(1989)  
 
p288. In the mountains north of Dali
Between the mouth of the valley and the main road lie green grassy foothills which give way to cultivation as one approaches the road. Here are roses in abundance, Rosa roxburghii being especially common on the banks between the fields. The big rose-purple flowers were impressive but already the prickly hips were forming and we were told by Professor Wu that these, when mature, would be used locally to make a rather pleasant wine.

p308, Near Ya-an
At an altitude of 1,000m (3,280ft) we stopped in order to make our first examination of the native vegetation which was becoming increasingly varied. Rosa roxburghii was plentiful here, a robust dense-growing shrub 2-2.5m (6-8ft) high, and across, with ferny leaves and equally ornamental pale flaking bark on the older stems. Their crowning glory however, were the fruits, large yellowish, prickle-clad hips from whence the English names Burr or Chestnut rose originate. This is one of my favourite rose species in the garden where, because of its ultimate size, 4-5m (13-16ft) by as much across it requires plenty of elbow room. The fragrant flowers in May and June are large and rose-pink or rose-purple with a golden boss of anthers in the centre. The fruits when mature fall to form a thick carpet on the ground and smell of apples ripening in a loft. This rose is named after William Roxburgh, superintendent of the Calcutta Botanic Garden from where in 1793 to 1813, in whose garden this rose in a double form was first described, having been introduced there from a garden or nursery in Guangzhou (Canton). The wild single flowered rose of the name is represented by two races which have been referred to variety hirtula from Japan and forma normalis from China. In cultivation the Japanese version is most common and the more ornamental with larger leaves and leaflets and flowers of a paler colour. Recent introductions of seed from the Chinese form, however, have established this in cultivation; one in my garden, for instance, has flourished and recently flowered. The Chinese plant was collected by several of the famous plant hunters, including Forrest and Wilson who referred to it under the name of R microphylla”.