Burnet Rose
Scientific name: Rosa pimpinellifolia L.
Diagnostic features
Strongly suckering.
Stems erect, to 50(100)cm, with numerous slender prickles and acicles.
Leaves glabrous or sparsely pubescent on lowerside, 1(-2)-serrate, without or with sparse glands.
Flowers white, rarely pale pink, 2-4cm across.
Fruit ± globose, blackish-purple, rather dry, with erect sepals, 0.5-1.5(2)cm.
Chromosome number: 2n=28.
Habitat
Native; dry sandy places near sea, on inland heaths and limestone.
Distribution
Round most coasts of British Isles, very local inland.
This species is keyed out on Page 2350 in the Text Key.
The following hybrids occur. All but the first can be recognized in the same way as Rosa arvensis hybrids with species of Section Caninae; several resemble Rosa pimpinellifolia but have red fruits.
Hybrids
- Rosa pimpinellifolia x Rosa rugosa was found in Co. Waterford in 1997.
- Rosa x hibernica Templeton (= Rosa pimpinellifolia x Rosa canina and Rosa canina x Rosa pimpinellifolia); very scattered in British Isles North to South Scotland.
- Rosa x margerisonii (Wolley-Dod) Wolley-Dod (= Rosa pimpinellifolia x Rosa caesia and Rosa caesia x Rosa pimpinellifolia) (Synonym: Rosa x setonensis Wolley-Dod) (both sspp. of Rosa caesia); North England, Scotland and North Ireland.
- Rosa x andrzejowskii Boreau (= Rosa pimpinellifolia x Rosa tomentosa and Rosa tomentosa x Rosa pimpinellifolia) (Synonym: Rosa x coronata Crép. ex Reut.); North Wales, North Ireland and South England North to Warks.
- Rosa x involuta Sm. (= Rosa pimpinellifolia x Rosa sherardii and Rosa sherardii x Rosa pimpinellifolia); most of British Isles but rare in South England.
- Rosa x sabinii Woods (= Rosa pimpinellifolia x Rosa mollis and Rosa mollis x Rosa pimpinellifolia); scattered over British Isles but rare in South & Central England.
- Rosa x biturigensis Boreau (= Rosa pimpinellifolia x Rosa rubiginosa and Rosa rubiginosa x Rosa pimpinellifolia)(Synonym: Rosax cantiana (Wolley-Dod) Wolley-Dod, Rosa x moorei (Baker) Wolley-Dod); very scattered in England, Scotland and Ireland.
- Rosa x caviniacensis Ozanon (= Rosa pimpinellifolia x Rosa agrestis) was found in Fermanagh in 1900. |
