Rosa mollis

Soft Downy-rose

Scientific name: Rosa mollis Sm.

Diagnostic features
Differs from Rosa tomentosa and Rosa sherardii in more compact habit with erect stems to 1.5(2)m.
Fresh leaves often more strongly resinous-scented.
Prickles more slender, straight.
Flowers 3-4.5cm across, usually very deep pink, rarely white.
Fruit 1.5-3cm, usually globose.
Orifice of disc c.2/5-1/2 its total width.
Pedicels 0.5-1.5cm.
Sepals erect, simple to slightly lobed, persisting until fruit decays.
Styles woolly.

Chromosome number: 2n=28, 56.

Habitat and distribution
Native; similar habitats and range to Rosa sherardii, but South to only Glam and Derbys.

This species is keyed out on Page 2351 and Page 2367 in the Text Key.

The following additional hybrids has been recorded:
- 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 molletorum Hesl.-Harr. (= Rosa canina x Rosa mollis and Rosa mollis x Rosa canina); Scotland and England South to Staffs.
- Rosa x glaucoides Wolley-Dod (= Rosa caesia x Rosa mollis and Rosa mollis xRosa caesia); both sspp. of Rosa caesia); Scotland and England South to Derbys.
- Rosa tomentosa x Rosa mollis; South Lancs and Staffs.
- 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 molliformis Wolley-Dod (= Rosa mollis x Rosa rubiginosa and Rosa rubiginosa x Rosa mollis); scattered in Scotland.

Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Angiospermophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Superorder Rosiflorae
Order Rosales
Family Rosaceae
Subfamily Rosoideae
Genus Rosa
Section Caninae
Species Rosa mollis

Rosa mollis Sm.
Rosa villosa auct. non L.

Soft Downy-rose (English)
Downy-rose, Soft [English]
Rose, Soft Downy- [English]

Hybrids
Rosa sabinii(x) Woods [Hybrid]
(= Rosa pimpinellifolia x Rosa mollis)

Rosa molletorum(x) Hesl.-Harr. [Hybrid]
(= Rosa canina x Rosa mollis)

Rosa glaucoides(x) Wolley-Dod [Hybrid]
(= Rosa caesia x Rosa mollis)

Rosa tomentosa x Rosa mollis [Hybrid]

Rosa perthensis(x) Rouy [Hybrid]
(= Rosa sherardii x Rosa mollis)
Rosa shoolbredii(x) Wolley-Dod (syn.) [Hybrid]

Rosa molliformis(x) Wolley-Dod [Hybrid]
(=Rosa mollis x Rosa rubiginosa)

Graham, G.G. & A.L. Primavesi, 1993. Roses of Great Britain and Ireland. BSBI Handbook No. 7. Botanical Society of the British Isles, London. Illustrated by Margaret Gold.

Rosa mollis 2 (Fruiting, var. mollis, picture taken in Banffs by M. McCallum Webster)
Rosa mollis 3 (Flowering, picture taken in E Perth by T. Mundell)
Rosa mollis a (Fruiting branch, part of stem, leaf detail, and fruits, drawing by M. Gold in Graham & Primavesi, 1993; BSBI Handbook 7)
Rosa mollis b (Fruit, drawing by H. Thompson in Stace, 1997)