15. Rosa x damascena Mill., Gard. Dict. ed. 8. 2: No. 15. 1768. Lindl., Ros. Monogr. 63. 1820, Willm.,The genus Rosa 2, 19: 369. 1912.
Jerzy Zieliński
Herbarium, Institute of Dendrology, PL-62-035, Kórnik (near Poznań), Poland.
Stems erect, up to 1.5(-2) m tall. Prickles usually ± curved, weakly compressed, subulate, usually mixed witth stalked glands and setae. Leaflets glabrous or very sparsely hairy above, paler, softly hairy beneath. Flowers 3-5 or more, pink, rarely white, double, usually smelling. Pedicels rather long, covered with stalked glands. Hypanthium usually covered with stalked glands. Fruit globose or ovoid, often undeveloped.
Type: Described on the specimens cultivated in England.
Accoridng to R. R. Stewart (l. c. 1972) Rosa x damascene is commonly cultivated in Pakistan, however, I have seen no reliable specimen of this rose among availale herbarium material.
An old taxon known already in antiquity, originated in the eastern Mediterranean region. Probably a hybrid between Rosa gallica L. and some species from the section Synstylae, possibly Rosa Phoenicia Boiss. Very polymorphic, with many local forms, often difficult to distinguish from Rosa x alba. It is used in some countries as a source of ‘the rose oil’ for the perfume production. It is one of the parent of many noble garden roses.
