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WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

22.) ROSA - Roses

It is difficult to understand the taxonomy In Riddelsdell (1948) which got quite out of hand. Each species having it's own selection of forms and varieties. At that time it was not understood just how frequently roses hybridised.

ROSA L.

Section SYNSTYLAE DC.

  • Rosa multiflora Thunb. (var. multiflora) (Many-flowered Rose) General Scarce A scrambling garden plant which is sometimes discarded and persists in wild places. First recorded locally at Shirehampton? in 2000s by ? [BSBI record].

[There are more records on BSBI]

  • Rosa luciae Franch. & Rochebr. ex Crép. (Memorial Rose) General Very Rare Was recorded at Yate in 2010s by ? [BSBI record].

  • Rosa arvensis Huds. (Field-rose) / Woodland Frequent Common in woodland, scrub and hedges; looking very different depending on whether it's growing in shade (more spindly) or out in the open (more robust) and the leaf-shape is very variable.

  • Rosa arvensis x R. stylosa = R. x pseudorusticana Crép. ex Preston (Field x Short-styled Field-rose) Woodland Very Rare Was recorded at Compton Martin in 1990 and 1991 by A.P. Pockson and determined by A.L. Primavesi. Historically recorded from a "Boggy field under Lansdown...Miss Roper" (White, 1912) [as R. stylosa var. pseudo-rusticana] and in the Avon Gorge? pre-1930s by ? [BSBI record]. It probably exists widely throughout the range of R. stylosa.

  • Rosa arvensis x R. canina = R. x irregularis Déségl. & Guillon (R. x verticillacantha Mérat) (Field x Dog-rose) Woodland Very Rare Was recorded at Compton Martin in 1990 and 1991 by A.P. Pockson and determined by A.L. Primavesi and most recently from Odd Down in 2010s by ? [BSBI record]. It probably exists widely throughout the region.

[There are other historical BSBI records]

  • Rosa arvensis x R. squarrosa (Field Rose x Glandular Dog-rose) Woodland Very Rare Was recorded at Hengrove Mounds, Bristol in 2023 by D. Peters. It probably exists widely throughout the region.

Section PIMPINELLIFOLIAE DC.

  • Rosa spinosissima L. (var. spinosissima) (Burnet Rose) General Rare As a native very rare; occurring in open scrub on well-drained soils but most recent records are probably of planted origin. Nationally this is predominantly a coastal species of dunes and it used to exist at Clevedon and Weston-super Mare.

[Find out information from BSBI records]

Section CASSIORHODON Dumort.

  • Rosa rugosa Thunb. (Japanese Rose) / General Scarce Widely planted as a boundary hedge and often very persistent after abandonment and sometimes escapes. It is established and invasive on the dunes at Sand Bay.

  • (Rosa rugosa x R. majalis =) Rosa 'Hollandica' (Dutch Rose) General Very Rare Was found in a planted hedge outside the Quakers Burial Ground, Redcliffe, Bristol in 2022 by D. Peters.

Section CAROLINAE Crép.

  • Rosa virginiana Mill. (ssp. virginiana) (Virginian Rose) General Very Rare Was found at Portbury Industrial Estate in 2013 by C.M. Lovatt; at Pilning in 2013 by J.P. Martin and at Shirehampton in 2010s by ? [BSBI record].

Section ROSA

  • (Rosa gallica x R. corymbifera =) R. x alba L. (White Rose) Woodland Very Rare One small shrub was recorded bird-sown at the base of some railings outside Horfield Lodge, Horfield Common in 2023 by D. Peters and later found to be present in a few spots around the nearby tennis courts. Otherwise recorded in the past only from east of Bristol in 1980s by ? [BSBI record].

Section CANINAE DC.

  • Rosa glauca Pourr. (non Vill. ex Loisel.) (Red-leaved Rose) General Very Rare - [As Rosa ferruginea on DB] A small self-seeded plant was recorded at Portbury Industrial Estate in 2013 by C.M. Lovatt and also at Bath in 2010s by ? [BSBI record].

  • Rosa stylosa Desv. (Short-styled Field-rose) / Woodland Uncommon Widely distributed but not particularly common in hedgerows, scrub and woodland edge. There appears to have been a massive lack of recording since the turn of the century rather than a genuine decline. It is distinguished in flower by its exserted styles which are fused into a short column not reaching the height of the stamens, reflexed sepals which are pinnately lobed, leaves which are hairy underneath, uniserrate and not glandular. And particularly conspicuous in fruit by its conical-shaped discs and stubbly glandular-hairy pedicels.

  • Rosa stylosa x R. canina = R. x andegavensis Bastard (Short-styled Field-rose x Dog-rose) Woodland Very Rare Widespread and probably fairly frequent due to the parents being frequent. Historically this hybrid was recorded as R. canina var. andegavensis.

  • Rosa stylosa x R. squarrosa (Short-styled Field-rose x Glandular Dog-rose) Woodland Very Rare Recorded at Hengrove Mounds, Bristol in 2023 by D. Peters. It probably occurs widely throughout the region due to the frequency of both parents.

  • Rosa stylosa x R. vosagiaca (R. stylosa x R. dumalis Bechst. ssp. dumalis) (R. stylosa x R. caesia ssp. glauca) (Short-styled Field-rose x Glaucous Dog-rose) Woodland Extinct - [As Rosa caesia glauca x stylosa on DB] Was recorded in a hedgerow north of Compton Martin in 1991 by A.P. Pockson and determined by A.L. Primavesi and historically from the Avon Gorge pre-1930s by ? and east Bristol pre-1930s by ? [BSBI records]. It is likely to be rediscovered in the region one day.

  • Rosa stylosa x R. agrestis = R. x belnensis auct. non Ozanon (Short-styled Field-rose x Small-leaved Sweet-briar) Woodland Extinct Recorded at Walton Common in 1995 by C. Greenway and historically from the south-west of the region pre-1930s by ? [BSBI record].

  • Rosa canina agg. (Dog-rose) Woodland Common As an aggregate common and ubiquitous in hedges and woodland throughout the region. This group supposedly encompasses R. canina, R. squarrosa, R. corymbifera and their hybrids. Pure R. canina appears to actually be very rare with us. The vast majority of our Rosa canina is likely to be R. squarrosa and their hybrid R. x insignis but recorders might assume that all hedge roses will be Dog-rose when on closer inspection they turn out to be other taxa and so the map might as-well represent a map of the genus.

  • Rosa canina L. (Common Dog-rose) / Woodland Rare Said to be common but on close inspection, many plants turn out to be in part hybrids with R. squarrosa. True R. canina is in fact probably very rare with us.

  • Rosa canina x R. squarrosa = R. x insignis Déségl. (Common x Glandular Dog-rose) Woodland Frequent The most common rose hybrid by far and possibly even the most common rose in the region. Varying greatly in intermediacy between the two parents but generally told by having a few scattered stalked glands on the rachis and leaves with a mixture of uniserrate and bi or multiserrate teeth with red glands.

  • Rosa canina x R. caesia = ?R. x subcollina (Christ) Vuk. (R. x dumalis Bechst.) (Common x Northern Dog-rose) Woodland Very Rare Recorded only recently from Walton Common in 2013 by R.D. Randall. Otherwise found at Compton Martin in 1990 by A.P. Pockson and determined by A.L. Primavesi and historically from the Avon Gorge pre-1930s by ? and at Clevedon? in 1940s by? [BSBI records].

  • Rosa canina x R. vosagiaca (R. canina × R. dumalis Bechst.) = R. x subcanina (Christ) Vuk. (Common x Glaucous Dog-rose) Woodland Extinct - [As Rosa caesia glauca x canina on DB] Was recorded at Compton Martin in 1991 by A.P. Pockson and determined by A.L. Primavesi and historically from the north of the region pre-1930s by ? and the south-east of the region pre-1930s by ? [BSBI records].

  • Rosa canina x R. tomentella (R. canina x R. balsamica Besser) (R. canina x R. obtusifolia Desv.) = R. x dumetorum Thuill. (Common x Round-leaved Dog-rose) Woodland Rare - [As R. canina x obtusifolia = R. x dumetorum? on DB] Widely scattered over the region in hedges and scrubby pastures on well-drained soils; mainly in the hilly districts. It is probably under-recorded.

  • Rosa corymbifera Borkh. (Hairy Dog-rose) Woodland Uncommon Only recently split from the R. canina group but appears to be widespread in hedges, scrub and woodland edge and is probably fairly frequent throughout the region.

  • Rosa corymbifera x R. squarrosa = R. x hemitricha Ripart ex Déségl. (Hairy x Glandular Dog-rose) Woodland Uncommon Probably widespread and fairly frequent in hedges, scrub and woodland edge wherever the two parents meet.

  • Rosa squarrosa (A. Rau) Boreau (Glandular Dog-rose) Woodland Common Only recently split from the R. canina group but this is probably the commonest member of the Dog-roses in our region. Based on recent field work it is under-recorded and probably many records of the Rosa canina agg. should belong here.

  • Rosa caesia Sm. (Northern Dog-rose) Woodland Very Rare Was recorded at Kewstoke in 1995 by P. Green and most recently in a lane-side hedge at Backwell, Nailsea in 2022 by D. Peters. Though certainly very rare it should be expected to occur elsewhere.

  • Rosa vosagiaca (N.H.F. Desp.) Déségl. (R. dumalis Bechst. ssp. dumalis) (R. caesia Sm. ssp. glauca (Nyman) G.G. Graham & Primavesi) (Glaucous Dog-rose) Woodland Very Rare - [as R. caesia ssp. vosagiaca on DB] Was found at Weston Moor Nature Reserve in 1985 by S. Hedley and at Brown's Folly in 1988 by R.D. Randall and determined by G.G. Graham. Not seen anywhere since but should be rediscovered one day.

  • Rosa tomentella Léman (R. balsamica Besser) (Round-leaved Dog-rose) Woodland Very Rare - [as R. obtusifolia on DB] Very rare. Was recorded at Compton Dando in 1985 by S. Hedley and historically east of Bristol pre-1930s by ? [BSBI record].

  • Rosa tomentosa Sm. (Harsh Downy-rose) - Woodland Scarce A scarce and local species restricted to scrubby hills in the eastern high ground on Jurassic limestones.

  • Rosa sherardii Davies (Sherard's Downy-rose) Woodland Very Rare Very rare in scrub in the south-eastern portion of the region [BSBI records].

  • Rosa rubiginosa L. (Sweet-briar) / Woodland Scarce A scarce but fairly widespread species of hedges and open scrub. Now much better recorded than it was in the past - probably due to its distinctive features.

  • Rosa micrantha Borrer ex Sm. (Small-flowered Sweet-briar) - Woodland Scarce Rare in open scrub, bushy hillsides, hedges and open woodland on Carboniferous and Jurassic limestone; mainly in the south-western portion of the region.

  • Rosa micrantha x R. agrestis = R. x bishopii Wolley-Dod (Small-flowered x Small-leaved Sweet-briar) Woodland Very Rare This hybrid was discovered for the first time in the region at Walton Common in 1995 by C. Greenway and seen here again in 2011 by P. Millman.

  • Rosa agrestis Savi (Small-leaved Sweet-briar) Woodland Very Rare Very rare. Only found at several sites in the south-western portion of the region: Tickenham Hill; Common Hill, Walton-in-Gordano; Middle Hope; and Backwell. Historically also recorded from Uphill and Worlebury Camp.

List:

  • Rosa multiflora Thunb. (var. multiflora - Kew, GBIF) (Many-flowered Rose)
  • Rosa luciae Franch. & Rochebr. ex Crép. (Memorial Rose) - 1 BSBI record
  • Rosa arvensis Huds. (Field-rose) / Woodland
  • Rosa arvensis x R. stylosa = R. x pseudorusticana Crép. ex Preston (Field x Short-styled Field-rose) Woodland
  • Rosa arvensis x R. canina = R. x irregularis Déségl. & Guillon (Stace, NBN) verticillacantha Mérat - Kew, GBIF (old name) (Field x Dog-rose) Woodland
  • Rosa arvensis x R. squarrosa (Field Rose x Glandular Dog-rose) Woodland
  • Rosa spinosissima L. (var. spinosissima - Kew, GBIF) (Burnet Rose)
  • Rosa rugosa Thunb. (Japanese Rose) / General
  • (Rosa rugosa x R. majalis =) Rosa 'Hollandica' (Dutch Rose) General
  • Rosa virginiana Mill. (ssp. virginiana - Kew, GBIF) (Virginian Rose)
  • (Rosa gallica x R. corymbifera =) R. x alba L. (White Rose) Woodland
  • Rosa glauca Pourr. (non Vill. ex Loisel.) (Red-leaved Rose) - [As Rosa ferruginea on DB]
  • Rosa stylosa Desv. (Short-styled Field-rose) / Woodland
  • Rosa stylosa x R. canina = R. x andegavensis Bastard (Short-styled Field-rose x Dog-rose) Woodland
  • Rosa stylosa x R. squarrosa (Short-styled Field-rose x Glandular Dog-rose) Woodland
  • Rosa stylosa x R. vosagiaca (Stace) (R. dumalis Bechst. ssp. dumalis - Kew, GBIF) R. caesia ssp. vosagiaca (NBN) R. caesia ssp. glauca (old name) (Short-styled Field-rose x Glaucous Dog-rose) Woodland - [As Rosa caesia glauca x stylosa on DB]
  • Rosa stylosa x R. agrestis (= R. x belnensis auct. non Ozanon - Stace) (Short-styled Field-rose x Small-leaved Sweet-briar) Woodland
  • Rosa canina L. (Common Dog-rose) / Woodland
  • Rosa canina x R. squarrosa = R. x insignis Déségl. (Common x Glandular Dog-rose) Woodland
  • Rosa canina x R. caesia = ?R. x subcollina (Christ) Vuk. (Stace) R. x dumalis Bechst. (NBN) (Common x Northern Dog-rose) Woodland
  • Rosa canina x R. vosagiaca (R. canina × R. dumalis - Kew, GBIF) = R. x subcanina (Christ) Vuk. (Common x Glaucous Dog-rose) Woodland - [As Rosa caesia glauca x canina on DB]
  • Rosa canina x R. tomentella (Stace) (R. canina x R. balsamica - Kew, GBIF) R. obtusifolia Desv. (NBN) = R. x dumetorum Thuill. (Common x Round-leaved Dog-rose) Woodland - [As R. canina x obtusifolia = R. x dumetorum? on DB]
  • Rosa corymbifera Borkh. (Hairy Dog-rose) Woodland
  • Rosa corymbifera x R. squarrosa = R. x hemitricha Ripart ex Déségl. (Hairy x Glandular Dog-rose) Woodland
  • Rosa squarrosa (A. Rau) Boreau (Glandular Dog-rose) Woodland
  • Rosa caesia Sm. (Northern Dog-rose)
  • Rosa vosagiaca (N.H.F. Desp.) Déségl. (Stace) (Rosa dumalis Bechst. ssp. dumalis - Kew, GBIF) Rosa caesia Sm. ssp. glauca (Nyman) G.G. Graham & Primavesi (ssp. vosagiaca (N.H.F. Desp.) D.H. Kent) - NBN (Glaucous Dog-rose) Woodland
  • Rosa tomentella Léman (R. balsamica Besser - Kew, GBIF) (Round-leaved Dog-rose) Woodland - [as R. obtusifolia on DB]
  • Rosa tomentosa Sm. (Harsh Downy-rose) - Woodland
  • Rosa sherardii Davies (Sherard's Downy-rose) Woodland - BSBI records
  • Rosa rubiginosa L. (Sweet-briar) / Woodland
  • Rosa micrantha Borrer ex Sm. (Small-flowered Sweet-briar) - Woodland
  • Rosa micrantha x R. agrestis = R. x bishopii Wolley-Dod (Small-flowered x Small-leaved Sweet-briar) Woodland
  • Rosa agrestis Savi (Small-leaved Sweet-briar) Woodland

Species to add:

  • Rosa multiflora Thunb. (var. multiflora - Kew, GBIF) (Many-flowered Rose)
  • Rosa luciae Franch. & Rochebr. ex Crép. (Memorial Rose) - 1 BSBI record
  • Rosa arvensis x R. squarrosa (Field Rose x Glandular Dog-rose)
  • Rosa spinosissima L. (var. spinosissima - Kew, GBIF) (Burnet Rose)
  • (Rosa rugosa x R. majalis =) Rosa 'Hollandica' (Dutch Rose)
  • Rosa virginiana Mill. (ssp. virginiana - Kew, GBIF) (Virginian Rose)
  • (Rosa gallica x R. corymbifera =) R. x alba L. (White Rose)
  • Rosa glauca Pourr. (non Vill. ex Loisel.) (Red-leaved Rose) - [As Rosa ferruginea on DB]
  • Rosa stylosa x R. squarrosa (Short-styled Field-rose x Glandular Dog-rose) [my record]
  • Rosa canina agg. (Dog-rose)
  • Rosa canina x R. squarrosa = R. x insignis Déségl. (Common x Glandular Dog-rose)
  • Rosa canina x R. vosagiaca (R. canina × R. dumalis - Kew, GBIF) = R. x subcanina (Christ) Vuk. (Common x Glaucous Dog-rose) - [As Rosa caesia glauca x canina on DB]
  • Rosa corymbifera Borkh. (Hairy Dog-rose)
  • Rosa corymbifera x R. squarrosa = R. x hemitricha Ripart ex Déségl. (Hairy x Glandular Dog-rose)
  • Rosa squarrosa (A. Rau) Boreau (Glandular Dog-rose)
  • Rosa caesia Sm. (Northern Dog-rose)
  • Rosa tomentella Léman (R. balsamica Besser - Kew, GBIF) (Round-leaved Dog-rose) - [as R. obtusifolia on DB]
  • Rosa sherardii Davies (Sherard's Downy-rose) - BSBI records
  • Rosa micrantha x R. agrestis = R. x bishopii Wolley-Dod (Small-flowered x Small-leaved Sweet-briar)

Rosa canina agg. (Dog-rose) Rosa rubiginosa agg. Rosa mollis agg. - BSBI records

  • Rosa canina x R. sherardii = R. x rothschildii Druce? (Stace) - [Mentioned under R. tomentosa var. subglobosa in Brist. Fl. - "in some quantity by the foot-path from Stoke Gifford to Hambrook has leaves that are almost simply serrate. Mr. Ley, who had given much attention to this group, could not name it, and suggested that it might be a hybrid." Glos. Fl. puts it with R. tomentosa var. typica]
  • Rosa canina x R. tomentosa = R. x scabriuscula Sm. (Common Dog-rose x Harsh Downy-rose) (Stace, NBN, Kew, GBIF) [as R. tomentosa var. scabriuscula Sm. in Brist. Fl.]

Could occur:

  • Rosa mollis Sm. (Soft Downy-rose)