Rosa omeiensis Rolfe (E. Himalaya to China: China North-Central, China South-Central, East Himalaya, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Tibet as per POWO)
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. . . It might be assumed that Rosa would be an EASY genus identification-wise but that is not necessarily the case. The situation is complicated by quite a number of roses being cultivated and naturalising in the Himalaya to a lesser or greater extend – some of which are of hybrid origin.
There CLEARLY has been confusion between Rosa webbiana and SOME forms of R.macrophylla.
Plus, it seems botanists at the University of Kashmir were not aware of Rosa nanothamnus Boulenger – which is recorded from Srinagar, even the hills above Dal Lake.
What about Rosa corymbifera Borkh. (white flowers) which Stewart records from Pahlgam and Tangmarg @ 2100-2700m?
Sharing some information available through The Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland about Rosa may help (although applying specifically to UK roses) explains that the genus often presents major difficulties.
There is a Referee for Rosa. He prefers FRESH fruiting to be sent. A portion of the stem with fully developed hips is required along with c. 20cm of mature leading stem (not suckers) with leaves and characteristic prickles. Samples of sepals should, where possible, be included. There is a Rosa Handbook which I do not have. Full details of each specimen should be provided including habitat, date, collector and grid reference. Complex hybrids of wild roses are occasionally found which cannot satisfactorily be named without recourse to genetics.
MATERIAL IN FLOWER IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE (meaning confidently IDENTIFY CORRECTLY and RELIABLY).
I do not know if the situation with Rosa in the Himalaya is as complex as this? Stewart (1972) did not comment about such complexities or perhaps, 40+ years ago was unaware of them.
Grierson in Flora of Bhutan (which also covers Sikkim) Vol 1 Part III (1987) also does not mention such complexities but also may not, some 30 years ago have been aware of them – or, perhaps, felt it was beyond the scope of that ‘Flora’.
The eFI data-base should be aware of such potential complexities. Rosa was covered within the Fascicle for Flora of Pakistan, which would have represented an advance on what was known to Stewart. I do not have a printed copy of this.
I have taken a look at the entry for Rosa in the eflora of Pakistan. I MUCH prefer the PRINTED accounts of each family as the electronic
versions are abbreviated. I do not know the author or date of publication for Rosaceae.
Nevertheless, the author states Rosa is a genus of c. 200 species… taxonomically very complex. The species are usually quite variable whilst infraspecific differences are sometimes subtle. The genetic barriers between many species are rather weak, as a result intensive hybridisation and introgression are found especially in regions destroyed due to human activity. Numerous beautiful roses of hybrid origin are cultivated in gardens, squares and parks.
MUCH more study is required…. . Fwd: SONG OF THE FLOWER ( KAHLIL GIBRAN ) : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (1)
Here is a composition of Kahlil Gibran printed on image of rose. . Rosa (Rosaceae) page with images of species in efloraofindia : 1 post by 1 author.
Pl. go through Rosa (Rosaceae) page with images of species in efloraofindia.
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