Rosa gallica L.

Deciduous, erect shrub to c. 1.5 m high, densely suckering and forming low thickets; stems many, sometimes with glandular hairs; armature of occasional, narrow, almost straight prickles and more abundant acicles. Lvs with 2–3 pairs of leaflets; petiole 20–55 mm long, usually with eglandular hairs, often with glandular hairs also, sometimes glabrate; stipules adnate for ?-3/4 length, glabrous or with a few eglandular hairs, with numerous marginal glandular hairs. Lamina of leaflets (15)–25–60 × (10)–15–35 mm, broadly elliptic, glabrous and usually deep green and slightly shining above, hairy on lower part of midrib and veins beneath, otherwise glabrous, somewhat rugose; margins 1–2-serrate, with glandular hairs; base rounded or slightly subcordate; apex rounded or obtuse to acute. Fls 1–3, double, 50–90 mm diam., fragrant; pedicels usually with numerous glandular hairs and some acicles, occasionally glabrate. Sepals ovate, acute to long-acuminate, tomentose inside, with few to numerous small glandular hairs outside; outer sepals pinnatifid to pinnatisect with linear lobes. Petals c. 20–30 mm long, broadly obovate, rose, crimson or purplish rose. Styles free, slightly exserted, hairy. Fr. not seen.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Oct.–Dec.