Hairy or Glaucous Dog-rose
Scientific name: Rosa caesia Sm.
Diagnostic features
Stems arching, to 2(3)m, with strongly curved to hooked prickles.
Leaflets mostly 1-serrate, with few or witout glands.
Flowers and fruit as in Rosa canina except flowers 3-5cm across, fruit 2-3cm.
Pedicels 0.5-1.5cm, glabrous.
Orifice of disc c.1/3 its total width.
Styles woolly, forming dense mass ± obscuring disc.
Sepals mostly erect to erecto-patent after flowering, usually persistent until fruit ripe.
Habitat
Native; hedges, scrub and wood-borders.
Distribution
Throughout most of North 3/4 of British Isles, rare and very scattered in South.
Distribution of 2 subspecies similar, but Rosa caesia vosagiaca is much commoner in North & Northwest Scotland.
Key to the subspecies:
a. Stems green or somewhat red; leaflets rugose, scarcely glaucous, pubescent on lowerside.
......................... Rosa caesia caesia.
b. Stems often strongly red-coloured and glaucous; leaflets scarcely rugose, glabrous, glaucous.
......................... Rosa caesia vosagiaca.
The following additional hybrids have been recorded:
- Rosa arvensis x Rosa caesia vosagiaca; Central England.
- 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 stylosa x Rosa caesia vosagiaca; Southwest England North to Hunts and Worcs.
- Rosa x dumalis Bechst. (= Rosa canina x Rosa caesia and Rosa caesia x Rosa canina) (Synonyms: Rosa x subcanina (H. Christ) Dalla Torre & Sarnth., Rosa x subcollina (H. Christ) Dalla Torre & Sarnth.) ( both sspp. of Rosa caesia); most of British Isles, often common.
- Rosa caesia vosagiaca x Rosa obtusifolia; Central England.
- Rosa x cottetii (H. Christ) Lagger & Puget ex Cottet (= Rosa caesia vosagiaca x Rosa tomentosa and Rosa tomentosa x Rosa caesia vosagiaca) (Synonym: Rosa x rogersii Wolley-Dod); Central & North England.
- Rosa caesia x Rosa sherardii and Rosa sherardii x Rosa caesia (?= Rosa x alpestris S. Rapin ex Reut.) (both sspp. of Rosa caesia); British Isles South to Leics, Brecs and Meath.
- Rosa x glaucoides Wolley-Dod (= Rosa caesia x Rosa mollis and Rosa mollis x Rosa caesia); both sspp. of Rosa caesia); Scotland and England South to Derbys.
- Rosa x obovata (Baker) Ley non Raf. (= Rosa caesia x Rosa rubiginosa and Rosa rubiginosa x Rosa caesia); both sspp. of Rosa caesia); Scotland and England South to Derbys.
- Rosa x longicolla Ravaud ex Rouy (= Rosa caesia x Rosa micrantha only; Rosa caesia vosagiaca only); Brecs. |
