A Naturalist in Western China, with Vasculum, Camera, and Gun
By Ernest Henry Wilson, Charles Sprague Sargent · 1913
p. 154
The beautiful R. Hugonis is confined to a narrow stretch of the Min Valley between 3000 to 5000 feet. This is the only rose with yellow flowers I have met with in China. The fruit is black and falls very early.

Mr. E. A. White wrote about R hugonis in the American Rose Annual, 1927, A Home Rose Garden in Ithaca, p. 108:

"Hugonis so overgrew all the less-vigorous species that it was removed to the shrub border where it could spread its beautiful foliage to its satisfaction and mine. If this species produced no flowers I would grow it for its attractive foliage alone."

I can't praise this rose highly enough, when it's grown in conditions that suit it. I planted mine by chance next to a ditch in part shade where it got moisture and alluvial soil, probably the best place for it in the entire garden. For some years it was magnificent. Then cane girdler discovered our roses, and I discovered that no rose is more susceptible to it than R. hugonis. So my rose is a shadow of its former glory, though it continues to grow and bloom. Really wonderful in a wildish environment. A second plant placed in full sun and dense clay of neutral ph has never done anything, demonstrating that it's not a rose that thrives everywhere. It has flaming fall foliage, by the way. Gardening conditions: I'm in a Mediterranean climate, zone 8, with wet winters with abundant chill hours and dry hot summers.

When I look at the different photo's of this rose regarding prickles and canes, I see a wide range of variation(s)!
Does any-one know, if Rosa hugonis varies that much (in its natural habitat too), like every plant does? (look for instance at specimens of Quercus robur)...
Or are different species depicted at the page this rose? Look for instance at the photo's of Roger Willeghems ( http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=21.7943 ) and compare them with more recent ones from Kim Rupert and especially hmfusr.
My Hugonis (ex Bierkreek) has some (not very much) prickles at the first 30 cm or so of the canes; the rest higher up is "thornless". And shows the most resemblance with the one of Roger Willighems