Flowers white, usually semi-double but sometimes single with musk fragrance.
    • Hips ovate, orange – red or dark brown.
    • Native to Middle East Himalayas.
    14. R. multiflora
    • A deciduous shrub with vigorous climbing branches.
    • Foliage with upto 9 leaflet.
    • Flowers single, white with golden yellow stamens.
    • Born in clusters, scented.
    • Hips are small, red, oval.
    • Originated in North China, Korea & Japan.
    • Introduced to India in 1872.
    15. R. wichuraiana (Memorial rose)
    • A vigorous rambler, producing single flowers – white with yellow centre.
    • Scented, produce in large clusters.
    • Hips small, ovoid, dark red.
    • Originated in Japan, East China, Korea & Taiwan.
    • Introduced to India in 1891.
    16. R. persica syn. berberifolia (Rose of Persia)
    • Dwarf shrub with silvery-grey foliage.
    • Flowers deep golden yellow, single.
    • Hips are small.
    • Native to Iran, Afghanistan and USSR.
    17. R. rugosa (Ramanas rose, Rugosa rose)
    • A vigorous erect shrub distinguished by strong, sturdy growth and bright apple-green foliage on very prickly stems.
    • Flowers in small clusters, single, large, purplish rose to violet – carmine.
    • Slightly scented, variable in colour
    • Hips large, rounded, orange-scarlet and very decorative.
    • Originated in China, Japan & Korea.
    • Used as root stock also.
Last modified: Wednesday, 20 June 2012, 6:31 AM