Problems in elm and rose Identifications
were also on the teeth of the multi-serrate leaflets. Group Transitoriae had eight plants - the leaflets
having irregular teeth, large alternating with smaller ones, with little brownish glands on the tips and
on the stipules. Nine belonged to the Group Pubescentes - the underside of the leaflets hairy on the
mid-rib and veins, and on the petiole and rachis too.
R. canina also hybridises with other species. The other parent of one commonly-occurring cross,
Rosa caesia ssp. vosagiaca (N.Desp.) D.H.Kent, is not found in the area, so it must be maintained
in some way other than by the production of first generation (Fl) hybrids. Twenty-seven plants
conformed to the characteristics of the refereed specimens of R. caesia vosagiaca x canina. They
were recorded as R. x dumalis Bechst., because it is impossible to know which parent was male and
which female (it is standard practice to put the female parent first when listing the origin of a
hybrid.) Red stems, hairless leaflets which are blue-green below, bracts partly enclosing fairly
short pedicels, a low wide fuzz of stigmas with hairs amongst them, together with early-falling
sepals, are the main characteristics of R. x dumalis.
There were hybrids of canina with R. tomentosa, recorded as R. x scabriuscula Sm.; R. canina x
obtusifolia (R. x dumetorum Thuill.); and R. stylosa x canina (R. x andegavensis Bast). Two were
identified as R. canina x R. micrantha (R. x toddiae Wolley Dod).
Further species
Rosa micrantha Borrer ex Sm., the Small-flowered Sweet-briar, produces its apple scent from the
many glands on its leaflets, where they can be seen among the dense,short hairs on the underside.
Hips and pedicels are glandular too. This species was found in the hedge (8 plants), and in Witch
Wood, where a large bush bordered the western track. They start to cast their scent as early as
February, from their tightly-clenched green buds, and continue until the hips wither in late October
or November. This species has withstood quite brutal 'management'.
Rosa stylosa Desv., the Columnar-styled Dog-rose, was elusive. Several specimens were sent to
A.L.Primavesi for identification, and each time the verdict was "nearly, but not quite stylosa".
Finally, a specimen from a very large bush on the inner edge of the west track of Witch Wood
proved to be R. stylosa (Primavesi pers. comm.). Its long leaflets, well separated on their thorny
rachis, stem thorns with a deep curve below and a bent tip, the long glandular petioles carrying the
hips with a cone on top, through which protrudes a bundle of styles topped by a little loose brush of
stigmas, and finally the grey bloom on the cone in autumn, verified the identification.
Discussion II
Total number of different roses
Despite many hours spent recording and tagging each plant along the hedge, during the following
winter it was found that some plants, assumed to have a common stock, were in fact distinct. The
nearest estimate of the number of different rose plants along the study hedge is 62 on the north side
and 102 on the south; a total of 164 in 333 metres!
Witch Wood also had its complement of roses, more frequently on the edges, but with one or two
monstrous bushes under trees, growing up aggressively through the shade to scramble over the
branches into the light. These bushes had exceptionally thick stems, and strong armature. However,
although one seemed to be close to R. tomentosa, the others could not be determined. R. arvensis
occurs along the northern and north-eastern edges, and occasionally on the western side. All the
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 18 (2001)
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