Sherard's Downy-rose
Scientific name: Rosa sherardii Davies
Diagnostic features
Differs from Rosa tomentosa in more compact habit, to 1.5(2)m.
Prickles more slender.
Flowers 2.5-4cm across, usually deep pink, sometimes white.
Fruit 1.5-2.5cm, usually globose to obovoid.
Orifice of disc c.1/3-1/2 its total width.
Pedicels 0.5-1.5cm.
Sepals erect to suberect, with lateral lobes, persistent until fruit ripe but falling before its decay.
Orifice of disc c.1/3 its total width.
Styles woolly.
Chromosome number: 2n=28, 35, 42.
Habitat
Native; scrub, hedges and open woods.
Distribution
Throughout most of Britain and Ireland but common in Scotland and rare in Southeast England.
This species is keyed out on Page 2367 in the Text Key.
The following additional hybrids have been recorded:
- Rosa arvensis x Rosa sherardii and Rosa sherardii x Rosa arvensis; Leics.
- 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 stylosa x Rosa sherardii; Wales and Co Carlow.
- Rosa x rothschildii Druce (= Rosa canina x Rosa sherardii and Rosa sherardii x Rosa canina); most of British Isles but rare in Southeast 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 obtusifolia x Rosa sherardii only); Worcs.
- Rosa x suberectiformis Wolley-Dod (= Rosa tomentosa x Rosa sherardii and Rosa sherardii x Rosa tomentosa); British Isles South to South Lancs, Cards, West Cork and Co Kildare.
- Rosa x perthensis Rouy (= Rosa sherardii x Rosa mollis and Rosa mollis x Rosa sherardii) ( Synonym: Rosa x shoolbredii Wolley-Dod); British Isles South to Northwest Yorks, South Wales and Co Louth.
- Rosa x suberecta (Woods) Ley ( = Rosa sherardii x Rosa rubiginosa and Rosa rubiginosa x Rosa sherardii); British Isles South to Leics, Flints and Mid Cork.
- Rosa sherardii x Rosa micrantha; Mid Wales and West Cork.
- Rosa sherardii x Rosa agrestis and Rosa agrestis x Rosa sherardii); Central Ireland. |
