University of Bath
PHD
‘The Silk Road Hybrids’
Cultural linkage facilitated the transmigration of the remontant gene in Rosa x
damascena, the Damask rose, in circa 3,500 BCE from the river Amu Darya watershed
in Central Asia, the river Oxus valley of the Classics, to Rome by 300 BCE.
Mattock, Robert
Award date:
2017
Awarding institution:
University of Bath
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1
‘The Silk Road Hybrids’
''الحرير الهجينة الطريق
Cultural linkage facilitated the transmigration of the remontant gene in Rosa x damascena, the Damask
rose, in circa 3,500 BCE from the river Amu Darya watershed in Central Asia, the river Oxus valley of the
Classics, to Rome by 300 BCE.
Robert E. Mattock MSc.*
SAMIS No. 079095127
Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Centre for Advanc ed Studies in Architecture (CASA)
Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
Department of Biology and Biological Sciences
University of Bath
January 2017
A Silk Road Hybrid
Rosa x damascena, the Damask Rose [Fig.1]
2
Abstract
The only rose species carrying the remontant gene were thought to be Rosa chinensis and Rosa rugosa
whose geographical distributions lie well to the east of, and isolated from, Central Asia; and Rosa
fedtschenkoana whose distribution extends only as far East as Uzbekistan. This thesis proposes instead,
that commencing in circa 3,500 BCE cultural linkage facilitated the transmigration of the remontant gene
in Rosa x damascena, the Damask rose in horticultural nomenclature, from the river Amu Darya
watershed in Central Asia, to Rome by 300 BCE.
Remontancy in western garden roses was thought to have been introduced into Western Europe in the
form of the Damasks by 15 th. Century, and more certainly in four Rosa chinensis hybrids, from China into
Britain by 1780. This research found evidence in the works of Classical writers, notably Columnella,
Dioscorides, Pliny, Theophrastus and Virgil, that the remontant Rosa x damascena was cultivated in Rome
by 300 BC. They variously named the repeat flowering rose Rosa x damascena, the Damask, or the ‘rose of
Paestum’ as the ‘pestane rose’, or ‘biferique rosaria Paesti’. These writers described the cultivation of the
rose from ‘suckers’, a word that this research shows, was misleadingly, mistranslated.
This research supports the DNA analysis in 2000 of Iawata et al, which demonstrates that, Rosa gallica, R.
moschata and R. fedtschenkoana are the parents of the Damask. Plotting, recently revised, geographical
distributions of the Damask’s parents show an overlap. This overlap shows that not only natural
hybridisation between the three parents was possible, but significantly the overlap, the point of origin of
Rosa x damascena, is located within the river Amu Darya watershed.
The Classical writers describe the location, the date, and the process, for the production of rose water
from the petals of the Damask. This cultural link between the Damask, and rose water production,
evidenced the transmigration of the rose from Central Asia, through Persia, Turkey and the Middle East,
and from there to Rome. Locations for rose water manufacture, plotted on a map, correlate with the
route of what is now known as, The Silk Road.
In support of the practical, horticultural viability of this transmigration, a field survey in 2015 revealed that
the methods of transporting plant material, the method of propagation, and the cultivation of the rose in
the hot, harsh and arid climate of the Dadès Valley in Morocco today, mirror the methods practiced in
similar climatic conditions along the Silk Road in antiquity. Research shows that rose water has been used
in religious ceremony for at least 4000 years, throughout Central Asia, Persia, the Middle East and the
Mediterranean. Surprisingly, no evidence has been found to show that spread of the Damask correlates
with the spread of faiths and beliefs, that is, until the spread of the Moslem faith from 700 CE. Conversely
the spread of the use of rose water in medicine, hygiene, sanitation and fragrancing are well documented
by the Classic writers. Research into the pharmacology of rose water, and its use in the treatment of a
wide range of ailments, shows that in antiquity, the same ailments were successfully treated in Central
Asia, as they were in Rome.
3
In conclusion, Rosa x damascena, the Damask rose, together with its remontant characteristic, extended it
geographical distribution from Central Asia from 3500BCE, to Rome by 300 CE, incentivised by man's
demand for and health, hygiene and fragrance. Despite this cultural linkage, there is a paucity of evidence
for the establishment of the Damask spreading further west as a garden plant, until the 18 th. Century.
Since then, rose hybridists have used the Damask to breed the remontant, large flowered, fragrant
western garden hybrids much loved by gardeners today.
Table of research findings
The rose carrying that carried the remontant gene to Rome by 300 BCE was Rosa x
damascena, the Damask Rose.
The geographical distribution of the rose species, Rosa gallica, Rosa moschata
Herrm and Rosa fedtschenkoana, the parents of Rosa x damascena, overlap.
The point of origin of Rosa x damascena has been derived from the overlap which
when plotted on a map shows the location to be the river Amu Darya watershed,
in Central Asia.
Rose water, rosac eum and rose oil is produced from the petals of the Damask.
The connection between the Damask and rose water production in antiquity was
established from reading descriptions of the production in the Classics. Notably,
those written by Columnella, Dioscorides, Pliny and Theophrastus and Virgil.
The cultivation of the Damask for rose water production is described in detail in
the Classics. However, Latin and Greek translations of the original sources have
misleadingly confused the word for ‘sucker’, the term for the material used to
propagate the Damask, with the words for saplings, cuttings, reeds, screws and
twigs. The latter would have perished in the climate of the Silk Road, and
consequently the Damask would not have transmigrated.
The use of rose water and the cultivation of the Damask spread in tandem,
because of the demand for the product in health, hygiene, sanitation, medicine,
and fragrancing.
Rose water production spread west along the routes used by merchants and
religious refugees, namely The Silk Road and the Royal Persian Road.
Dates and locations for the transmigration of the Damask, derived from Classical
texts, have been plotted on to a time line and onto a map. The map evidences and
illustrates the passage of the Damask from Central Asia to Rome.
Cultural linkage enabled the geographic spread of the manufacture of rose water,
and in consequence the transmigration of the remontant gene in the Damask
along the Silk Road to Rome.
Rose water manufacture virtually ceased circa 350 CE, and recommenced with
Islamic expansionism from circa 800 C.
The thesis examines whether beliefs and faith were the driving force behind the
cultural linkage, and concludes that the use of rose water in health, hygiene and
medicine transcended religious fervour. Map plotted.
The thesis fills a significant gap in the knowledge of how the Damask rose played
such a pivotal role in the history of the rose.
Lastly, the thesis proposes a new perception, a new history, of how repeat
flowering, large flowered, strongly fragrant garden roses arrived in the Wes t.
*Unpublished,
research by
Mattock
# Sourced
from other’s
research
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4
Compliance, Copyright & Acknowledgements
©Robert Mattock 2017
Attention is drawn to the fact that that copyright of this thesis rests with the author. A copy of this
thesis has been supplied on condition that anyone who consults it is understood to recognise that its
copyright rests with author, and they must not copy it, or use material from it, except as permitted by
law, or with the consent of the author.
Restrictions on Use
This thesis may be made available for consultation within the University Library and maybe
photocopied or lent to other libraries for the purpose of consultation only.
Declaration of material from a previously submitted thesis and of work done in conjunction with others.
A Case Study in the History and Theory Unit.
Submitted by Robert Mattock,
Towards the degree of Master of Science in the Conservation of Historic Gardens and Cultural Landscapes .
At the University of Bath, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering.
Session 2008 – 09 pp. 16 – 17.
Dedication
To the late Robert H. Mattock who taught the author how to grow roses and an appreciation of antiquity.
Acknowledgements
The author gratefully acknowledges the invaluable support of the following:
Dr. J. Beeching – supervisor.
Dr. M. Forsyth.
Robin Lane-Fox
Professor M. Harney – supervisor.
Lord Heseltine – facilitator.
Mrs. C. M. Mattock – support.
H. Nicholas – travel & photography.
Professor A. Rowsell - mentor.
Reverend Richard Smail - Classics
Professor Mathew Wills.
5
Contents
Section 1.
Page
Preface
1
2
4
5
8
10
10
10
10
Frontispiece.
Abstract.
Compliance, Copyright & Acknowledgements.
Contents.
Table of illustrations.
Table of Tables.
Table of Maps.
Case Studies.
Appendices.
Chapter 1 .
11
Introduction.
Chapter 2 .
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
16
16
17
17
17
17
17
18
18
18
18
19
Methodology (materials & methods).
Literature review.
Classical referenc es.
Laboratory analyses.
Field Research.
Rome.
Morocco.
Mattock’s Lodge Hill Nurseries and records of remontancy.
Establishment of a Field Station at Thenford.
Tables & Maps plotting geographical distributions.
Time-lines and Maps plotting the transmigration of the Damask rose.
Selected Background Reading .
20
20
21
24
26
27
28
29
29
29
30
30
30
31
31
32
35
36
36
37
38
Context.
R. x damascena is a naturally occurring hybrid. Species definition.
Doubt over the validity of the DNA analysis of Iawata et al. in 2000
Rosa x centifolia
Geographical Point of Origin
Species definition
Hybridisation.
The parts of a generic flower.
Pollen travel.
Implications of hybrid vigour on horticulture and agriculture.
Phylogenics.
Genetics & DNA Analysis.
Dr. John Beeching – Genetics.
Case Study 1.
Phylogenetics of hybrid roses analysed by Zara Breeze using ISSR-PCR.
A new order of phylogeny in the subsections of the genus Rosa.2015
Principal of evidencing botanical points of origins using over lapping distributions.
Remontancy.
Recent research on remontancy in roses. Two seminal papers.
The TFL1 homologue KSN is a regulator of continuous flowering in Rosa
RoKSN, a floral repressor, forms protein complexes with RoFD and RoFT to
regulate vegetative and reproductive development in rose.
Seasonal regulation of the TFL1 mRNA level
Remontancy in the wild was not thought to show over lapping distributions in Central Asia
and Europe.
Rosa chinensis var. spontenea
Rosa fedtschenkoana
Rosa rugosa
Rosa webbiana
2.5
2.6
Chapter 3.
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
3.10
3.11
3.12
3.13
3.14
3.15
3.16
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40
6
3.16
3.17
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42
3.18
45
3.19
3.20
46
50
50
51
51
53
53
Rosa beggeriana.
Cladistics.
Potential for remontancy in further Central Asian Rose Species.
Case Study 2. Research to clarify the taxonomy, and identify the geographical
distribution Central Asian Rose Species.
The Silk Road and the Chinese equation. Did remontant hybrid roses, transmigrate along
the Silk Road?
Pattern Recognition.
The Four Stud Chinas. Long held beliefs on remontancy.
Comparative study of commercial rose production in 2016 in Western Europe
and Iran.
Garden Roses.
The role of the Damask rose in U.K. rose breeding and production in 2016 .
Notes on the origin of ‘Gloire de Guillian’.
Notes on the origin of ‘Kazanlik’.
Section 2.
55
The Damask Rose, Rosa x damascena.
Chapter 4
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.7
4.8
4.9
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59
64
69
73
74
73
81
82
82
82
83
85
85
4.13
88
88
89
90
Rosa x damascena.
Parentage and phylogenetics of Rosa x damascena.
Historic geographical distribution of R. x damascena 3500 BCE to 500 AD.
Rosa fedtschenkoana, pollen parent of Rosa x damascena.
Rosa gallica, stud parent of Rosa x damascena.
Rosa moschata Herrm. Stud parent of Rosa x damascena.
Rosa abyssinica.
R. phoenicia.
The geographical and botanical point of origin, of Rosa x damascena.
Caveat, validity and precision.
The Cultivation of Rosa x damascena.
Comparative studies on propagation and cultivaion Rosa x damascena.
Seed.
Vegetative propagation.
Historic transportation of Rosa propagating material.
Literary review of the Classics to establish which methods were used to
propagate and cultivate R x damascena in antiquity.
Case Study 3.
Cultivation of Rosa x damascena in Morocco in 2015.
Kalaat M’gouna & The Valley of the Roses.
Propagation and Cultivation of R. damascena in the Dadès Valley.
Section 3.
93
Tracking the transmigration of the Damask rose from Central Asia to Rome
Chapter 5
5.1
5.2
5.3
94
94
94
95
5.4
5.5
97
98
98
98
Rose Water.
Introduction.
Definitions. Rose Water, Rosac eum, Rose Oil and Attar of roses.
Rose Water and Rosaceum in Antiquity (5000 – 1200 BCE) and Islamic
Expansionism.
The Damask Rose in China.
Rose Water and Rosaceum in Classical Rome and Greece (1200 BC- 400AD).
The significance of Rose Water in Roman domestic hygiene.
Rose Water and Rosaceum Production described in Classical Roman and Greek texts and
archaeology.
Rosa centifolia, Rosa phoenicia, Rose Water in the Levant and Islamic Expansionism.
The Importance of Rose Water in the Turkic Cultures of Turkey and Syria.
Traditional methods of rose water manufacture in the Islamic world.
Rose Water P roduction in Morocco.
Case Study 4. Rose Water Production in Morocco.
The Moroccan production process.
Production of rose water in Iran and the Persian Empire.
4.10
4.10
4.11
4.12
5.6
5.7
5.8
5.9
5.9
5.9
101
103
104
106
106
106
107
7
5.10
5.11
5.12
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
110
110
111
111
113
113
113
118
119
119
119
120
120
121
124
124
126
128
129
129
129
132
134
135
136
137
140
Section 4.
Chapter 8
141
141
141
141
141
143
143
144
Section 5.
Chapter 9
Method of Production of Rose Oil in Iran and the Persian Empire
Iranian rosewater production equipment.
Rose water Pharmacology.
Referenc es to Rose water in Islamic Medical Texts.
Table of ailments treatable by rose water.
Rose Oil.
The Chemical and Olfactive Features of Rose Water and Rose Oil.
Culinary Uses.
Roses in antiquity and the Damask rose in Classical Rome.
Roses in Antiquity.
The Rose and Cultural Traditions in Antiquity.
The Flower of Venus.
Roses in Classical Rome.
The Roses of Paestum.
The characteristics of the roses of Paestum.
Roman perfumers and perfume.
The Roman rose water trade.
Was the Paestum Rose the Damask rose, Rosa x damascena?
Rosa x damascena ‘On the move’.
The connections between the Silk Road, the transmigration of R. x damascena, and the
use of rose water, and the influence of the Faith Systems.
Cultural Linkage facilitated the transmigration of Rosa x damascena from Central Asia to
Rome.
Plotting a Time line and cultural linkage.
Superimposition of the dated references from Table 23, over the route of the Silk Road,
and over the point of origin of Rosa x damascena.
Rosa x damascena, geographical point of origin and direction and dates of transmigration
“The Silk Road, A New History”.
The religions of the ‘Old World’ of 1500 BCE to 1400 CE, which were connected to
overland trade in Asia.
Map showing the transmigration of R. x damascena superimposed on the Belief Systems
or Faith Systems of the region.
Discussion.
Introduction.
Remontancy in the wild was not thought to show over lapping distributions.
Caveat, validity and precision in plotting plant distributions.
Literary review of the Classics to establish which methods were used to propagate and
cultivate R x damascena in antiquity, and the historic transportation of Rosa propagating
material.
Rose Water.
The Roses of Paestum.
Remontancy in rose species present in Central Asia in addition to Rosa fedtschenkoana.
162
Conclusion.
Conclusion.
Significant Research Findings.
Summary.
Finally, Syria and the potential for a practical, humanitarian application of the research for
this thesis.
Appendix 1.
Distribution and Checklist of rose species indigenous to the Levant and Central Asia.
Appendix 2.
Graphic Evidence of Rose Hybrids from Historic Cultural Artefacts found along
the Silk Road.
Appendix 3
Remontancy in Central Asia in addition to Rosa fedtschenkoana.
168
179
References.
Bibliography.
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149
153
154
160
8
Table of illustrations.
Fig.
1
2
Page.
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Illustration.
The Silk Road Hybrid, Rosa x damascena, the Persian Damask Rose.
Damask and Gallica roses depicted as garden plants, on the frescoes under
the colonnades of the Villa Guilia.
The Roses of Heliogabalus Alma-Tadema (1888)
The parts of a generic flower.
Extraction of DNA from mature leaves, petals, young leaves and leaf buds.
Cluster dendrogram for the ISSR data.
The Turgai Strait.
Phylogenetic relationships among Rosa species Bruneau et al 2015.
Rosa chinensis.
Rosa fedtschenkoana.
Rosa rugosa.
R. webbiana.
Rosa beggeriana.
Rosa beggeriana hips.
R. webbiana [ NURSB5] in flower at Thenford for a second time late July 2015
Geographical area of interest to those collecting rose seed/rose hips of
Central Asian rose species.
China’s historic foreign imports and trade routes.
Fourteenth century ‘Shahr-I-Sabz work’ depicting Gul farangi.
Persian Ornament. From a Persian Manufacturers Pattern Book Kensington
Museum c 650 CE
Parson’s Pink China (1793) With Slater's Crimson China' (1792).
Hume’s Blush Tea Scented China 1752.
Park’s Yellow Scented Tea 1824
Damask rose, Celsiana.
Damask rose, Gloire de Guillian.
Damask rose, Hebe’s Lip.
Damask rose, Ispahan.
Damask rose, Kazanlik
Damask rose, Leda.
Damask rose, Marie-Louise.
Damask rose, Mme. Hardy.
Damask rose, Omar Khayyam.
Rosa x damascena.
R x damascena bifera being grown as pruned garden shrub.
R x damascena from "Herbarium Blackwellianum",
R x damascena semperflorens Hips.
R. fedtschenkoana Oxfordshire.
R. fedtschenkoana Hips.
Rosa fedtschenkoana. Foliage & Spines.
Huge specimen. R. fedtschenkoana Surhanskiy reserve Uzbekistan.
R. fedtschenkoana habitat. Tien Shan, alplager Ala Arča in Kirgizian Ala Tau.
R. fedtschenkoana habitat. Foothills of the Kuznetsk Alatau.
R. fedtschenkoana habitat. Tajikistan.
Rosa gallica.
Rosa gallica growing in the wild.
Rosa gallica Hips.
Rosa gallica Hips.
Rosa gallica in S. W. France. Note how it suckers in a similar fashion to Rosa
damascena.
Rosa gallica, Hips.
Rosa moschata Herrm.
Rosa moschata.
Rosa moschata;
Rosa moschata Herrm. Hips.
Rosa moschata Herrm. Western Himalayan shrub form.
Bāqī Chaghānyānī pays homage to Babur beside the Amu Darya river,
1504 CE.
Source.
Robert Mattock Roses - Image Library.
Robert Mattock Roses - Image Library.
Juan Antonio Pérez Simón.
Resources. https://www.amnh.org.
Zara Breeze 2011.
Zara Breeze 2011.
Akhmetie & Beniamovski 2009.
Bruneau 2015.
Helpmefind.com
Helpmefind.com
Helpmefind.com
Helpmefind.com
Helpmefind.com
Helpmefind.com
Robert Mattock Roses - Image Library.
Robert Mattock Roses - Image Library.
www.britishmuseum.org/pdf/Chinese_trade
Pinterest 563512972107860100/
Owen Jones Grammar of Ornament Plate
XVII.
Redouté, P.J., Choix des plus belles fleurs et
des plus beaux fruits, t. 122 (1833)
Redouté, P.J., Choix des plus belles fleurs et
Redouté, P.J.,
www.davidaustinroses.co.uk
www.davidaustinroses.co.uk
www.davidaustinroses.co.uk
www.davidaustinroses.co.uk
www.davidaustinroses.co.uk
www.davidaustinroses.co.uk
www.davidaustinroses.co.uk
www.davidaustinroses.co.uk
www.davidaustinroses.co.uk
Image Library, Robert Mattock Roses
Sangerhausen June 2013
Elizabeth Blackwell
Iran 2015
Robert Mattock Roses - Image Library
Rosenkultivarium Baden, Austria
Encino, CA May, 2011
Alexey Yakovlev.
Allan L. Murdock
Evgeny Gerasienko
www.jumpingjazz.com
Robert Mattock Roses - Image Library
Photo Id: 247392 Help me Find
Photo Id: 162179 Help me Find
Robert Mattock Roses - Image Library
http://www.naturemp.org/Rosier-deFrance.html
L. Lopes Portugal 2006
Robert Mattock Roses - Image Library
©Louette. Commune de Chaumont-Gistoux.
botanische-spaziergaenge.at Thema - 24.
http://plainfieldgardenclub.org/ =1757
http://www.ludwigsroses.co.za/
http://art.thewalters.org/detail/4904/baqichaghanyani-paying-homage-to-babur/.
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Poster of Rose hips which will advertise the field identification guide.
The seasonal timing for making cuttings.
Root Cuttings; Very susceptible to desiccation.
Softwood Cuttings.
Semi Hardwood Cuttings.
Hardwood Cuttings.
Root grafting.
Crown grafting/ Whip or tongue graft.
T – Budding.
Chip budding.
Simple layering.
Trench layering.
Trench layering.
Suckers.
Monument to Rosa x damascena, Town Square, Kalaat M’gouna.
R. x damascena Layered plant with unopened bud Kalaat M’Gouna.
Small “field” Kalaat M’Gouna, surrounded by a hedge of R. x damascena.
Fields with no flowers, they had all been picked earlier that morning.
20-25-year-old hedge of Rosa x damascena in the Dadès Valley Morocco.
Palace of Knossos, a fresco showing a bird among rocks. 3000–1050 B.C.
Gathering red and white roses. 14th. Century.
Plan of The Paestum building IB in the vicinity of the stadium.132-135 AD.
Plan of the work shop in Paestum. 132-135 AD.
Marble base of winepress in a Paestum ointment workshop.132-135 AD.
Sketch of a working model of Fig.88. 132-135 AD.
Perfume workshop, Casa dei Cervi, Herculaneum. C. 200BCE.
Miniature portrait of Mehmed II 1432 – 1481 smelling a rose.
A distillation plant in Damascus 13th. CE.
Traditional technology and equipment.
Rose fields. Kalaat M’Gouna.
Kalaat M’Gouna – Traditional method of rosewater production. 2015.
Distillation tanks for rose oil production Kalaat M’Gouna 2015.
Distillation tanks for rose oil production Kalaat M’Gouna 2015.
Dried rose petals. Kalaat M’Gouna 2015.
Selection of bottled rose water. Note, the Ashkdan, on the right.
Looking S/SW from the summit of Chapakro.
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Traditional harvesting varies little between Morocco and Iran.
Village-type rose oil distillation facility in Iran.
Village woman. Kashan, Iran 2014.
Gas Chromatography in Essential Oil of Rosa.
Rose water ice cream.
The Painted Garden of the Villa of Livia Painted c. 30-20 BC.
Detail from [Fig 95] Note the number of petals indicating the form of the
Damask, as opposed to the forms R. gallica, or R. centifolia.
Long frieze depicting cupids at work. House of Vettii, Pompeii 62 CE.
Lawrence Alma-Tadema: The Roses of Heliogabalus (1888).
Abu Bilal, 52, owned a distillery in Ain Tarma near Damascus.
Abyssinian Rose (Rosa abyssinica) Simien Mountains 21.01.2009.
Hips, Rosa abyssinica.
Abyssinian Rose (Rosa abyssinica) Simien Mountains 21.01. 2009.
Rosa beggeriana.
Rosa beggeriana, Hips.
Rosa brunonii, flowers.
Rosa brunonii hips.
Rosa brunonii, growing in the wild in Central Asia.
Rosa phoenicia.
Rosa phoenicia Vintage 1957 Botanical Print with Bible Verse.
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109
110
111
161
161
161
161
R. webbiana.
Rosa webbiana Thenford, displaying remontancy late September 2015.
Rosa webbiana hips 2015.
Rosa webbiana growing in Shyok River Valley, Khaplu, Pakistan.
Marketa Hermova
Mattock Image Library
Mattock Image Library
Mattock Image Library
Mattock Image Library
Mattock Image Library
Mattock Image Library
Mattock Image Library
Mattock Image Library
Mattock Image Library
Mattock Image Library
Mattock Image Library
Mattock Image Library
Mattock Image Library
Mattock Image Library
H. Nicholas Morocco. 2015.
H. Nicholas Morocco. 2015.
H. Nicholas Morocco. 2015.
H. Nicholas Morocco. 2015.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
Tacuinium Sanitatis, Ibn Butlan of Baghdad
Brun, JP, Archeologia Wschodu P. 288.
Brun, JP, Archeologia Wschodu P. 292
Brun, JP, Archeologia Wschodu P. 292
Brun, JP, Archeologia Wschodu P. 292
Brun, JP, Archeologia Wschodu
Nurham Atasoy
Yassan 2011
Haghighi & Tehranifar 2008
H. Nicholas
H. Nicholas
H. Nicholas
H. Nicholas
H. Nicholas
H. Nicholas
http://www.summitpost.org/atash-kooh-asbikalak/230753 June 15, 2006.
PhotoIran 2014
Mattock Image Library
IranPress 2014
Younis 2007
Mattock Image Library
Museo Nazionale Romano, Palazzo Massimo,
Museo Nazionale Romano, Palazzo Massimo,
Rome
http://clagnut.com/sandbox/dynamic-layout/
Juan Antonio Pérez Simón
Agence Pressé
Copyright Brian J. McMorrow
ispb.univ-lyon1.fr
Brian J. McMorrow www.taenos.com
Helpmefind.com
Helpmefind.com
Robert Mattock Roses - Image Library
National Gardening Association
http://zipcodezoo.com/index.php/
Helpmefind.com
https://www.etsy.com/listing/122364904/flo
wer-print-rose-rosa-phoenicia-vintage
Robert Mattock Roses - Image Library
Robert Mattock Roses - Image Library
Rosa webbiana. Hips 2015
Helpmefind.com
10
Tables
Tables
1
51
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
56
57
60
61
61
65
66
71
71
74
74
Comparative values for the production of garden plants in the U.K. against R x damascena
production in Iran.2011.
R. x damascena. Table of Accepted Names, Synonyms and Common Names.
Botanical description of R. x damascena.
Taxonomic Description Rosa fedtschenkoana.
Botanical Description Rosa fedtschenkoana.
Geographical Distribution of Rosa fedtschenkoana.
Rosa gallica Taxonomic Description.
Rosa gallica. Botanical description.
Rosa moschata Taxonomic Description.
Rosa moschata Botanical description.
Rosa abyssinica Taxonomic Description.
Rosa abyssinica Botanical Description.
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
75
75
109
111
113
115
116
131
146
159
161
162
163
158
166
166
Rosa phoenicia Taxonomic Description.
Rosa phoenicia Botanic Description.
Equipment used for extraction of rosewater in Qamsar 2016. (www.iranreview.org)
Table of Ailments. Pharmacological Activities of Rose Materials (Boskabady 2011).
The main constituents of rose oil (Verma 2010)
Chemical composition of rose essential oil from different part of Central Asia ( Moein, M. 2010)
Graph showing Citronellol content by country.
Time line and cultural linkage. Transmigration of Rosa x damascena.
Table of Significant Learning outcomes.
Graphic Evidence of Rose Hybrids from Historic Cultural Artefacts found along the Silk Road.
R. beggeriana Taxonomic Description.
R. beggeriana Botanical description.
Rosa brunonii. Taxonomic Description.
Rosa brunonii. Botanical Description.
Rosa webbiana Taxonomic Description.
Rosa webbiana Botanic Description.
Maps
1
2
3
Page
58
62
62
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
63
68
72
74
75
78
79
80
107
120
128
129
130
17
18
133
134
19
140
20
21
152
159
Title (Source, Robert Mattock, except where noted).
Extent of rose water production and R. x damascena 3500 BCE to 500 AD.
The provincial distributions in Uzbekistan of R. fedtschenkoana.
Tien Shan Physical Map Superimposed with the distribution of R. fedtschenkoana. Posted by Allan L.
Murdock
The geographical distribution of R. fedtschenkoana.
Geographical distribution of Rosa gallica.
Geographical distribution of Rosa moschata Herrm.
Distribution of Rosa abysinica.
Rosa phoenicia Distribution.
Proposed point of origin and geographical distribution of the parents of R. x damascena.
The River Amu-Darya watershed. (www.britannica.com/place/Amu-Darya).
Amu Darya (Oxus) watershed was the nucleus of successions of Bactrian civilizations .
The five important provinces of Damask rose production and their locations Iranian Production.
Location of Paestum, south of Naples, Italy. (Michelin).
The map of Assyrian trading routes and major cities 2-30000BCE (after Kulakolu & Kangal 2010).
Persian Royal Road 500-330 BCE The Persian Royal Road http://www.ancient.eu/
The Silk Road. "Central Asia and China: Transnationalisation, Islamicisation, and Ethnicisation"
(Gladney OUP 2007)
The geographic and botanical point of origin of Rosa x daamscena.
Rosa x damascena, geographical point of origin and direction and dates of transmigration, from the
watershed of the river Amu Darya in Uzbekistan to Classical Rome.
Transmigration of R. x damascena and the production of Rose Water superimposed on a map of
the Belief Systems or Faith Systems of the region.
Traditional areas of the production of R. damascena in Syria
Distribution. Rosa brunonii.
Maps
11
Chapter 1.
Introduction
This thesis proposes that cultural linkage facilitated the transmigration of the remontant Damask rose,
Rosa x damascena, from its wild origins within the river Amu Darya watershed in Central Asia, along the
Silk Road and along its main artery, the Royal Persian Road, to Classical Greece and Rome by the third
century BCE (Pliny citing Callimachus & Apolonia) i. Hence the name, the Silk Road Hybrids, adopted by,
and the title of, this thesis. This work has given rise to a new perception of both the origin and of the
history, of the strongly fragrant, large double flowered, recurrent flowering roses, much beloved by
Western gardeners.
The significant features of this new research are fivefold.
A literary review of the identification of Rosa x damascena as the remontant rose described in Classical
texts, and the identification of the Damask rose as the rose depicted in the literature and art of Rome in
c.300 BCE.
Secondly, the previously unpublished determination of where the Damask originated, its botanical point of
origin. This has been revealed by plotting the recently revised overlapping geographical distributions of
the Damask’s parents within the river Amu Darya watershed.
Third, whilst botanical data does not reveal when a plant becomes established in any specific region, this
research, for the first time, links the Damask rose with the commercial production of rose water. The
dates of when production took place are known because the processes are described in great detail in
Classical texts dating back to 2500 BCE. The texts are dated, and also describe the locations where rose
water was produced. These data have enabled the passage of the Damask rose along the Silk Road to be
plotted on a time line, and the dates of the passage plotted on maps.
Four, the dates and direction of the passage of the Damask through Central Asia to Rome, have been
plotted on maps illustrating the evolution of the faith and belief systems of the regions that use rose
water in religious ceremony. This latter study has shown that the transmigration of the Damask, and the
corresponding use of rose water, transcends the barriers posed by religion, politics and empire building in
favour of demand for health, hygiene and fragrance.
Lastly, the connotations of this transcendence are explored in respect of how the Damask rose might be
reintroduced in to war torn Syria as a humanitarian project.
Our Eurocentric horticultural world has insisted that remontancy, the ability to flower repeatedly or
recurrently from June until the autumn, arrived in the West during the late eighteenth century from
China. Remontancy is a highly prized gardening attribute, because the remontant rose produces more
flowers than its once flowering relatives, which only flower for four or five weeks each year. This thesis
proposes that the Damask from Central Asia was the first rose to exhibit remontancy, in Western Europe.
Not only that, but three thousand years earlier than had been previously thought. Why had remontancy in
12
the Damask been ignored by rose historians? From a Pan-Middle Eastern and, Pan-Asian perspective, the
Damask is rarely considered a garden plant. Conversely, parts of the Mediterranean, all of the Middle East
and Central Asia, and much of the Far East, recognise the Damask for having significant economic and
commercial value, not as a garden plant, but rather, as a main stream horticultural crop. Consequently, it
was not the Roman gardeners who sought the remontant rose for ornament, rather the Roman rose
growers who sent envoys to research the manufacture of and use of rose water from the rose’s petals.
Whilst visiting the Villa Guilia in Rome (National Etruscan Museum 2016)ii, the author marvelled at just
how the Damask rose, depicted in frescoes of the sixteenth century, and painted on the walls and ceilings
of the loggia, were painted with such great horticultural accuracy [Fig. 2]. The paintings support the
findings of respected rose historian, Peter Harkness that the remontant Damask garden roses appeared in
European gardens in the 15 th Centuryiii . The frescos in Villa Guilia, with artistic licence, illustrate the use of
the Damask rose as garden plant. Artistic licence? Because having grown several thousand plants of this
species, as a professional rose grower for sixty years, in the author’s experience the Damask does not
grow tall enough to cover the trellises depicted. Never the less, the frescoes [Fig.2] by the mannerist
Bronzino (1503 – 1572) iv (Tate 2016) are painted with sufficient botanical accuracy that, with a
nurseryman’s eye, the rose could readily be identified as one of the great garden plants we know today.
[Fig. 2] Damask and Gallica roses depicted as garden plants on the frescoes under the colonnades of the Villa Guilia in Rome.
The author was at the same time reminded of roses in Rome of an earlier era, this time the roses
portrayed by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912) in his painting of 1880 The Roses of Heliogabalus
[Fig.3]. The Syrian born, Roman emperor Heliogabalus (203 – 222 AD)v, gave dissolute weekend parties
that purportedly ended with the emperor pouring masses of rose petals over his scantily clad, inebriated,
spent, malodorous and recumbent guests. Rose water and rose petals were an important factor in
hygiene, sanitation, medicine and fragrancing in classical Rome and Greece vi (Mello 2003). The writers,
13
Theophrastus, Columnella and Pliny vii (Mello 2003) describe the roses that were used, in such botanical
detail, that it has proven possible to identify the plants as the Damask. The painting owned currently by
the Spanish-Mexican art collector, Juan (Simon 2014)viii, illustrates one means by which Roman Christians
associated the rose with dissolute and decadent behaviour, so much so, that from c.200 AD on the rose
was hardly used and barely mentioned in the literature of what had had been the Roman Empire, until
four hundred years later. These two paintings, [Fig. 2] and [Fig.3] serve as a reference to three of the
questions posed by this thesis. How, why and when did remontancy arrive in classical Rome in the
genome of the Damask Rose? Why did the Damask rose not feature as a garden plant in antiquity? Did the
rose really disappear from Classical literature with the demise of the Roman Empire?
[Fig.3] The Roses of Heliogabalus Alma-Tadema (1888) Detail. The petals grown commercially stifled the odour of the decadence.
The world of rose enthusiasts, western gardeners in particular, have believed for three hundred years or
more, that roses and remontancy in roses in originated in China and that those roses remained in
Oriental isolation until the late 18 th. Century. Garden historians acknowledge that gardens evolved from
their origins in Sumeria and Persia over 2500 years ago (Hobhouse 2003)ix, and from there influenced the
style of Italian, Spanish, French and English gardens, with, the author would suggest, scant use of roses
until the seventeenth century. Why did the Romans and Greeks, who were absolutely besotted with
roses, do not have appeared to have used them extensively as ornamental garden plants? Wilhelmina
Jashemski (1910-2007) leading scholar on gardens and horticulture in the ancient city of Pompeii x does
not mention roses, apart from those used in floristry for perfumery and for making garlands. Nor were
14
they widely illustrated during the Romano-Greek era. A notable exception being the rose depicted in The
Painted Garden of the Villa of Livia [Fig. 95. P121).
The answer is that people in those Classical eras used the rose not primarily as a garden plant, but rather
they grew the plant as a mainstream, horticultural crop. A crop grown alongside their wheat, barley, oats
and maize. The petals were, and still are, harvested for their fragrant oils which were and are still used to
produce rose water, rose balm or unguent, and from the twelfth century, used to produce rose oil. The
rose was, and still is, grown on enormous scale throughout the whole of Asia, and particularly Central As ia
and the Middle East. The products were used in huge quantities in the malodorous, unhygienic world of
antiquity, for perfuming a world of unwashed sweaty bodies, in medicine and in religious ceremony, and
in floral decoration. The cultivation, the manufacturing process, and the use of rose water, by whom and
for what purpose, is recorded in great detail by writers stretching from the Classical era back to the
Assyrians, four thousand years earlier.
The author, with his skills as a professional rose grower, has to an extent been able to critically review the
Classical texts describing the commercial rose nursery production of antiquity. The author would not have
been able to trace the history of this beautiful rose, otherwise.
One rose species predominates the production of rose water, R. x damascena, the Damask, the Persian
Rose, about which little was understood until recently. The rose water industry was extensive, (Hehn
1885)xi that is until it collapsed towards the end of the Roman Empire. Not until Arab and Islamic
expansionism arrived some five hundred years later in the western Mediterranean, was the Damask seen
again in Rome, not yet as garden plant, still only as a horticultural crop. It took a further five hundred
years for European rose hybridisers to breed the remontancy, form and fragrance from the Damask into
the first repeat flowering garden roses of the Western world, fully five hundred years before any Chinese
remontant influence. Out of the one hundred and ninety rose species in the world about forty, including
the naturally occurring hybrid Rosa x damascena, are indigenous to Central Asia. One hundred are
indigenous to China, and the rest are spread thinly throughout the northern hemisphere. Roses come in a
variety of shapes and sizes; they grow as climbers, ramblers, crawlers, shrubs, bushes, and there are
miniature or dwarf forms of all of these. Rosa x damascena is a naturally occurring, remontant hybrid, a
cross between a rambler and two shrubs resulting in a large, lanky bush. Remontancy in the wild is not a
European phenomenon. In fact, until research in 2000 evidenced the Damask’s Central Asian parentage,
the remontant characteristic was thought to be exclusively Oriental.
This thesis is structured in chapters that deal firstly, with the background to hybridisation and
remontancy. The following chapter is on the history, botany and the cultivation of the Damask, and a reassessment of the parentage of the rose. This has provoked a new proposal for the Damask’s
geographical point of origin. Pivotal to the transmigration hypothesis, is an investigation into the
translations, in the commentaries of Palladio, Pliny, Virgil, Columnella and Theophrastus, where they refer
to the material used for propagating the Damask, as saplings, reeds, twigs or cuttings. The author
15
recognised that these types of propagating material would not have survived transportation in the hot
arid climate of the Middle East and Central Asia. Due to desiccation it would have been impossible to have
kept this material viable. The words for propagation in the texts ought to have been translated as
‘suckers’. Suckers are quite different, horticulturally, from the aforementioned material, and an easy and
traditional means of propagating R. x damascena under harsh climatic conditions. This ‘slip’ in translation
appears to have led many garden historians up the ’garden path’, as opposed to researching the
commercial production of the rose.
Following chapters then deal with the use of rose water in Classical Rome, Greece, the Middle East and
Central Asia. These comparative studies of the rose’s cultivation and its production have enabled the
dating of rose water production, and thus the Damask, to be plotted on a time line, and on a map. [Map
16 p.135] The map illustrates the transmigration of the Damask as outlined in the sub title of the thesis.
Finally, the thesis discusses the learning outcomes and the validity of the research, and concludes with a
set of tables and maps that evidence why and when, the remontant gene in the genome of Rosa x
damascena arrived in Classical Rome; a new contribution that revises the history of the garden roses in
the West. The thesis concludes with a proposal for a practical application of the research. A potential
humanitarian project, with an economic value, which aims to re-introduce the Damask, and rose water
and rose oil production, into currently war torn, Syria.
16
Chapter 2.
Methodology
Cultural linkage facilitated the passage of the Damask rose, otherwise known by its scientific name Rosa x
damascena, from the river Amu Darya watershed in Central Asia, to Rome. Consequently, this thesis
draws on research from a multidisciplinary range of sources which are presented as a series of
humanities-led essays, supported by biochemical and botanical evidence in the form of tables and
definitions.
Throughout the thesis, the rose has been referred to as the Damask in the context of the humanities, and
as Rosa x damascena when noted in a botanical or scientific context, simply to allow the text to flow.
The methodology used in attempting to track the transmigration of the Damask from China to Rome, and
subsequently, successfully tracking the rose from Central Asia to Rome, has involved several processes.
First, an extensive Literary Review has been conducted of both classical and contemporary literature
searching for references to the Damask rose, the cultivation of the rose, and its uses both historically and
currently. Contemporaneously during the same review, archaeological finds, paintings and illustrations
have been investigated, evaluated, and interpreted from a horticultural perspective. Second, reports of
laboratory based DNA analyses have been analysed in an attempt to confirm the identification of a series
of assessions of Rosa x damascena. Assessions are plant material that has been collected from a particular
area in the wild.
This thesis reports on the biochemical constituents of over forty assessions of Rosa x damascena, hence
the title of the thesis, The Silk Road Hybrids, rather than the singular The Silk Road Hybrid. Lastly field trips
to Morocco and Italy have been undertaken to make a comparative study of historic and contemporary
methods of rose cultivation and the rose water production process, to assess the viability of the method
of transporting propagating material across harsh and arid terrain in a very hot climate; and then planting
and growing-on the material under those same conditions.
2.1. Literature review.
An evaluation of the translations of Classical literature in respect of how the rose was cultivated has been
an important factor in determining whether it was possible to transport the Damask in its passage along
the Silk Road. Without the academic Classicist’s keen eye for historic vocabulary and translation, but
nevertheless with the experience of a plantsman and nurseryman, it has proven possible to reinterpret
the translations by academics, of the original Classic writer’s literary text and phraseology, into
horticultural terminology [p.75].
Evaluating sources of information is an important step in research, because the validity of the available
information varies dramatically. For example, traditional print sources go through an extensive publication
process that includes editing and article review. The process has layers of fact-checkers, reviewers and
editors to ensure the quality of the publication. Conversely, almost anyone with a computer and access to
17
the Internet can publish a Web site or electronic document which has not been subjected to peer review.
Consequently, this thesis has given considerably more weight to printed sources, than to internet sources,
on the premise that only qualified authors are likely to have their manuscripts accepted for publication.
The purpose of an online text may also be misleading because, as opposed to print, Web sites are a cheap
and easy means of disseminating information to create an effect that has little to do with the work’s
academic content. This is particularly poignant in the chapters dealing with beliefs, faiths and Islamic
Expansionism.
2.2 Classical references
The thesis relies heavily on translations of the Classics for information on the cultivation of the plant, and
the processing of the flowers and roots into rose water and other by products. The Loeb Classical Library,
2016, has been used as the referencing authority to the principle sources, throughout the thesis, both in
the hard library copy, and in the Digital Loeb Classical Library. Dr. Robin Lane Fox and also The Reverend
Richard Smail, both Oxford University classics scholars, have advised on translation when the translations
and commentaries in Loeb appear ambiguous in respect of horticulture.
2.3 Laboratory analyses.
ISSR-PCR DNA analyses were evaluated for the validity of their application in identifying assessions of Rosa
x damascena and Central Asian rose species in collaboration with Dr. John Beeching of the University of
Bath. Robert Mattock Roses provided the material for the research by a student of John Beeching, ara
Breeze, into the phylogenetics of a range of hybrid roses. The author was permitted to observe her
methodology as she ran the experiments and constructed a dendrological table.
The results of the analyses of the constituents of rose water and rose oil have been gleaned from a
number of botanists, biochemists and agronomists particularly those from Iran, Syria and Turkey. A
comparative study was made to explore the genetic linkage between the assessions from one country to
another and then depicted in a series of tables.
2. 4 Field research
Rome
Three field trips were made to Rome during July 2010, September 2011 and January 2012, for the purpose
of surveying evidence for roses in archaeology and frescos from the Classical period, and to view paintings
and illustrations by the 16th. Century Mannerists.
Morocco
An expedition was mounted in April 2014 to Kalaat M’gouna in Morocco, located on the Dadès River in
the Sub-Saharan Desert south of the Atlas Mountains, to see first-hand, the cultivation of R. x damascena
in the dry, hot climatic conditions, and arid harsh terrain analogous to that of the Middle East and Central
Asia.
18
Mattock’s Lodge Hill Nurseries and records of remontancy.
Observations of increasing levels of remontancy in roses forced under glass were recorded on the Robert
Mattock Roses nursery near Oxford, over the period 1985 to 2012.
Establishment of a Field Station at Thenford
Lord Heseltine has facilitated a research project on the nursery within his arboretum, which aspires to
trace the remontant gene in Central Asian Rose species, particularly those from the Levant. Wild collected
seed from plant collectors is being germinated in Oxfordshire in preparation for subsequent DNA analysis
at the University of Bath. The author has drawn on his experience gained from observing the Damask rose
during visits, in a professional capacity, to Egypt, France, Germany, Spain, Greece mainland, the Aegean
and the Cyclades from 1975 to 2015.
2. 5 Tables & Maps plotting geographical distributions
Analysis of the research has permitted the compilation of a set of comparative studies depicted in the
form of a series of tables and maps, which illustrate for the first time, when and where Rosa x damascena
originated, and again for the first time, how the plant transmigrated to Rome. The following National
Floras have been used to reference the geographical distribution of the rose and its parents and putative
parents. Flora of Afghanistan (Kitamura 1960) (Flora Iranica)xii, Flora of China (Zhengyi 2004).xiii Flora of
Iraq (Ghazanfar 2017)xiv , Flora of Kazakhstan (Pavlov 1961)xv, Flora of Kyrgyzstan (Sennikov, Uotila 2016)xvi
Flora of Palestine (Von Jaffa 2009)xvii Flora Pakistan (Raven 2000)xviii Flora of Syria & Sinai xix Flora of
Tajikistanxx Flora of Turkey (Davis 2016)xxi Flora of Turkmenistan (Kurbanov 1994)xxii Flora of Uzbekistan
(Sennikov 2017)xxiiiFlowers of the Himalayaxxiv (Polunin & Stainton 1997), A Naturalist in Western China
(Wilson 1913)xxv All Floras are heavily reliant on their sources, that is the observations and records of
botanists and plant collectors in the field. These weighty volumes once published irregularly, they today in
an era of rapid global communication and translation publish up-to -the minute data.
Time-lines and Maps plotting the transmigration of the Damask rose.
Quantification, or qualification, of when and where the Damask settled during its transmigration in
antiquity, presented a conundrum because botanical descriptions do not impart such information. There
are however a great number of references that rather than describe the plants themselves, describe the
cultivation of the rose and the process of the production of rose water. Consequently, plotting the
geographical location and date of where and when quotations were written, and the dates and locations
to which the quotations refer, has enabled the production of a time line that illustrates within an
acceptable degree of precision, when and where the rose settled at any one time plus or minus 500 years.
Indeed, the time line illustrates the transmigration of the Damask from Central Asia to Rome.
19
2. 6 Selected Background Reading
The recent trend for ‘Googling’ to evaluate and to learn about a subject, by reading specific, stand-alone
scholarly papers, largely removes the prospect of being able to see that subject in its global perspective.
There is no short cut to reading authoritative books that encompass the entire subject to gain background
perspective from which to evaluate ideas. The bibliography, to be found at the end of the thesis, contains
the works that the author has read to be able to take a global view of the subject
20
Chapter 3
Context.
Searching for the remontant gene in Rosa x damascena in this multi-disciplinary thesis involves the
introduction of ‘cutting edge’ scientific research, into the wider world of literary Classics. Consequently,
the perspective of this work as a whole can be difficult to follow, therefore this chapter seeks to put the
new scientific research into the broader context of existing humanities-based knowledge and learning
outcomes.
Pivotal to setting Rosa x damascena in the context of the diversity of Central Asian rose species is the
investigation into the plants parentage.
3.1 R. x damascena is a naturally occurring hybrid with three parents.
Iwata, Kato, & Ohno, in their seminal paper Triparental origin of Damask roses of 2000xxvi discovered the
parentage of Rosa x damascena using DNA analysis. Not only that, and crucial to this thesis, is that they
found the pollen parent to be remontant. This broke new ground in so far that it had been thought that
remontancy only existed in Chinese and Oriental species. The analysis demonstrated that Rosa x
damascena is a hybrid, furthermore a naturally occurring hybrid, between three different species; one
from Europe, Rosa gallica, one from Central Asia, Rosa moschata, and one from Western China and the
Far East, Rosa fedtschenkoana. Are there any other contenders for parentage which might alter the
perspective of the proposed distribution, point of origin and pattern of transmigration?
Iwata et al’s paper says that “Damask roses are one group of old rose varieties and a key material in old
European rose improvement in the 19th century. To clarify the origin of Damask roses, we selected four
varieties as the oldest Damask varieties and examined the relationship between the Damask varieties and
their putative ancestors at the molecular level. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis of the
Damask varieties proved that they had an identical profile, indicating they were established from a
common ancestor. They have never been allowed to reproduce sexually; their reproduction depends
entirely on vegetative propagation. We identified three Rosa species, R. moschata, R. gallica and R.
fedschenkoana, as parental species of the original hybridization that contributed to forming the four
oldest Damask varieties by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA. We also found
that all the four oldest Damask varieties had chloroplasts derived only from R. moschata, as judged from
psbA-trnH spacer sequences. This triparental origin of the four oldest Damask varieties can explain some
morphological characteristics of the four oldest Damask varieties, like fruit shape, leaf colour and the
'Moss' character”.
Iwata et al’s paper has been the subject of conjecture because of doubt over the validity of their DNA
analysis. Consequently before proceeding further with this thesis that relies heavily on Iwata et al, the
argument must be examined and its conclusions dispelled.
21
3.2 Doubt over the validity of the DNA analysis of Iawata et al. in 2000
It is possible, that Iwata et al were wrong. [Chapter 4. p.38] xxvii While there appears to be little doubt that
the hybrid R. gallica x R. moschata hybridised to form a cross, it is possible, as explained below, that R.
fedtschenkoana was not the pollen parent. The Japanese biochemists examined the relationship between
Damask varieties, and their putative ancestors, at the molecular level. Random, polymorphic DNA analysis,
of the Damask varieties proved that they had an identical profile, indicating that they were established
from a common ancestor. Iwata et al, identified the three Rosa species, R. moschata, R. gallica and R.
fedtschenkoana, as the parental species of the original hybridisation, which contributed to forming the
four old Damask varieties used for sampling, by sequencing the internal, transcribed spacer of ribosomal
DNA. The author originally felt inclined to support the rosarian and tulip expert, Behcet Ciragan, when he
raised issues that appeared to contradict Iwata et al (Cirigan 2014)xxviii. Was it really R. fedtschenkoana,
that Iwata and his colleagues found, that carried the remontant gene? The issues that Cirigan raised,
threatened to jeopardise the hypothesis of this thesis, consequently they are in explored in some detail
below.
First, Cirigan asked where did this hybridisation allegedly take place. “Certainly the rare
R. fedtschenkoana repeats, but only occasionally”. Secondly it is “native to the arid, barren,
inhospitable foothills of the Ala Tau, Tian-Shian and Palmir Alai Mountain ranges in central and north
west China”. Whilst this is the home of the original tulip, it is not where one might expect to find a R.
gallica x R. moschata seedling” Cirigan 2014)xxix. “Would nomads or religious refugees have taken R.
fedtschenkoana as they travelled west and south? It is a possibility, but improbable. Rose seedlings do
not travel easily like tulip bulbs which carry their reserves of nutrient and water in their bulbs”. “Flora
of Pakistan” treats R. fedtschenkoana as a synonym of R. webbiana”. In support of this notion, “Flora of
the USSR” states “This species appears to be one of the composite species R. webbiana”.
The Floras of Central Asia, collectively, [see Bibliography] not just the dated Flora of Russia that Cirigan
quotes, do not support Ciragan’s claim. Neither do Philips and Rix xxx, who actually travelled through the
region to discover R. fedtschenkoana in the foothills of the Tian Shan within the watershed of the Amu
Darya, where the borders of the geographical distributions of both R. gallica and R. moschata overlap.
The question is if Ciragan’s measure of the distribution of Rosa fedtschenkoana is correct, how, when
and where did Rosa fedtschenkoana from China get to breed with Rosa moschata x Rosa gallica of
Europe and Central Asia? Geological features, notably the Pamir and Himalayan mountain ranges, and
the South West China glacial refugium, do not favour longitudinal hybridisation. Consequently, if at all,
the longitudinal transmigration of the remontant gene in R. fedtschenkoana would have occurred only
through man’s intervention, for which there is no evidence. Jennifer Potter proffers the same view as
Cirigan, in her history, The Rose, a True History p.57, (Potter 2010) xxxi ; again, she says that there is no
overlap in the distributions of Rosa fedtschenkoana, Rosa moschata x Rosa gallica. Frankly, as this
thesis has demonstrated, (Map 7. p.58), they are simply, both wrong.
22
Cirigan then raised the question “what did Iwata et al actually analyse in 2000?” Examination of the
material Iwata et al used shows that they compared DNA Sections, of five roses received from Beales
Roses from Norfolk, U.K. (‘Quatre Saisons’, ‘Quatre Saisons Blanc Mousseaux’, ‘Kazanlik’, ‘York and
Lancaster’ and ‘R. gallica Officinalis’); three examples of R. phoenicia; two of R. moschata, one from
Chiba University; and a seedling from Chiltern; two R. moschata nepalensis, from Hiroshima Botanic
Garden, in Japan; and one R. moschata Plena, from the same assession. Note that none of the above
were wild collected. Consequently, Cirigan says “the number of assessions is too narrow to determine
whether the real “type” was investigated” and furthermore, “plants in nurseries and botanic gardens,
despite being thought correctly labelled, are not necessarily pure, and what they are believed to be,
because of their exposure to hybridisation due the promiscuity of the genus, results in a new hybrid”.
Here Cirigan has a point. A point that the new research project into the identification of Central Asian
Rose species aspires to clarify. [Case Study 2 and Appendix 1.]
Cirigan goes on to say that “the Iawata paper states that in the comparative direct sequencing of
certain spacer regions of chloroplast DNAs, an exact equivalence was seen between a region of R.
moschata nepalensis and R. x damascena, from which, Iwata et al conclude, that R. moschata is one of
the female parents.” “If they are talking about R. brunonii Lindll, then we must consider a different
hypothesis for the origins of the Damask Rose, since the geographical distribution of R. brunonii
extends over the Himalayas, Kashmir and Afghanistan”. “It appears that Iwata et al make no
differentiation between R. moschata and R. brunonii”.
Dangerous ground here, because as explained in [4.5. p.69], the gardeners’ concept of Rosa moschata
is far less defined, than that of the botanist, who consider R. moschata Herm. to be the type and the
Accepted name. Taxonomically, R. moschata nepalensis, and R. moschata Plena are noted in the Plant
List as synonyms of Rosa moschata Herm. Iawata et al may well have considered R. brunonii as a female
parent of Rosa damascena, but despite Ciragan’s assertion, it is distinct, botanically, from R. moschata
Herm. Consequently, it was never discussed during the course of their DNA analysis.
Cirigan says that “one of the primer sequences of R. x damascena was identical to that of Rosa
fedtschenkoana, but regrettably other Cinnamomae-type roses which occur in the same region and
which also repeat, for example R. webbiana Wall. ExRoyle, and R. beggeriana Schrenk, were not
analysed to see whether they might carry the same section”. (3.16. pp.36-40 )
Again, Cirigan has a point, there appear to be several Central Asian Rose species that also exhibit
remontancy which are discussed on (3.17 p.42] and detailed in Appendix 1 & 3). The Central Asian Rose
Species research project (3.17. Case Stud 2 and Appendix 1 & 3) should add clarity. Meanwhile it
would have been prudent of Cirigan to refer to a less dated Flora, than Flora of the USSR 1971xxxii. In
fact, he would have found, Flora of Russia 2011xxxiii somewhat more illuminating. Meanwhile, in the
author’s experience, neither R. webbiana Wall. exRoyle, or R. beggeriana Schrenk, exhibit the regular,
stable, remontant characteristic of R. x fedtschenkoana. “Flora of the USSR” states that R. beggeriana
23
Schrenk is often cultivated in Central Asia as an ornamental, and grown in enclosures”. (Flora of the
USSR 1971)xxxiv.
The 1971 Flora does not say that R. beggeriana Schrenk is grown for its remontancy, but it does state
that its geographical range extends from Xinjiang to Afghanistan, Beludzhistan, Iran, Kurdistan and
Eastern Turkey, which overlaps with the distribution of Rosa gallica.
Flora of Russia 2011xxxv shows this information to be outdated. Furthermore, the Medicinal Plants of
Central Asia, (Eisenman 2013) xxxvi has effectively extended the geographical distribution of Rosa
fedtschenkoana, and also the range of Rosa gallica, to the extent that a significant overlap of some
180,000 square miles (450,000 square kilometres) has been plotted between all three parents.
Interestingly, Tan and Zielinski in “Two un-named Turkish Roses (Tan & Zielinkski 2010) xxxviidescribe two
old garden roses found in Anatolia, named Tevrisi gulu, and Kismiri gulu, respectively, which were first
identified by Baytop as R. laxa. Var. harputensis (Baytop 2001) xxixxxxviii This is the very fragrant, milky white,
double flowered cultivar, used for sweetening the mulberry treacle known as “dur pekmeze”. Tan &
Zielinkski have identified this plant as R. beggeriana which they say flowers from “May to August, and June
to September Kashmir”. Is this then, the remontant gene carrying parent of R. x damascena, rather than R.
fedtschenkoana? The proposal, that Rosa begerriana might be the pollen parent of Rosa x damascena
might have been supported by Samiei et al, (Samiei 2010) xxxix The Iranian researchers, have established a
distinction between R. beggeriana accessions from Tehran, Hamedan and Mazenderan, and a double
flowered variety found in Hamedan. This is unsurprising since R. beggeriana has been found to be a
composite species. The question arises, is R. fedtschenkoana part of that composite group, a question that
it will not be determined until clarification by DNA analysis. Interim, even should Rosa beggeriana prove to
be the pollen parent, it has not passed any of its recognisable morphological characteristics to Rosa x
damascena. Consequently, given that Iwata et al, found Rosa fedtschenkoana during their DNA analysis,
and that this thesis has shown that the geographical distribution of Rosa fedtschenkoana overlaps with
Iwata’s other proposed parents, in the absence of further evidence, it is safe to assume that Rosa
fedtschenkoana is the pollen parent.
There is also conjecture by Mark Widrlechner in respect of whether Rosa phoenicia from the Levant is a
parent of Rosa x damascena. (Widrlechner 1981) xl Widrlechner claims that R. x damascena was originally
an eastern Mediterranean hybrid between R. gallica and R. phoenicia whose distributions over lap.
Furthermore that Rosa x richardii Rhed. Is of the same genetic stock. The Widrlechner paper was written
in 1981 prior to the advent of DNA analysis and thus relied on morphological characteristics and the
historic genetics of that time. Never the less he raises several points that post DNA are still of interest. He
questions the role of Rosa centifolia.
24
3.3 Rosa x centifolia
There is confusion over the plant known today as Rosa × centifolia and the plant that the Romans knew as
“centifolia”. There is further confusion in the Latin-English translations between the rose, centifolia, the
rose of Cyrenæ, the rose of Paestum and the roses of Præneste and Campania.
Rosa × centifolia syn. R. gallica var. centifolia (L.) Regel), is a hybrid rose also known as the Provence
rose or cabbage rose, or Rose de Mai. Its point of origin is unclear. Quest Ritson (2003) says that it appears
to be the result of a cross between the Gallicas and the Damasks in late in the 16 th. Century, probably
by Dutch rose breeders. The thirteenth-century agricultural and horticultural manual, Āsār va aḥyā' by
Rashid al-din Fadl-allāh Hamadānī (1247? -1318), mentions rose varieties with one hundred and even two
hundred petals, and the Irshad al-zirā‘a refers to both yellow and red varieties, such as the "fiery centifolia
of Mashhad" (ātish ĩ mashhadĩ). Metaphorical Interpretation of Horticultural Practice in Medieval Persian
Mysticism, (Visionary Rose 2007) states that the centifolia was introduced into Europe via the Netherlands
in the sixteenth or early seventeenth century, either directly from Iran during the reign of Shah 'Abbas I, a
period of vigorous trade relations and cultural exchange between the Safavid state and Holland. Or else
through the Ottoman Empire during the time of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, whose court evinced an
unprecedented interest in the culture of flowers, and in roses and rose oil in particular. Medicinal Plant
India (2009) states that R. x centifolia is synonym of R. x damascena.
There are such striking similarities between the parentage and the reported transmigration from Central
Asia to Europe in antiquity of Rosa x damascena and Rosa centifolia that a hypothesis that R. x centifolia is
a sport or mutation of R. x damascena must be given serious consideration. The research detailed in Case
Study 2, that is investigating the Evolutionary Genetics and Taxonomy of rose species indigenous to the
Levant and Central Asia should confirm this issue one way or the other.
Against this back ground, the identification of R. x damascena of antiquity becomes clearer. Descriptions
of ancient roses are to be found in Pliny the Elder’s Naturalis Historia. The rose: twelve varieties of it. xli
Pliny discusses each of the twelve varieties, but he doesn’t taxonomically differentiate between hybrids
and species. The following is from the translation by John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S., H.T. and Riley, Esq., B.A.,
Ed. (1855) who refer frequently to an earlier translation by Fée (1826).
“The most esteemed kinds of rose among us are those of Præneste and Campania. The same rose,
probably, of which Virgil says, Georg. B. iv. l. 119, "Biferique rosaria Pæsti"—"And the rose-beds of
Pæstum, that bear twice in the year.”
“The number of the petals, which is never less than five, goes on increasing in amount, till we find one
variety with as many as a hundred, and thence known as the "centifolia:". Bostock says that “this rose is
still known as the "Rosa centifolia." “Its petals sometimes exceed three hundred in number; and it is the
most esteemed of all for its fragrant smell in Italy, it is to be found in Campania, and in Greece, in the
vicinity of Philippi, though this last is not the place of its natural growth”. "Non suæ terræ proventu."
25
“Cæpio, who lived in the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, asserts that the centifolia is never employed for
chaplets, except for the tips "Extremas velut ad cardines." Because “the rose is remarkable neither for its
smell nor its beauty”. “And, indeed, the genuine rose for the most part, is indebted for its qualities to the
nature of the soil. That of Cyrenæ (The Rosa Damascena of Miller, Fée thinks), our Damascus rose is the
most odoriferous of all, and hence it is that the unguents of that place are so remarkably fine: at Carthage,
again, in Spain, there are early roses throughout all the winter”.
“genera eius nostri fecere celeberrima praenestinam et campanam; addiderealii milesiam, cuius ardentissi
mus colos, non excedentis duodena folia, proximam et trachiniam minus rubentem, mox alabandicam vili
orem, albicantibus foliis, vilissimam vero plurimis, sed minutissimis, spiniolam. differunt enim multitudine
foliorum, asperitate, levore, colore, odore. paucissima quina folia, ac deinde numerosiora, cum sit genus e
ius, quamcentifoliam vocant, quae est in campania italiae, graeciae vero circaphilippos, sed ibi non suae te
rrae proventu”.
Caveated by the fact that species roses and their hybrids, generally, vary morphologically to a
considerable extent in terms of fragrance, number of petals, nature of growth, and according to which soil
type they are grown, the descriptions above of the centifolia, the rose of Cyrenæ, and the roses of
Præneste49 and Campania, and the roses of Paestum appear to be one and the same rose.
The Latin translation would have been more precise perhaps, had it stated the “Damascus rose from
Cyrenæ”, the “Damascus rose from Paestum”, and so on.
Widrlechner describes the introduction of Rosa x damascena into Israelxlii. Jericho and Jerusalem were the
centres of production and a full range of rose extracts were produced. (Gilad 1975) xliii. Felix Fabri
(1460)xlivextolled the beauty of the Jericho roses but by the 1800s the fields had gone wild and production
declined. Baron E. Rothschild tried to establish a modern rose oil industry in the late 1800s but
manufacturing difficulties and pathogens halted production in 1905 (Gilad 1975).
Widrlechner goes on to describe various research programmes. The ‘Research Institute for Oil-Bearing
Roses, Aromatic and Medicinal Cultures’ at Kazanlik, Bulgaria has improved the production of rose
extracts from the local R. x damascena cultivar ‘Kazanlik’ by 90%. Milewski has used R. x damascena as a
patent for the creation of the multipurpose cultivar ‘Memory of Wieslaw Milewski’ (R. x damascena x Rosa
rugosa Thunb.) In Russia breeding and testing has been in progress since 1962. The selection ‘Rimean Red’
has been grown along the Black Sea since 1926. Two of the best new cultivars are ‘Michurin’ and ‘Festival’
whose oil yields are about twice as great as ‘Kazanlik’. Russian research continues at the All Union
Scientific Research Institute. Widrlechner investigates the Taxonomy and Genetics of Rosa x damascena.
He makes the point that roses are noted for their intergradations and hence the difficulties of
classification; that is of course prior to DNA analysis. He says that the range of R. x moschata and R. gallica
26
do not overlap which we of course now know that they do. Not least we have the evidence of R. gallica
collected from Tajikistan and now established at Thenford.
Hurst 1941 advanced the theory that ER X damascena was a hybrid of Rosa gallica and R. phoenicia
because the parents have overlapping ranges in the coastal regions of Turkey (Boulenger 1932, 1933,
1936. Post 1932; Nilsson, 1972; Komorov, 1940; Losifovic, 1972. The two species are allopatric, namely
they occur in separate non-overlapping geographical areas. Rosa gallica is extremely polymorphic
(Boulenger 1936) and has already been implicated in the parentage of the hybrid similar to R x
damascena, that is R. x richardii.
Both Hurst and Widrlechner working before the advent of DNA analysis had good reasons based on
morphological observation and elementary genetics for proposing Rosa gallica and R. phoenicia as true
parents of R. x damascena. They have both been shown to be wrong. Iawata et al’s DNA analysis, despite
unfounded doubts to its veracity have revealed the true parentage. Revised distributions and ranges of
Rosa fedtschenkoana, Rosa gallica, and Rosa moschata, have allowed the point of origin of Rosa x
damascena to be plotted for the first time.
There is further work to be done. The research programme described in Case Study 2 (p.42), ‘The
Evolutionary Genetics and Taxonomy of R. moschata and R. phoenicia’ seeks to address the issues of the
parentage and distribution of both, and in particular whether there was ever a second R x damascena
growing in the Levant and S. E. Mediterranean. If so could that have been R. centifolia or R. x richardii.
From the perspective of a professional rose grower, R. x damascena exhibits a great many forms in the
number of petals, number of flowers and its growth many of which are very similar to what we know as R.
centifolia and R. richardii. It could easily be that we are talking about different forms of the same plant.
3.4 Geographical Point of Origin
There is precedent for plotting the geographical distribution of parental species of plant hybrids to
ascertain the plant’s point of origin. (New Scientist 2014)xlv . However, the correct distribution of the
pollen parent, Rosa fedtschenkoana, had yet to be fully plotted until 2013 (Eisenman 2013) xlvi
consequently, it did not appear to overlap with the other two parents, causing doubt as to whether it was
truly a parent. The research for this thesis in 2015 over lapped the geographical distribution of Rosa
fedtschenkoana, with Rosa gallica, and with Rosa moschata, allowing the point of origin of Rosa x
damascena to be plotted for the first time.
27
3.5 Species definition
This thesis premises that rose species hybridise with each other either naturally, or through man’s
intervention. However, the very concept of species in Rosa is not clear cut, which makes determining
the parentage of the Silk Road Hybrids complex. There is no definitive rose species collection in Europe;
accordingly, in an attempt to resolve at least some of the aforementioned complexities, a living
collection of rose species, the Mattock-Heseltine Rose Species Collection, has been established at Lord
Heseltine’s garden and arboretum at Thenford, near Banbury in Oxfordshire. The project is the subject
of future research (Case Study 2 p.42 & Appendix 1.). It is worth noting that as recently as 1994, the
concept of rose species was still not clear-cut, and that a universal definition had yet to be finally
agreed. Perhaps the most generally agreed definition at that time, was that species roses breed true to
themselves, and that group of like plants, growing in an area where there has been no outside
influence, reaches a stable state” (Scott Hansen 1994) xii. However, simply because a rose is wild and
indigenous, it is not necessarily a biological species. Over millennia there could have been cross
pollination, where the dominant genes have had ample time to settle to achieve a character of their
own. Consequently, the argument is that many ‘species are natural hybrids, denoted with an ‘x’, which
have achieved stability, Rosa x damascena being one.
Research into polyploidy in rose species that is anything more than the parental homologous sets of
chromosomes, is significant to this thesis in respect of determining the phylogeny, the parentage, of
Rosa x damascena. The parentage proposed by Iwata et al (2001), is that R. x damascena is a hybrid of
Rosa gallica crossed with Rosa moschata, which then crossed with the remontant Rosa
fedtschenkoana. The role of R. fedtschenkoana in the parentage of R. x damascena has been the
subject of doubt. Other species, including R. brunonii, R. moschata, R. ruscinonesis, R. abysinica, R.
freitagii, R. godefroyne, and, or R. sambucina have all been proposed as possible remontant, pollen
parents. The author no longer supports this ‘scepticism’ [Chapter 3.1 .p. 21]. Nevertheless, because the
issue of the parentage of R. x damascena is pivotal to this thesis, the element of doubt has been the
subject of investigation. Furthermore, clarification is required to determine whether the proposed
alternative parents are true species, natural hybrids or cultivars. An analysis of the phylogenetics of the
alternative parents will, in the future, resolve the conundrum. This analysis is the subject of ongoing
research into the phylogeny of Levantine and Central Asian rose species. (Case Study 2 p.42 .To add
further complexity there is a range of R. moschata like roses, of which some are remontant under
certain climatic conditions. (Louette 2004, 2005) xlvii (Ciragan 2014)xlviii (Remay 2014)xlix (Mattock 1995,
2015)l. Recent research into remontancy (pp.336-38) suggests that remontancy is not a cut and dried
characteristic but rather a plants reaction to climatic conditions and to a lesser extent soil type. Species
will in the future be identified by their apparent tendency to remontancy depending on where and
when they are grown. Whilst roses have captured the imagination and interests of scientists for
centuries, their studies have been conducted within the framework of a classification that is now
28
largely obsolete, and based on a taxonomic treatment that still relies on the subdivisions made more
than seventy years ago, (H urst 1955li.). In fact, even these may be considered as adaptations of a 19th
Century hypothesis (Crepin 1891liiRheder 1940liii). Between the years 1922 – 1947, Dr Charles
Chamberlain Hurst (1890-1947) the Cambridge luminary led the field of rose genetics. He worked in
Cambridge University Botanic Garden. Hurst proposed that the basic chromosome number of roses was
7, and distinguished 5 rose genomes, A, B, C, D and E, each associated with a set of seven rose
chromosomes. Diploid roses have chromosomes in pairs so they may be represented as AA or BB etc. In
1955, G. S. Thomas (1909 - 2003, a trainee of Charles Hurst, published Hurst’s work on rose genetics in
his book The Old Shrub Roses (1962)liv.. This work stood the test of time, until the advent of DNA
analysis in or about 2000.
3.6 Hybridisation
Rosa x damascena is a hybrid, the result of hybridisation, a cross, between three different species of rose
that occur naturally in the wilds of Central Asia (Iwata et al 2000)lv. One aspect of this thesis is the
promotion of further research into whether it is possible to increase the period of flowering, that is to
increase the remontancy, so as to induce the rose in to producing flowers over a longer period, and thus
extend the period for rose water production. At the same time, it may be possible to increase flower
production through inducing hybrid vigour by crossing the assessions currently in production, o r
alternatively with other closely related species either through cross pollination, or by genetic engineering.
Hybridisation is the process of crossing two genetically different individuals to result in a third individual
with a different, often preferred, set of traits; or put another way, hybridisation is the process of crossing
two genetically different individuals to create new genotypes. Roses of the same species cross easily and
produce fertile progeny. Crosses between unrelated or dissimilar species are difficult to make successfully,
and generally produce sterile progeny because of chromosome-pairing difficulties during meiosis. Meiosis
is a type of cell division that results in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of
the parent cell. For example, a cross between Parent (1), with the genetic makeup, the genotype, (BB),
and Parent (2), with the genotype (bb), produces progeny with the genetic makeup (Bb), which is a hybrid
of the first filial generation or (F1). Hybridisation of roses occurs in nature through various mechanisms.
Some plants, such as roses, are insect-pollinated and are referred to as ‘cross-pollinated plants’. Natural
hybridisation has played a significant role in producing new genetic combinations, and is the norm in
cross-pollinated plants. It is a common way of generating genetic variability. Plants that have separate
pistillate and staminate flowers on the same plant, such as R. x damascena, are called monoecious. Plants
that have male and female flowers on separate plants are called dioecious.
29
3.7 The parts of a generic rose
[Fig. 4]. The parts of a generic rose.lvi
Legend
Peduncle: The stalk of a flower.
Receptacle: The part of a flower stalk where the parts of the flower are attached.
Sepal: The outer parts of the flower (often green and leaf-like) that enclose a developing bud.
Petal: The parts of a flower that are often conspicuously coloured.
Stamen: The pollen producing part of a flower, usually with a slender filament supporting the anther.
Anther: The part of the stamen where pollen is produced.
Pistil: The ovule producing part of a flower. The ovary often supports a long style, topped by a stigma. The mature ovary is a fruit,
and the mature ovule is a seed.
Stigma: The part of the pistil where pollen germinates.
Ovary: The enlarged basal portion of the pistil where ovules are produced.
Artificial, controlled pollination can induce hybridisation and is an important factor in improving both
cross-pollinated and self-pollinated plants. The rose breeder must know the season for development of
the reproductive structures, the flowers of the rose, and also the techniques with which to promote and
synchronise flowering, and pollinating.
3.8 Pollen travel
Natural hybridisation is limited by the distance viable pollen is able to travel from the stud plant to the
females on which it is to land. Much work has been done on the distances pollen travels (Pearce 2014)lvii.
Rosa x damascena is not wind pollinated; indeed roses are generally insect pollinated.
For hybridisation to take place, the ripe pollen from one plant, the stud or pollen parent, must be spread
by insects, or rarely birds, until it lands to fertilise, or pollinate, the female parts, which are the pistil,
[Fig.4] of the mother or seed parent. The plants must be fairly closely related to get the cross to take and
the pollen plant must grow within a limited topographical and geographical area in order for insects to fly
from one plant to another. (New Scientist 2014)lviii
3.9 Implications of hybrid vigour, on horticulture and agriculture.
The concept of hybrid vigour, or heterosis, derives from hybridisation. Heterosis occurs when the hybrid
outperforms its parents for a given trait. One of the economic outcomes of an extension to this thesis is
30
the enhancement of remontancy. The parentage of R. x damascena comprises two, once only flowering
species, namely R. moschata crossed with R. gallica. The resulting hybrid, albeit very healthy, is still once
only flowering and has no commercial value. However, crossed again with the third parent, the remontant
or recurrent flowering species, R. fedtschenkoana, this cross throws a highly commercial, remontant
hybrid that retains the vigour and health of the first two parents, but in addition has a flowering season
twice as long as the first two parents. Should this thesis promote further research in to the genetic
modification of the plants remontant gene, it may become possible to induce further hybrid vigour into R.
x damascena which could increase production of rose water and rose oil, several fold.
3.10 Phylogenics
Genetics & DNA Analysis
The most compelling evidence for the parentage of Rosa x damascena comes from the study of
phylogenetics of the genus Rosa and comparing the DNA, the genetic blueprint, of one species or
hybrid with another. Once the phylogenetics are established, the distribution of the parents may be
plotted, and an overlap established.
Dr. John Beeching – Genetics
A pilot scheme aimed at comparing the parentage of a range of cultivars grown on the Mattock rose
nurseries at Oxford was devised by Dr. John Beeching, Reader at the Department of Biological Sciences
at the University of Bath. One of Dr. Beeching’s students, Zara Breeze, was set the task of looking at the
genetic relationships between a selection of roses from the Mattock nurseries. Under Dr. Beeching’s
supervision Laura produced a paper Phylogenetics of hybrid roses analysed by ISSR-PCR (Breeze 2011) lix
in which she concludes, “ISSR is a very good technique to use when analysing genetic relationships
between these roses. This method was found to be simple and gives clear, reproducible results and is
therefore a very good way to look at genetic relationship xi. In discussion with Dr. Beeching, it was
decided not to run further DNA tests at the University of Bath because there are now a number of
commercial operations who offer an efficient DNA testing service, both inexpensively and effectively.
This is a fast moving area of sub-molecular botanical research. Almost no sooner than agreement had
been reached with Dr. Beeching in respect of the way forward, an international group of geneticists
published the results of their work of eleven years in 2015, a comprehensive phylogenetic survey of the
genus Rosa. (Bruneau 2007) lx (Fouge-Daezan 2015) lxi . Their work is so comprehensive that it has
radically altered the way in which research into the genus Rosa is conducted. From the point of view of
this thesis, their work crystallised the number of rose species that fall within the geographical area of
this study. Never the less the study by Zara Breeze, in which the author collaborated, and was grateful
to have the privilege of observing in the laboratory, very adequately illustrates the methodology
employed. To that end an extract from her research is summarised ad verbatim below.
31
3.11 Case Study 1.
Extract from Phylogenetics of hybrid roses analysed by ISSR-PCR Zara Breeze 2011
Microsatellite markers
The use of molecular markers highlights DNA polymorphisms, which tend to be highly variable between species
and cultivars, meaning that a genetics based method is able to provide a greater insight into the relationships
between roses rather than simply looking at morphological features. In particular microsatellites or SSRs (simple
sequence repeats) have proven themselves v ery useful for looking at diversity. The presenc e and numbers of
these repeats tends to vary a great amount between species and are therefore a useful tool for looking at
lxii
divergence between species and for identifying relationships between plants (Kalia et al, 2011) . Microsatellites
are a very good method to use, as they are not dependent on the stage of plant development or environment
lxiii
(Crespel et al, 2002) . The main type of repeat that is seen in plant genomes is a simple AT repeat.
Microsatellites tend to be a repeated motif of one to six nucleotides; this motif is then repeated between 5 and
100 times per locus, an amount that is seen to be relatively low (Reddy et al, 2002)
lxiv
. They have a high level of
lxv
polymorphism and are found randomly distributed throughout the genome (Ellegren, 2004) .
Inter simple sequence repeats.
ISSRs are easy to apply, rapid, cost effective, reproducible and highly discriminating (Crespel et al, 2009)
lxvi
Setting
apart ISSRs as a very useful technique in identifying genetic relationships between roses (Crespel et al, 2009)
lxvii
.
SSRs have been shown to successfully amplify polymorphic bands which in studies in Iran gave information on
genetic diversity in R. x damascena (Jabbarzadeh et al, 2010)
lxviii
In this study they examined how the ISSR
technique could be adapted for use in roses and tested various primers and PCR conditions in order to amplify
polymorphic bands. Crespel et al. (2009) used the ISSR technique to identify different cultivars of a rose, using
nine primers they found that 159 bands were amplified, 149 of which were polymorphic, which helped them to
differentiate between each of the cultivars tested.
Polymerase Chain Reaction
The Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a technique that is used to amplify specific regions of DNA.
Oligonucleotide primers are designed flanking the region of DNA to be amplified.
DN
A
RN
A
Fig. 5. Initial extraction of DNA from mature
leaves, petals, young leaves and leaf buds.
The best extraction can be seen from young
leaves.
M – NEB 2-Log DNA Ladder. Lanes 1-4,
extraction from mature leaves. Lanes5-8,
extraction from petals. Lanes 9-12,
extraction from young leaves. Lanes 13-16,
extraction from leaf buds. Lane 17, blank.
The gel [Fig. 5] shows that the most DNA came from young leaves and leaf buds. The mature leaves gave a small
amount of DNA, whereas the petals did not yield any DNA.
32
Fig. 6. Cluster dendrogram for the ISSR
data. Two types of bootstraps are used,
approximately unbiased (AU), shown in
red and bootstrap probability (BP),
shown in green.
The cluster dendrogram [Fig. 6] indicates that the roses do not fall into clusters based on their horticultural type.
The relationships do not appear to be based on how the roses are grouped together, with the exc eptions of Paul
Ricault and Reines des Violettes, which gave identical banding patterns with all primers. It may be that different
primers would highlight differences between these roses, or they may have very similar pa rentage. The origins of
many of these roses is unknown, in fact many of them may have hybridised from the same plant at some point in
their history . This is being seen by the ISSRs, but was not seen based on their morphological classification. “This
project has shown that ISSR-PCR is a very useful method by which diversity between species can be analysed.
This is a very fast and easy method to use and gives a meaningful amount of data.
Breeze’s conclusion is particularly pertinent to the ongoing research into the parentage of Central Asian
rose species, where wild collected seed is being germinated at the field station at Thenford, in preparation
for DNA testing, and then analysis of the very young shoots, at the University of Bath. [Case Study 2]
3.12 A new order of phylogeny in the subsections of the genus Rosa 2015
Everything ‘changed’ with the publication in 2014 of Phylogeny and biogeography of wild roses with
specific attention to polyploidslxix by Fougère-Danezan et al; and with the publication of Phylogenetic
Relationships in the Genus Rosa Revisited Based on rpl16, trnL-F, and atpB-rbcL by Bruneau, Starr, Joly,
Fouge-Danezan, Xin-Fen, and Li-Bing. 2015lxx. There have been numerous attempts at building a
phylogeny to give a new perspective on the genus Rosa using rapidly amplified polymorphic DNA
(RAPD) Data but this 2015 paper appears to have superseded all previous work. In brief, the study
examines infrageneric relationships with respect to conventional taxonomy, considers the extent of
allopolyploidisation, and infers macroevolutionary processes that have led to the current distribution of
33
the genus. Directions for a new sectional classification of the genus Rosa are proposed, and the
analyses provide an evolutionary framework for future studies.
Their results [Fig. 8] show that the current distribution of roses from the Synstylae lineage in Europe
which does not exhibit remontancy is probably the result of a migration from Asia approximately 30
million years ago, after the closure of the Turgai strait. The significance to this thesis is that if the
remontancy in the roses of China were to have influenced remontancy west of the Himalayan and Tian
Shan mountain ranges over thirty million years ago, that Chinese influence would be evident today in
Central Asia and Europe because after that the division of the Eurasian landmass by the Turgai Sea
[Fig.7] ((Brinkhuis et al 2006)lxxi had the effect of isolating plant populations. (Akhmetie & Beniamovski
2009)lxxii. This research found no evidence for any Chinese influence.
[Fig. 7]. The continental configuration during the
Early Eocene (49 million years ago) showing the
Turgai Strait. (Brinkhuis et al 2006)
The Turgai Sea or Turgai Strait was a large shallow
body of salt water, an epicontinental or epeiric sea,
of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic Eras. It extended north
of the present-day Caspian Sea to the "Paleo-Arctic"
region, and was in existence from Middle
Jurassic to Oligocenetimes, from approximately 160
to 29 million years ago.
The stars show the distribution of the free floating
fern Azolla, fossilised forms of which were analysed
by the Arctic Coring Expedition, in the course of the
construction of this map.
Figure sourced from:
http://theazollafoundation.org/azolla/the-arcticazolla-event-2/
34
[Fig.8] Fi g. 8 Phylogenetic relationships among Rosa species (Bruneau et al 2015). Note that neither Rosa x damascena or Rosa
moschata are included in the table because they are considered to be naturally occurring hybrids. Parents and putative parents of
Rosa x damascena are highlighted in red. Remontant species are highlighted in green; semi remontant species in purple.
Phylogenetic relationships among Rosa species as reconstructed by Maximum Likelihood analyses of three chloroplast regions
(psbA-trnHspacer, trnL region and trnGregion). Bootstrap values are placed as close as possible to the node supported. The ploidy
35
level of each species is given after its name (see Erlanson, 1929, 1934, 1938; Roberts, 1977; Yokoyaet al., 2000; Roberts et al.,
2009; Jian et al., 2010). The names of known polyploids are in bold (in R. sect. Caninae all species are presumed to be polyploids
even when the ploidy number is not exactly known). Wissemann’s (2003) classification is compared with our clades. A P
designates ourPimpinellifoliae clade, a C our Cinnamomeae clade, an S our Synstylaeclade, Ca our Caninae cla de and Ru our
Rubiginae clade.
The work of Bruneau et al (Bruneau 2007)lxxiii [Fig.8] published in 2007 demonstrated that phylogenetic
analyses of non-coding chloroplast sequences from the trnL-F region and psbA-trnH intergenic spacer
for seventy of the taxa, showed slightly more variation than previous analyses of the genus. Bayesian
analyses, statistically the most probable, and parsimony, the simplest explanation, suggest that
subgenus Rosa can be divided into two large clades, each with low internal resolution. One comprises
species from sections Carolinae, Cinnamomeae and Pimpinellifoliae [Fig.8], whilst the other consists of
all of the remaining sections of subgenera, Rosa (Banksianae p.p., Bracteatae, Caninae, Indicae,
Laevigatae, Rosa, Synstylae and Pimpinellifoliae [Fig 8]. Analyses also are consistent with the notion
that cultivated commercial roses have a relatively narrow genetic background [p.23]. Six of the seven
primary taxa believed to be involved in the creation of domesticated roses, are found within the same
large clade that includes most of the Asian and European taxa. (Bruneau, Starr, Joly 2007) As a result,
the implications of breeding roses with specific assessions of R. x damascena have gained in
significance.
3.13 Principal of evidencing botanical point of origins, using plots of overlapping
population distributions.
The DNA analysis by Iwata et al (Iwata et al 2000)lxxiv demonstrated that Rosa x damascena is a hybrid,
furthermore a naturally occurring hybrid between three different species. There is precedent for plotting
the geographical distribution of parental species of plant hybrids to ascertain approximately where the
hybrid originated, that is, its ‘point of origin’. (Burbidge 1960)lxxv(Fidelibus et al 1993)lxxvi (Hyatt 1999)lxxvii
Consequently to validate the point of origin for Rosa x damascena it has been important to plot the
geographical distribution of the species that DNA analysis has shown to be the parents and to place the
species in the context of other species also indigenous to the same geographical area. In short to avoid
the prospect of hybridisation by species other than those identified in the DNA analysis, how R. x
damascena fits into the rose family’s local phylogenetic tree. (See Appendix 1. Geographical Distribution
of Central Asian Rose species). Prior to Bruneau et al’s precise, genetic mapping in 2014, morphological
characteristics were the only means of identification. Eighty per cent of the Earth’s species are white,
cream, blush or pink, and the remaining twenty per cent are split evenly between yellow, red or purple. All
rose species bear single flowers comprising five petalled blooms, although four petalled flowers are
known to occur sporadically (Harkness 2005)lxxviii.
Botanically, Rosa damascena is a naturally occurring hybrid. It is naturally occurring because it was not
bred artificially to produce a cultivar. Hybrids should not be confused with cultivars which are a plant
36
variety that has been produced in cultivation by selective breeding. It may well be that several thousand
years ago man selected the Rosa x damascena hybrid from a pool of hybrids growing in the wild, perhaps
because they were more fragrant or flowered longer than their wild counterparts. This process is called
domestication, and is estimated to date back 9,000-11,000 years and in the Neolithic period, took a
minimum of 1,000 years and a maximum of 7,000 years (Asano et al 2011)lxxix.
There has been considerable debate over just how many true rose species exist in the world today
because so many are very similar and many could be variations of a single species. The problem has
recently been clarified by the work using DNA analysis of Fouge Danaezan which concludes that there are
at least one hundred and ninety species in the world (Fouge-Danezan 2015) lxxx. Subsequently, the Plant
List was updated to include this work. The Plant List a list of botanical names of species of plants originally
created in 2010 created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Missouri Botanical Garden in
2010lxxxi (discovery. com 2010). The list aims to be comprehensive, and to deal with all known names of
plant species (Index Kewensis, 2004) lxxxii
3.14 Remontancy
This thesis evidences that the Rosa x damascena that was present in Classical Rome, was remontant. This
was a surprising revelation because, or so it was thought, remontant roses did not appear in Europe until
the 18 th Century. Furthermore, it was thought that the remontant gene originated in China, and only
arrived in Britain by the late eighteenth century. Remontancy is defined as the ability of a plant to flower
more than once during the course of a growing season or year. It is a term applied specifically to roses,
and roses possessing this ability are called remontant. The horticultural terms "repeat flowering" and
“recurrent” are used synonymously in gardening circles.
Although molecular mechanisms regulating the flowering process have been extensively studied in annual
plants and in perennials, the understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling flowering in
Rosaceae has only just started to emerge.
3.15 Recent research on remontancy in roses. Two seminal papers:
Researchers from the Genetics and Horticulture Unit in Angers, including Hikaru Iwata who was one of the
team who discovered the parentage of Rosa x damascena, demonstrated in 2011 the presence of a
repressor gene belonging to the TFL1 gene family (TERMINAL FLOWER 1).
Meanwhile, researchers at the fruit species research station in Bordeaux showed that the flowering rise in
the strawberry Fragaria vesca is due to a mutation of the same repressor gene. This mutation appeared in
the Alps in wild strawberries and was subsequently selected by humans.
The work published in 2013 of the INRA teams in Angers-Nantes and Bordeaux-Aquitaine explained the
phenomenon of the rising flowering of the rose and of a very close plant, the strawberry, belonging to the
same Rosaceae family. In rosier (genus Rosa), after the first spring flowering, this repressor expresses and
37
prevents any new flowering in non-rising roses. However, the protein corresponding to this repressor
gene is not produced by the rising roses because of a genetic mutation that would have appeared in wild
Chinese roses, Rosa chinensis var. spontanea.
In the long term, new genetic selection strategies to trace old varieties of non-rising roses could be
developed. Studies in progress will also make it possible to specify the importance played by this gene in
the history of the selection of the rose bush by the man.
The TFL1 homologue KSN is a regulator of continuous flowering in rose and strawberrylxxxiii
The collaborative research published in The Plant Journal, 2011lxxxiv by Hikaru Iwata, Amélia Gaston,
Béatrice Denoyés Takashi Araki , Arnaud Remay, Tatiana Thouroude, Julien Jeauffre; Saint Oyant and
Fabrice Foucher demonstrates that flowering is a key event in plant life, and is finely tuned by
environmental and endogenous signals to adapt to different environments. In horticulture, continuous
flowering (CF) is a popular trait introduced in a wide range of cultivated varieties. It played an essential
role in the tremendous success of modern roses and woodland strawberries in gardens. CF genotypes
flower during all favourable seasons, whereas once-flowering (OF) genotypes only flower in spring. Here
we show that in rose and strawberry continuous flowering is controlled by orthologous genes of
the TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) family. In rose, six independent pairs of CF/OF mutants differ in the
presence of a retrotransposon in the second intron of the TFL1homologue. Because of an insertion of the
retrotransposon, transcription of the gene is blocked in CF roses and the absence of the floral repressor
provokes continuous blooming. In OF-climbing mutants, the retrotransposon has recombined to give an
allele bearing only the long terminal repeat element, thus restoring a functional allele. In OF roses,
seasonal regulation of the TFL1 homologue may explain the seasonal flowering, with low expression in
spring to allow the first bloom. In woodland strawberry, Fragaria vesca, a 2-bp deletion in the coding
region of the TFL1 homologue introduces a frame shift and is responsible for CF behaviour. A diversity
analysis has revealed that this deletion is always associated with the CF phenotype. Our results
demonstrate a new role of TFL1 in perennial plants in maintaining vegetative growth and modifying
flowering seasonality.
RoKSN, a floral repressor, forms protein complexes with RoFD and RoFT to regulate vegetative and
reproductive development in rose (Foucher, Hybrand & Denoyes 2013)lxxxv
FT/TFL1 family members have been known to be involved in the development and flowering in plants. In
rose, RoKSN, a TFL1 homologue, is a key regulator of flowering, whose absence causes continuous
flowering. Our objectives are to functionally validate RoKSN and to explore its mode of action in rose. We
complemented Arabidopsis tfl1 mutants and ectopically expressed RoKSN in a continuous-flowering (CF)
rose. Using different protein interaction techniques, Foucher et al lxxxvi studied RoKSN interactions with
38
RoFD and RoFT and possible competition. In Arabidopsis, RoKSN complemented the tfl1 mutant by
rescuing late flowering and indeterminate growth. In CF roses, the ectopic expression of RoKSN led to the
absence of flowering. Different branching patterns were observed and some transgenic plants had an
increased number of leaflets per leaf. In these transgenic roses, floral activator transcripts decreased.
Furthermore, RoKSN was able to interact both with RoFD and the floral activator, RoFT. Protein
interaction experiments revealed that RoKSN and RoFT could compete with RoFD for repression and
activation of blooming, respectively. We conclude that RoKSN is a floral repressor and is also involved in
the vegetative development of rose. RoKSN forms a complex with RoFD and could compete with RoFT for
repression of flowering.
Seasonal regulation of the TFL1 mRNA level
The genetic basis for remontancy, the regulation of seasonal flowering in the Rosaceae (Kurokura, Mimida,
Battey,Hytönen 2013)lxxxvii and the regulation of flowering by temperature, and photoperiodic flowering
still remains poorly understood. (Bradford, Hancock 2010)lxxxviii
Rose species have been used to illustrate how photoperiod and temperature control seasonal flowering in
rosaceous crops. Recent molecular studies have revealed that homologues of TERMINAL FLOWER1 (TFL1)
are major regulators in all stages of growth from juvenile to the adult plant, and also the vegetative to
reproductive transitions, in various rose species. In the rose species tested so far, the expression maxima
of TFL1 mRNA is detected in the vegetative SAM, the Shoot Apical Meristem, whereas it’s down-regulation
precedes flower initiation. These exciting new developments suggest the seasonal regulation of
the TFL1 mRNA level is a key mechanism, in periodic floral development in rose species.
39
3.16 Remontancy in the wild was not thought to show over lapping distributions in
Central Asia and Europe.
Until 2010 most of the speculation surrounding remontancy was based on the claim that the only truly
remontant rose species were geographically distributed through Japan, China, and the Tien Shan and
the Palmir-Alai, the mountains extending into North West China. All deciduous, these remontant
species found in the wild are:
Rosa chinensis var. spontenea[Fig.9]
Rosa chinensis (Chinese name: 月季, pinyin: yueji), known
commonly as the China Rose , a native of Southwest China in
Guizhou, Hubei, and Sichuan Provinces. The species is extensively
cultivated as an ornamental plant in China, and numerous
cultivars have been selected, now known as the ‘China’ roses. It
has been extensively interbred with Rosa gigantea to produce
Rosa × odorata, and by further hybridisation, the Tea roses and
the Hybrid Tea roses, the bedding roses known to Western
gardening
[ Fig.9] Rosa chinensis
Rosa fedtschenkoana [Fig.10]
Discovered in 1871, a native of the Amu Darya watershed [pp. 3842] the Tien Shan, and the Pamir-Alai, extending into North West
China. Deciduous, forming a bushy and suckering shrub up to 2.5
metres high and as much across. The remontant flowers are
white, up to 5 cm across, and are borne singly, or in small clusters,
at the tips of the branches. The flowers ‘scent like blackberry jam’.
Flowers are followed by small, pear- shaped, bristly orange-red
fruits.
[Fi g.10] Rosa fedtschenkoana
Rosa rugosa [Fi g. 11]
A remontant species native to eastern Asia, in north-eastern China,
Japan, Korea and south-eastern Siberia, where it grows on the coast,
often on sand dunes. The flowers are strongly scented, dark pink to
white (on R. rugosa f. alba (Ware) Rehder), 6–9 cm across, with
somewhat wrinkled petals. The early season flowers are followed
hips are large, 2–3 cm diameter, and often shorter than their
diameter, rather than elongated. In late summer and early autumn,
the plants often bear fruit and flowers at the same time. The leaves
typically turn bright yellow before falling in autumn.
[Fig. 11] Rosa rugosa
40
As explained above, the genetic basis for remontancy, the regulation of seasonal flowering in the
Rosaceae and the regulation of flowering by temperature, and photoperiodic flowering remains poorly
understood. Nevertheless, there is some evidence to show that remontancy is a means of survival for
roses that come under threat, for example, from dire climatic conditions of heat or aridity. Recent
research by (Remay 2009)lxxxix and our own research on Mattock’s nurseries at Lodge Hill, and at field
experiments at Thenford have shown that additionally at least two, possibly five more species from
Central Asia display remontancy as they mature. The two principle candidates are as follows:
R. webbiana [Fig.12]
Species rose from the Cinnamomeae section, Webb's Rose [Fig.12] is a common shrub rose, widely
distributed, growing from 1500 metres up to 4000 metres. A shrub of 1-2 m high, with straight, slender,
yellowish prickles. Leaflets 5-9, obvate or almost round, obtuse, grey-blue. Flowers are born singly,
usually pink, with a white centre and are scented. Hips are bottle-shaped to globular, and red. The rose
is native to the western Himalayas from the Pamir in central Asia to Kashmir, Tibet and Afghanistan.
[Fig.12]
R. webbiana
[Fig.13] Rosa beggeriana
[Fig.14] Rosa beggeriana Hips
Rosa beggeriana [Figs 13 & 14]
Distribution: Iran, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan [Fig.14], Pakistan (N. Baluchistan, Chitral, Gilgit, Swat),
Kashmir, India (Uttar Pradesh).
A composite and very variable species, especially in the type of indumentums, the hairs or down on the
stem or leaf. In spite of its variability the species is very easy to recognise by its small fruits. The sepals
are often deciduous. The top of the hypanthium is yellowish, and the stems are covered with curved
and uniform prickles. The plant bears white, rather small flowers, [Fig.13 & 14], grossly serrate leaflets,
and green, often slightly glaucous, stems. Rosa beggeriana hybridises freely with Rosa webbiana, the
introgression between these species seems to be common in many regions. Introgression is the
transfer of genetic information from one species to another through hybridisation or back crossing.
Supposed hybrids and introgressants can be usually recognized by pinkish flowers, and less curved or
straight prickles, and larger fruits. Cultivated as an ornamental plant, its small petals are rich in ascorbic
acid.
41
Cladistics
Note that Rosa beggeriana is considered to be a composite species. The concept of the composite
species concept is an attempt, by Dina Kornet (Kornet 2005)xc, to define species cladistically. A species,
in this definition, is a segment of a lineage in which a new character state becomes fixed, from the
point where it arises, by cladogenesis, to the point where a new lineage, in which another character
state, becomes fixed. In cladistics, it is the derivation of new taxa that occurs through the branching of
ancestral lineages, each such split forming two, possibly more, equal sister taxa, that are often
considered taxonomically separate from the ancestral taxon (Dictionary of Zoology 2016)xci The proper
elucidation of character states, in this case remontancy, and their polarity, is one of the major concerns
of cladistic analysis.
3.16 Potential for remontancy in further Central Asian Rose Species
This potential has been under-researched. This thesis is particularly concerned with concerned with
doubt raised by Cirigan (Ciragan 2014)xcii who disagrees with the parentage of Rosa x damascena as
defined by Iawata et al (Iawata et al 2000)xciii. [see Chapter 8. Discussion] The doubt has given impetus
to an ongoing study into whether remontancy exists in other Central Asian Rose Species [Fig.15], to
ascertain whether there are other remontant candidates for the parentage of R. x damascena. The
initial results of this study are considered in [Chapter 8] the Discussion, and are the subject of the table
in Appendix (1.) To put the issue into context a table has been constructed of the rose species found in
Central Asia listed under their Accepted Name, together with their Synonyms, and geographical
distribution by country. This is important because in an area as extensive as Central Asia, populated by
a myriad of different peoples, all speaking different languages, names of plants are apt to become
confused. One people referring to a plant as one name, another people using that same name for a
different plant and so on. The problem is exemplified in Rosa canina. Known as the Dog Rose in Britain
it is also known by a further 168 synonyms across its distribution that extends from Britain, Europe,
North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. Essential to this thesis is the ability to definitively
identify a plant, Rosa x damascena, with just one name, over a geographical area of twenty-one
countries and regions, each one of which has its own synonym or synonyms for the same rose.
The Accepted Name is the name which should be used to refer to the species, or to a subspecies, a variety
or a form, as pronounced by The Plant List.xciv (Plant List 2013) The Plant List, referred to earlier, provides
the Accepted Latin name for most species, with links to all Synonyms by which that species has been
known. It also includes Unresolved names for which the contributing data sources did not contain
sufficient evidence to decide whether they were Accepted or Synonyms, or where there were conflicting
opinions that could not be readily resolved. (Plant List 2016) xcv
42
3.17 Case Study 2.
Research into the evolutionary genetics, the remontancy, the taxonomy and the
geographical distribution of Rosa x moschata, Rosa abyssinica and Rosa phoenicia
and allied Central Asian Rose Species; and reintroducing the Syrian Damask into
Syria.
There is no definitive collection of rose species in Europe, and in consequence, in an attempt to resolve
the taxonomic complexities Central Asian Rose Species described above, a living collection of wild
collected rose species, the Mattock Heseltine Rose Species Collection, is being established at Lord
Heseltine’s garden and arboretum at Thenford, near Banbury in Oxfordshire. [Fig. 15]. The rose species
are being sourced from plant hunters from around the world. Already collections of historic cultivars have
been sourced variously (from propagating material in the form of soft and hardwood cuttings and seeds)
from the Mattock Family Collection, the Heseltine Collection, the Royal National Roses Society’s garden at
St. Albans, from Kew Botanic Gardens, RHS Wisley and from propagating material in the form of soft and
hardwood cuttings and seeds, sourced from plant hunters from across Central Asia.
[Fig. 15]. R. webbiana [ NURSB5] in flower at Thenford for a second time late July 2015
Table 1. gives an introduction to the complexities of the taxonomy, and the identification of the
Geographical distribution of the Central Asian Rose Species This study is particularly concerned with the
parentage of R. x damascena, which post Iwata et al in 2000 was thought to be R. gallica, R. moschata and
R. fedtschenkoana.
A second hypothesis, that Rosa phoenicia is a parent of Rosa x damascena was dispelled by John Philips
and Martyn Rix in their Ultimate Guide to Roses p.19 (Philips & Rix 2004) in light of recent DNA studies by
Iawata et al. However, clarification by DNA analysis of both R. x moschata and R. phoenicia is required to
determine the phylogenetics of these two species and whether they are both one and the same, or
alternatively a parent, or a variety, or a form of one or the other. Certainly both R. moschata and R.
phoenicia belong to the same subsection of the genus Synstylae in which the scent emanates from the
stamens, not from the petals.xcvi
43
In the light dispute from Ciragan and Louette (2014) and Remay (2011) over the validity of Iawata’s work,
it appears appropriate to include R. phoenicia, R. brunonii, R. moschata nepalensis, R. beggeriana, R.
brunonii, R. moschata. R. ruscinonesis, R. abysinica, R. freitagii, R. godefroyne, and or R. sambucina and R.
webbiana, in the study. Investigation into the overlapping forms of these Asian climbing rose species
requires laboratory analysis to confirm, or not, previous morphological identification.
Seed and propagating material from the wild collected plants is grown on, to produce material for the
DNA sequencing required, to determine the phylogeny of these difficult taxonomic individuals .
As mentioned earlier, of particular significance to this study is the ability to be able to observe, and
experiment, on plants that have been established from material collected in the wild. It has been found
that much of the material sourced from gardens, nurseries and botanic gardens have been infected by
hybridisation, because the genus Rosa is particularly promiscuous. Plants have been established at
Thenford for some twenty years sufficient to be able to collect leaf material from an extensive range of
assessions, in preparation for DNA sequencing by commercial laboratories late this spring/early next
summer, depending on the weather and plant growth. The research programme is being established,
using wild collected plants, aimed at determining if there was ever an original R. moschata species, the
Musk, or whether as historic Iranian and Arabic texts indicate these different forms are all of Chinese
hybrid origin.
Alongside the project involving the Musks we are looking at the status of the composite R. webbiana.
Already, a series of assessions of wild selected plants have been established. An early success has been
in one specimen of R. webbiana. [NURSB5] This plant came into flower a second time in 2015 [Fig. 97.]
The plant is some five years old, and is grown outdoors but protected from wind and sun. Over the last
eighteen months a germination unit has been built at Thenford, where a nursery already exists, to
accommodate seed and cuttings that are being exchanged with other collections, or that are being
collected by plant hunters on the study’s behalf.
Following the results of DNA sequencing in 2000 by Iwata et al (Iwata et al 2000) xcvii who established that
R. gallica, R. moschata and R. fedtschenkoana are parents of R. x damascena, further research is required.
One to ascertain the parentage of Rosa moschata which is thought to be a naturally occurring hybrid and
two whether Rosa phoenicia and/ or Rosa abyssinica are alternative or additional remontant parents of
Rosa x damascena in the Levant. particularly in Syria and the Levant as some authorities would have us
believe (Pal 2013)xcviii Syrian rose oil is held to be the finest (Bilal 2016) xcix the question is why. Case Study
2 brings to gather ongoing research into the phylogeny of Central Asian rose species with new research
into whether R. phoenicia is a Syrian R. x damascena parent, and whether it is Rosa phoenicia that make
the Syrian rose oil so special is the subject of further research [p.150].
44
[Fig. 16] The Silk Road Hybrids – Central Asia
The geographical area of interest to those collec ting rose seed/rose hips of Central Asian rose
species for the study on their Evolutionary Genetics and Taxonomy.
45
3.18 The Silk Road and the Chinese equation.
Did remontant Chinese hybrid roses, transmigrate along the Silk Road?
When research towards this thesis began in 2008, it was generally acknowledged that there were no
remontant species with distributions that overlapped geographically with the two stud parents, R. gallica
and R. moschata. Consequently, research was conducted into how Chinese species, hybrids or cultivars
might have been transported by man along the trade route leading from China to Rome, The Silk Road. A
considerable body of research was amassed over a period of three years, seeking to demonstrate that the
remontant gene transmigrated along the Silk Road [Fig.17] to the West, because it been generally assumed
in the horticultural world, that the remontant gene originated in isolation, in China, and only arrived in
Western Europe with the four Stud Chinas in the eighteenth century [p.50]. In the face of more recent
research it could appear that this research was wasted because it was later found that the remontant gene
in R. x damascena did not originate in China. However, important facets of the initial Chinese research
remain significant to this thesis, particularly in respect of Islamic expansionism, and how the Moslems
extended the range of rose water usage. To that end the research is detailed in Appendix 2. and summarised
below.
A seemingly obvious answer to how the remontant gene transmigrated from China was that it was carried by
merchants along the Silk Road and its artery the Royal Persian Road [Fig.17]. The Silk Road had long been
thought to be an ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean Sea. It extended some 6,440
kilometres, linking China with the Roman Empire from the 2nd century B.C. to the 14 th century A.D.,
facilitating traffic in both directions. (Wood 2004)c What was man’s incentive for travelling 8,000 miles over
some of the most inhospitable terrain in the world just to find a rose? Could it have been that affluent
gardening enthusiasts, gardening celebrities of the classical world sought garden novelties to show off to
their horticultural peers and to breed new strains of colour, fragrance or growing habit into their indigenous
stock? Did they send envoys off to China to collect their rose order for remontancy? It is an appealing and
easily understood proposal amply supported by the accounts of Victorian archaeological travellers describing
the heroics of medieval merchant traders traversing the rugged terrain. However, while there is strong
documentary and illustrative evidence of sophisticated cultivars being grown in China during the Classical
period, there is no evidence of those hybrids being grown in Europe at that time. Research into the possible
passage of such hybrids from the evidence of stylised patterns on Central Asian rugs; into motifs on porcelain
and ceramics found in the Taklimakan Desert; into the head dresses of Hindu gods and goddesses , resulted in
nothing of substance to evidence distant transmigration from China to Rome.
46
[Fig.17] China’s historic foreign imports and trade routes. Note the two areas on the Silk Road, the Tarim Basin and Samarkand where
trading posts with their courtyards gardens were established. Traders operated between these posts rather t han along the route as a
whole.
Pattern Recognition
Iconographic evidence in the form of ‘Pattern recognition’ for Silk Road Hybrids, was investigated by looking
for roses and stylised roses in objects such as paintings, rugs, carpets, mosaics and wall hangings. [Fig. 17]
Archaeologists and art historian are skilled at dating such artefacts. It is useful to know when conducting a
search for depictions of wild roses, that species roses normally have single, five petalled flowers, and only
hybrid roses have double flowers. No carpets were found depicting roses but blankets from Uzbekistan depict
roses and ornament from Persia depicts the Damask rose. [Figs. 18 & 18b]
47
[Fig.18] Fourteenth century ‘Shahr-I-Sabz work’ on an embroidered blanket depicting Gul farangi. (Rosettes) From Kalter,
Johannes & Pavalot, Margareta Uzbekistan. Heirs to the Silk Road (H. Mayer 1979)
48
[Fig. 18b] Persian Ornament
Kensington Museum
ci
1868 Owen Jones Ornament Print Persian No 4. From a Persian Manufacturers Pattern Book
Note the highlighted plants, both exhibiting rose foliage and double pink flowers, conclusive identification of the rose.
In the light of (Leslie & Gardener 1996)cii it is unsurprising that Chinese hybrids were never found in Rome
because, they claim, the Chinese never made it to Rome. The Hou Hanshu, the Chinese history of the later
49
Han Dynasty (CE 25-220), explains that “Gan Ying was a Chinese military ambassador who was sent on a
mission to Rome in 97 CE by the Chinese general Ban Chao (32-102CE).
Gan Ying never reached Rome, only travelling to as far as the "western sea" which either refers to the Black
Sea or the Parthian coast of the Persian Gulf. However, he is, at least in the historical records, the Chinese
who went the furthest west during antiquity. (Leslie & Gardener 1996)ciii (Hill 2003)civ
3.19 The Four Stud Chinas - Long held beliefs on remontancy
Meanwhile the only Chinese roses known to have migrated from China to Western Europe were transported
by sea in the 1790s. Until recently, the long held belief in the West was that the much desired ch aracteristic
of remontancy displayed in western garden roses, owed its occurrence to hybridisation between European
roses and a group of remontant roses from China, the so called Stud China Roses. These Rosa chinensis
hybrids which were transported from China by sea, and introduced in to Great Britain between 1792 and
1824. They have been extensively credited with being the source of remontancy in the breeding of European
garden roses. This thesis disproves that conjecture.
Certainly the four Stud Chinas caused a huge change in the variety and characteristics of the Gallica and
Damask gene pool, allowing for the creation of new and exciting roses. The arrival of the China rose
changed the rose world profoundly. In the first edition of “The Rose Garden,” written by William Paul
(1822-1905) in 1848 i, he recorded 741 French rose varieties, 87 Gallica varieties and only 106 China rose
varieties. By 1872, in the third edition of “The Rose Garden,” Paul recorded only 18 French rose varieties,
only 10 Gallica varieties but a huge increase to 538 China rose varieties, indicating that China rose was
pivotal in hybridising roses during that time.
During this period that the Four Stud China roses were influential in Europe, Dr. Hurst, a Cambridge
cytologist and author of 'Notes on the Origin and Evolution of our Garden Roses'1941ii determined that
three of the four stud roses were hybrids of the two wild-sourced species, R. odorata and Rosa chinensis
Var. spontanea. The odd one out was ‘Slater’s Crimson China’, that he determined to be solely derived
from Rosa chinensis var. spontanea. [Figs. 18, 19, 20]
a) ‘Slater’s Crimson China’ was imported by Gilbert Slater of Knot’s Green, Leytonstone in 1792, and by 1798, the
French, who dominated rose breeding efforts at the time, had begun hybridisation experiments. It is perennial
flowering, has a dwarf habit, and has semi double flowers.
b) Parsons’ Pink China: It is generally accepted that the pink China rose which transformed the world’s roses came to
Europe via Sweden in 1752. The first mention in England came in 1771 when William Malcolm
iii
included it in his
nursery list ‘Evergreen Chine’ and ‘a new Chine’.
c) ‘Hume’s Blush Tea-Scented China was introduced by Sir A. Hume from the “East Indies” (then including China) in
1810. It was originally named R. indica odorata and later R. indica fragrans. It is known for its large, elegant, pale
pink flowers that bloom continually. It is said to have survived arduous conditions upon importation, with only 1 in
1,000 plants surviving first the voyage from China, having been exposed on the ship’s open deck, and then to an
English blockade of French ports during the Napoleonic Wars.
50
d)
‘Parks’ Yellow Tea-Scented China’ was brought to the Royal Horticultural Society in 1824, having probably arrived
from China in 1823. Like Hume’s China rose, it was more heavily influenced by the Tea rose parent, featuring large
yellow flowers with thick tea-scented petals and bright green leaves. It was an important ancestor to many yellow
Tea roses of the 1800s.
[Fig. 19] Pa rson’s Pi nk China (1793)
With Slater's Crimson China' (1792)
[Fig. 20]. Hume’s- Blush Tea
Scented China 1752
[Fig.21]. Park’s Yellow Scented Tea
1824
3.20 Commercial Exploitation of the Damask Rose in 2016
Comparative study of commercial rose production in 2016 in Western Europe and Iran.
It is a useful generalisation to say that the large headed, very fragrant forms of rose originate from Central
Asia, whilst those with high pointed classically shaped flowers, so typical of the cut flower industry, originate
from China. In the West we are inclined to view the rose primarily as a garden plant, with but a passing
acknowledgement, that the rose makes an important contribution to the cut flower industry. The West
makes almost no recognition of the role that the Damask rose plays in the production of rose water. In fact,
the commercial production of roses for their fragrant oils is hardly known in the West, and ignorantly so,
because the Damask is a major horticultural crop in Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, India, China, Syria, Morocco and
Egypt. The following table serves to illustrate the point. Note that the financial value of the production of R x
damascena in Iran for rose water, where the commercial production of the rose as a garden plant is almost
unknown, is approximately the same as the sales revenue from garden roses in the U.K. [Table 3]
FloraHolland at Aalsmeer is the largest trading centre for plants and flowers in the world. (Banks.
ADHB.2016)cv. Iran produces 90% of the world production of rose water. (pRESS TV)cvi The U. K. buys more
garden roses per person than any other country in Europe. (Horticultural Week 2016)cvii
51
U.K.
Garden Plants
Cut Flower
Rose Water
Holland
Iran
Quantity (plants)
8,000,000
-
Value €
42,000,000
-
Quantity (stems)
256,000,000
2,336,000,000
-
Value €
64,000,000
584,000,000
-
Quantity (litres)
-
-
224,031,000
Value €
-
-
40,325,580
Supply of global demand
90%
Export of rosewater 2016
1.88 million litres
Currency revenue 2016
2,162,649 €
[Table 1] Comparative values for the production of garden plants in the U.K. against R x damascena production in Iran.201
Garden Roses
Based on a survey by Ipsos Mori for the HTA in 2011, when they asked how many people have roses in their
garden? 49% of people, who have somewhere to grow outdoor plants, responded that they grow roses.
Some eight million roses are grown in the U.K. each year now in 2015/6 compared with fifteen million in the
late 1990s, twenty-five million during the late eighties and seventy-five million during the sixties and
seventies. Despite the drop in production the garden rose is still the nation’s favourite flower, according to
the British Association of Rose Breeders (BARB). A difficult figure to evaluate, but by looking at the parentage
of five hundred of the best known rose varieties on sale in 2015, the author estimates that the influence of
the Damask rose on the breeding of today’s garden roses in the West amounts, to 20% of the genotype.
The role of the Damask rose in U.K. rose breeding and production in 2016
Post the establishment of the Damask in Rome, the rose has been used extensively in rose breeding in
Western Europe to produce a series of stable of ornamental garden varieties. From the eighteen and
nineteenth centuries despite the Stud Chinas arriving in Britain from China, the Damask has maintained its
influence to the present day, culminating in an enormously successful strain bred in the U.K. by David Austin,
that he calls ‘English Roses’. There are two naturally occurring species hybrids known throughout the
Western gardening world today as the Damask Roses. They are the Autumn Damask, Rosa x damascena var.
semperflorens (Poir.) allegedly brought to Britain by Thomas Linacre, the then Royal Physician after his
sojourn in Italy in the 1490s. Secondly, the “Summer Damask”, Rosa x damascena var. bifera which was
established in gardens in Italy, France and Germany by 1520, The Autumn Damask, Rosa x damascena var.
bifera has been enthusiastically sought after by western gardeners because of its remontancy, its ability to
flower well into the autumn as well as during the summer. Actually it is a poor garden plant being of thin,
lanky, rather open growth but it is justifiably grown for its fragrance which is strong, sweet and wonderful. It
is known by many names including “Quatre Saisons, Tous les Mois, York and Lancaster. Four Seasons Rose,
Monthly Rose , Perpétuelle semi-double, Quatre Saisons, Red monthly, Rosa italica Ferrari, Rosa menstrualis,
52
Rose de Castile, Rosier du Calendrier, Royal Four Seasons and The Mission Rose. The Damask has been the
subject of rose breeding or selection over the last five centuries resulting in many improved forms, among
them ‘Celsiana’, ‘Ispahan’, ‘Rose de Resht’, ‘Quatre Saisons Blanc Mousseaux’ or ‘Perpetual White Moss’ or
‘Rosier de Thionville’ the rose from the specialist breeder in Thionville (France) 1829 (Baudino 2006)cviii David
Austin has provided the following photographs which illustrate the best of the Damask roses currently in
commerce [Figs. 22-30].
Fig. 22. Celsiana Spanish Netherlands.
(c.1750 Thory. Spanish Netherlands)
Fig. 23. Gloire de Guillian (Lindsay
Hilling 1949)
Fig. 24. Hebe’s Lip syn. ‘Rubrotincta’
(Britain. Lee 1846)
Fig. 25. Ispahan (Intro. 1832) from
Persia)
Fig. 26. Kazanlik (1689) One of an old group
of plants grown for rose oil.
Fig.27. Leda syn. Painted Damask (1827)
Fig.28. Marie-Louise (France1811)
Fig.29. Mme. Hardy (France 1832)
Fig.30. Omar Khayyam (Britain 1893)
53
Notes on the origin of ‘Gloire de Guillian’
There is some debate in respect of the origin of ‘Gloire de Guillian’. Nancy Lindsay claimed that she found the
plant in North Iran when at the time that she was seen whilst ‘resting’ in Paris. Whether she was in Paris or
Iran anecdotally she was being assisted by a young Arabian gentleman in her search.
Notes on the origin of ‘Kazanlik’
Kazanlik synonym R. damascena trigintipetala. Historically it is believed that Rosa x damascena was brought
to the Kazanlik area (located in the Valley of the Roses) from Tunisia in 1420 by a Turkish judge. At that time
that part of Bulgaria was part of the Turkish Empire and the love of the rose had been well established in the
hearts of the people of that region over several centuries. White Lotus Aromatics Newsletter Article
(website) (Dec 2000)
Graham Stuart Thomas wrote xlviii, “The 'Kazanlik' rose, too, had been a mystery to me for years. I had
received no fewer than three distinct roses under this name: one was a Gallica, one turned out to be
'Ispahan', and a third was identical with another rose I had been given labelled 'Professeur Émile Perrot'. This
proved to be the real rose from Kazanlik, Rosa damascena 'Trigintipetala', the rose grown in greater quantity
than any other in Bulgaria for the production of "attar". It is a similar type to York and Lancaster, R.
damascena 'Versicolor', with spindly growth up to 6 feet or so, soft light green leaves, and rather small
flowers, loosely double, of soft pink. In spite of its name this rose, over here at least, seldom has as many as
thirty petals. Through the kindness of Professor V.M. Staicov of the Bulgarian State Agricultural Institute for
the Investigation of Medical and Aromatic Plants, who kindly sent me both herbarium specimens and, later,
living material of the roses grown at Kazanlik, I have been able to elucidate the matter. ...Rosa damascena.
This appears to be almost if not quite identical with my R. damascena ‘Trigintipetala'.
Iwata et al. (2000) analysed two Summer Damask varieties ('Kazanlik' and 'York and Lancaster') and two
Autumn Damasks ('Quatre Saisons' and 'Quatre Saisons Blanc Mousseux') and found no difference in their
DNA profile using 24 RAPD primers. Agaoglu et al. (2000) found no difference among accessions of R.
damscena plants in Turkey using RAPD markers. Baydar et al. (2004) demonstrated that 15 R.
damascena plants brought from 15 different plantations in Isparta province, which is the main rose growing
region in Turkey, possess identical genotypes based on AFLP markers and nine microsatellite loci. Rusanov
aet al. (2005a) characterized a total of 40 Damask rose accessions of which 25 originated from Bulgaria (the
collection of the Institute of Roses and Aromatic Plants, Kazanlik) using microsatellite markers derived
from Rosa wichurana and Rosa hybrida. The results showed that all analysed 'Triginitipetala' accessions and
the old garden Damask rose varieties 'York and Lancaster' and 'Quatre Saisons' (in confirmation of Iwata et al.
2000) possess identical genotypes. In Iran more than one genotype was found, but the genotype in the main
54
production area was identical to 'Trigintipetala' (Babaei et al. 2007). In conclusion, it appears that the
industrial production of rose oil in Bulgaria, Turkey, and to a great extent in Iran is based on a single genotype
(and mutants thereof)....
The studies of Babaei et al. (2007) and Kiani et al. (2008) identified non-'Trigintipetala' genotypes, mostly in
the mountainous north-western part of Iran, with microsatellite alleles that are not present in the Bulgarian
and Turkish genotype. They are therefore not the result of self-pollination. This may suggest that the centre
of diversity may be in Iran, but detailed sampling of wild populations has not been carried out in the whole
distribution area of the species.(Kole ed. 2011)cix (Wild Crop Relatives: Genomic and Breeding Resources
Book 2011) pp. 247.
55
Section 2
Chapter 4
Rosa x damascena
[Fig. 31] Rosa x damascena (Image Library, Robert Mattock Roses}
Much of the credibility of this thesis rests on the positive identification of R. x damascena [Fig.31] from
unlabelled paintings, frescoes, drawings and in descriptions in historical literature. In the absence of the living
plant, in-depth experience of cultivating the rose is required to achieve this identification from art and
literature. It is a fact (Mattock 2015) cx that any rose nurseryman who, as part of his job, has to observe,
identify and endlessly, and repetitively, handle the same plant species over days, weeks and months in the
course of its cultivation, almost unconsciously becomes acutely aware of that plant’s characteristics and
idiosyncrasies. That is a very different experience to that of the gardener or a botanist. The professional
grower’s identification of the Damask is made through a combination of factors that donate a certain “jizz”, a
set of botanical and horticultural characteristics, [Figs. 27, 28 & 29] that are acquired by knowledge of the
type, how the plant grows and the position and location in which it is seen growing. These characteristics are
perhaps best summed up in the plant’s botanical or scientific description in the table below. There are two
forms of this rose, and numerous accessions of both. The once only, summer flowering Rosa x damascena
var. semperflorens, (Mill). the Summer Damask; and the repeat flowering Rosa x damascena var. bifera (Poir.)
56
the Autumn Damask; both are genetically and morphologically indistinguishable apart from their respective
flowering periods.
Fi g.32 R x damascena bifera being grown as pruned ga rden shrub.
(Sangerhausen June 2013)
Fig.33 R x damascena from "Herbarium
Blackwellianum",
by Elizabeth Blackwell, translated by
Christoph Jacob Trew, 1750, pl. 82
Fi g. 34 R x damascena semperflorens Hips. Iran (2015)
Taxonomy of R. x damascena
[Ta ble 4]. R. x damas cena . Table of Accepted Names , Synonyms and Common Names
Accepted Name
Synonym
Common Name
Rosa x damascena Mill.'
Rosa x damascena var. semperflorens
Summer Damask
Philip Miller. Gardening Dictionary Ed.
cxi
8. Rose no.15: 1768. (Roskov Y. 2016)
Rosa x damascena var. bifera (Poir.)
Autumn Damask
Rosa gallica var. damascena Voss
Infraspecific taxon
Rosa gallica f. trigintipetala
Damask rose
Rosa damascena 'Trigintipetala'
Autumn damask rose
Rosa belgica Mill
Damaszener Rose
Rosa calendarum M•nchh. ex Borkh.
突厥蔷薇 Turks Rose (Chinese)
Rosa centifolia var. bifera Poir
دمشقيDamask Rose (Arabic)
57
Rosa multiflora Wrede ex Russig
Four Seasons Rose
Rosa polyanthos Russig
Monthly Rose (damask)
Rosa bifera (Poir.) Pers.
Perpétuelle semi-double
Quatre Saisons
Quatre Saisons Continue
Quatre Saisons Tous-les-Mois
Red monthly
Rosa bifera (Poir.) Persoon
Rosa damascena bifera
Rosa damascena perpetua
Rosa italica Ferrari
Rosa X damascena 'Bifera'
Rosa X damascena 'Quatre Saisons'
Rosa menstrualis
Rose de Castile
Rose de Tous les Mois
Rosier des Quatre Saisons
Rosier du Calendrier
Royal Four Seasons
"The Mission Rose “Year-Round Rose
Botanical Description of R. x damascena
[Table 3] Botanical description of R. x damascena
Flowers
Semi-double to double
Size
7cms.
Borne
Mostly solitary, in small tight erect clusters of 3 – 10 blooms.
Colour
Deep pink fading to rose pink.
Scent
Very strong, with a sweet damask fragrance
Buds
Long slender receptacles, like narrow funnels, long slender sepals, long buds.
Flowering period
x Bifera flowers repeatedly at six week intervals from June to late September
Flowering period
x var. Semperflorens flowers once for six weeks in June
Growth
Arching, bushy somewhat lanky spreading
Spines
Long downward facing in irregular sizes
Foliage
Dark green foliage. The leaves are pinnate, with five, sometimes seven, leaflets.
Ploidy
Tetraploid
Seed
Rosa moschata Herrm. × Rosa gallica L.
Pollen
Rosa fedtschenkoana Regel
58
4.1 Parentage and phylogenetics of Rosa x damascena
The work of Iawata et al (Iwata 2000) cxii for the first time defined the parentage of Rosa x damascena. They
selected nursery and botanic garden assessions of four of the oldest Damask varieties from nurseries and
botanic gardens, and examined the relationship between the Damask varieties and their putative ancestors,
at the molecular level. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis (see p.20) of the Damask varieties
proved that they had an identical profile, indicating they were established from a common ancestor. The
samples had not been allowed to reproduce sexually, thus their reproduction depended entirely on
vegetative propagation. Iwata et al identified three Rosa species, R. moschata, R. gallica and R.
fedtschenkoana, as parental species of the original hybridisation by sequencing the internal transcribed
spacer of ribosomal DNA (see pp. 20). They also found by examining psbA-trnH spacer sequences that all the
four oldest Damask varieties had chloroplasts derived only from R. moschata. This triparental origin explains
the morphological characteristics such as hip shape, leaf colour and the 'Moss' character, a moss-like growth
on the sepals of the flowers, of Rosa x damascena.
4.2 Historic geographical distribution of R. x damascena 3500 BCE to 500 AD
Remontancy had not been seen in Western Europe before its arrival in Classical Rome, which is why this
thesis is concerned with how, where and when the remontancy in Rosa x damascena evolved. DNA analysis
was required to determine the parentage so as to be able to discover the point of origin by plotting the
geographical distributions of the parents and where they overlapped. Consequently, a botanical knowledge
of the parents became a necessity. [Map 1]
[Map 1] showing the extent of rose water production and therefore R. damascena 3500 BCE to 500 ADcxiii cxiv
Anatolia, Turkey, Syria, Iran, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Aligarh, Ghazipur and Kannauj, India. Persia
59
4.3 Rosa fedtschenkoana
R. fedtschenkoana, [Fig.35, 36, 37, 38] is one of the few remontant wild roses, and is the remontant, pollen
parent of Rosa x damascena, which accounts for the remontant nature of the “Autumn Damask” Rosa x
damascena var. semperflorens. [Table 4 & 5]
Fig. 35 Rosa fedtschenkoana,
Oxfordshire 2015.
[Fig.36] Rosa fedtschenkoana Hips.
July 2012, Rosenkultivarium Baden, Austria
[Fig.37] Rosa fedtschenkoana. Foliage & Spines. Enci no, CA Ma y, 2011
60
[Fig. 38] Magnificent specimen of R. fedtschenkoana Taken in: Surkhondaryo, Termiz, Bekzod in Kugitang mountains, Surhanskiy
reserve, Uzbekistan. Alexey Yakovlev. The species was discovered in 1871 by Olga Aleksandrovna Fedchenko, a Russian botanist and
was named in her honour.
[Table 4] Taxonomic Description Rosa fedtschenkoana
Rosa fedtschenkoana Regel
Rosa caraganifolia Sumn.
Fasali Gulaab
Regel 1878
Rosa coeruleifolia Sumn.
In: Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada
Smummer-ul-ward
Summer-e-Gul
5(2): 314 Tropicoscxv
Rosa epipsila Sumnev.
Vols. 1-30(1), 1871-1909; vol. 31(1)-31(2),
1912-13; ¹vol. 32, 1912; vols. 20 (1901), 22
Rosa lipschitzii Sumn.
(1904), and 25¹ (1907) constitute: Flora
Rosa minusculifolia Sumn.
Manshuriae, vol. 1, 2, and¹3, respectively
Rosa oligosperma Sumn.
(author V. L. Komarov)
Rosa caraganifolia Sumn.
For vols. 30(2), 1913, and 31(3), 1915, see
Rosa coeruleifolia Sumn.
Trudy Imp. Bot. Sada Petra Velikago.
Rosa epipsila Sumnev.
http://fig.lib.harvard.edu/fig/?bib=003847275
Superseded by: Trudy Glavn. Bot. Sadacxvi
Rosa lavrenkoi Sumn.
61
Table 5. Botanical Description Rosa fedtschenkoana
Flowers
Single
Size
5 cms.
Borne
Tip-borne mostly singly, but also in twos and threes
Colour
White, pale yellow stamens
Scent
Foetidcxvii "like 'Hovis' [brown] bread with a little blackberry jam"(Marriot 2006 cxviii
Flowering period
Remontant. Flowers continuously until late autumn
Hips
Bright red pear shaped
Growth
New stems, white. Bushy. Up-right, suckering (1.0m -2.5m)
Spines
New prickles crimson, long slender
Foliage
Grey
Distribution
The distribution of R. fedtschenkoana is not yet fully explored because of its inaccessible mountainous
habitat. [Figs. 35, 36, 37] Nevertheless evidence, from the Floras and the Medicinal Plants of Central Asia
(Eisenman 2013) cxix are shown in the following table [Table 5] Crucial to ascertaining the point of origin of R.
x damascena is that its pollen parent grows as an indigenous plant in the Uzbekistan provinces of Toshkent,
Far’gona, Samarquand, Qashqadaryo, Surxondaryo. This is where it overlaps with the distribution of Rosa
gallica and Rosa moschata Herrm. [Maps 2, 3, & 4]
Table 6. Geographical Distribution of Rosa fedtschenkoana
Location
Reference
Ala Tau Mountains, foothills.
Philips & Rix 2004 cxx
Tian Shan, foothills.
Philips & Rix 2004
Pamir-Alai, foothills.
Philips & Rix 2004 cxxii
Kazakhstan
Roskov Y. Catalogue of Life: 2016 xlv
cxxiii
Trudy Flora of China 2016
North West China
Philips & Rix 2004 cxxiv
Kyrgyzstan. All provinces
Eisenman et al 2012cxxv
Uzbekistan provinces
Eisenman et al 2012
Toshkent
Eisenman et al 2012
Far’gona
Eisenman et al 2012
Samarquand
Eisenman et al 2012
Qashqadaryo
Eisenman et al 2012
Surxondaryo
Eisenman et al 2012
Tajikistan, Zaravshan Mountains
Magdelana 2016cxxvi
cxxi
62
[Map.2] The provinces of Uzbekistan http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/uzbekistan-administrative-map.htm
The provincial distributions of R. fedtschenkoana are marked in red.
[Map. 3] Tien Shan Physical Map Posted by Allan L. Murdock
Superimposed with the distribution of R. fedtschenkoana
[Fig.39] R. fedtschenkoana habitat. Midmountain xerophytic light forest ecosystems.
Tien Shan, alplager Ala Arča in Kirgizian Ala Tau
(www.gore-judje.net)
63
[Map. 4.] The geographic al distribution of R. fedtschenkoana
Habitat
[Fig. 40] R. fedtschenkoana habitat. Early spring in the foothills of the
Kuznetsk Alatau. Copyright: Evgeny Gerasienko
[Fig. 41] R. fedtschenkoana habitat Tajikistan.
Despite that the DNA analysis by Iwata et al shows that several authorities still cite Rosa phoenicia and Rosa
abyssinica as parents of Rosa damascena. The arguments for and the sources are discussed in Case Study 2
[42] and in the Syrian Rose project [p.150].
64
4.4 Rosa gallica
Rosa gallica [Fig.38] is a rose species indigenous to central and southern Europe, including [Fig.42, 43] France
(hence gallica), through to Ukraine, Turkey and Iraq,’ Northern Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. [Map 5.].
Natural variation has given rise to single forms, and those with a few extra petals, of which the best known is
R. gallica ‘Officinalis’ The suffix, ‘Officinalis’, indicates its use by pharmacists, hence another common name
‘The Apothecary’s Rose’. Rosa gallica forms a deciduous shrub forming large patches of shrubbery. The stems
are covered with prickles and glandular bristles. The leaves are pinnate, with three to seven bluish-green
leaflets. The flowers are clustered one to four together, single with five petals, fragrant, deep pink. The hips
[Figs. 44, 45, 47, 47] are globose to ovoid, 10-13 mm diameter, orange to brownish.
Both Rosa gallica and Rosa x damascena are polymorphic, exhibiting forms of flower that can be very similar
from single to very double. The distinguishing feature in the wild is the habit of the growth. R. gallica presents
as an almost dwarf shrub whereas R. damascena is a large, lax straggly bush.
65
[Fig.43] Rosa gallica growing in the wild. Photo Id: 247392 Help me Find
[Fig.44] Rosa gallica Hips.
[Fig. 45] Rosa gallica Hips France 2013
Table 7 Rosa gallica Taxonomic Description
Accepted Name
Synonym
Common Name
Rosa gallica
Rosa arvina Krock.
Essig-Rose
Rosa assimilis Déségl.
Französische Rose
Rosa atropurpurea Boullu
French Rose
Rosa austriaca Cr.
Provins Rose
Rosa belgica Brot.
The Apothecary’s Rose
Rosa chrshanovskii Dubovik
Rosa gallica ‘Versicolor’
Rosa cordata Cariot
Rosa Mundi
Rosa cordifolia Host
R. gallica ‘Officinalis’
Rosa crenatula Chrshan.
Rosier d’Autriche
Rosa czackiana Besser
Rosa gallica subsp. austriaca (Crantz) Nyman
Rosa gallica var. eriostyla Keller
66
Rosa gallica subsp. leiostyla (Gelmi) Soó
Rosa gallica subsp. pumila (Poir.) Nyman
Rosa grandiflora Salisb.
Rosa grossheimii Chrshan.
Rosa hispida Muench.
Rosa holosericea Du Roi
Rosa homoacantha Dubovik
Rosa humilis Besser
Rosa krynkensis V.M. Ostapko
Rosa livescens Bess.
Rosa mirogojana Braun & Vukot.
Rosa oligacantha borb. (synonym)
Rosa olympica Donn
Rosa parviuscula Chrshan. & Laseb.
Rosa pinnatifida Andrews
Rosa pumila Jacq.
Rosa pumila Scop.
Rosa pumila var. holosericea P.V. Heath
Rosa pygmaea Bieb.
Rosa racemosa Andrews
Rosa ratomsciana Bess.
Rosa repens Muench
Rosa rhodani Chab. ex Boullu
Rosa rubra Lam.
Rosa ruralis Déségl.
Rosa schistosa Dubovik
Rosa subpygmaea Chrshan.
Rosa sylvatica Gater.
Rosa talijevii Dubovik
Rosa tauriae Chrshan.
Rosa ucrainica Chrshan.
Rosa umbrosa H. Waldner
Rosa velutinae flora Déségl.
Rosa virescens Déségl.
[Table 8]. Rosa gallica. Botanical description.
Flowers
Single
Size
6 cms.
Borne
Singles primarily, but sometimes up to five on short stout stems.
Colour
Bright pink fading to pale pink. White eye. Golden stamens
Scent
Strong. Light lemon
67
Buds
Sepals and receptacles exude a sticky resin scent
Flowering period
Once flowering
Hips
Round, dull vermillion
Growth
Short, thicketing (0.50 – 1.20m) wiry upright habit. Suckers on its own roots. Can climb.
Spines
Few, sharp, slim, triangular
Foliage
Mid green
Habitat
[Fig. 47.] Rosa gallica, Hips. Portugal
L. Lopes 2006
[Fig 46.] Rosa gallica in S. W. France. Note how it suckers in a similar fashion to Rosa damascena
Source: http://www.naturemp.org/Rosier-de-France.html
Pharmacological Use
R. gallica has been used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes, and are still are taken internally in the
treatment of colds, bronchial infections, gastritis, diarrhea, depression and lethargy. Externally, they
are used to treat eye infections, sore throats, minor injuries and skin problems.
Culinary Use
The petals may be eaten raw or cooked, they can be added as a decorative garnish to salads, and can be
crystallised or preserved in syrup. They are also dried and used as a flavouring in tea, beverages and cakes
The dried petals and flower buds are an important ingredient in the Northern African spice mixture "ras-elhanout".
68
Geographical distribution of Rosa gallica
cxxvii
[Map 5]. Showing the geographical distribution of Rosa gallica that includes, Central Europe, Poland (Geobotanica Polonica)
cxxviii cxxix
Ukraine, Caucuses, Turkey, Aechemid Persian Empire/Turkmenistan, Northern Iraq, Iran / Persia
Tajikistan cxxxi
, France, Spain, Italy, southern Europe, through to
Abkhazia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, S. Russia cxxx Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and
69
4.5 Rosa x moschata Herrm.
[Fig.48] Rosa moschata Herrm.
The research project, The Evolutionary Genetics and Taxonomy of Rosa x moschata, (Case Study 2. P.33)
aspires to lay to rest the identification of what is and what is not Rosa moschata. [Fig.48] The subject of
much taxonomic conjecture, because this Musk rose has been cultivated as a garden plant alongside, or
within, its distribution in the wild. Furthermore, there appears to be variation in the form and colour of the
flowers across its range. The Floras are currently the only definitive source of where it is found in the wild
and the distribution map below is based on those sources. It appears to be a naturally occurring hybrid
that was selected for its relative lack of thorns, excellent scent and late flowering, as well as its medicinal
value as a purgative. Ivan Louette, the Belgian rosarian, has made a detailed study of this plant, and
related forms in Iran. (Louette 1999)cxxxii
Graham S. Thomas refers to the description of Rosa moschata published by Johannes Herrmann in his
Dissertation de Rosa 1762 (Hermann 1762) cxxxiii This is a large shrub with dull green foliage, which until the
first frosts produce white flower panicles of medium, single double flowers with a pronounced fragrance of
musk. [Fig.44]. Hermann goes on to say that it was spread by the Arabs throughout the Mediterranean basin.
In 1820, John Lindley noted the similarity between R. moschata and R. brunonii, a wild rose of India later
called the Himalayan musk rose. The problem is that the name R. moschata has also been applied to R.
ruscinonensis, from southern France; R. abyssinica from East Africa and Saudi Arabia; R. brunonii from the
Himalaya, and R. sambucina from China and Japan. Nevertheless, the use of the relevant Floras and
taxonomy has given confidence that the distribution of the correct plant has been deduced, therefore the
Rosa moschata referred to in this thesis, and that referred to by Iawata et al in their work published in 2000
70
‘Triparental origin of Damask roses’ (Iawata 2000)cxxxiv , is the Rosa moschata Herrm. as defined in the Plant
List. [Figs. 44, 45, 46, 47 & 48]
Fig. 49 Rosa moschata. © Ivan Louette et Commune de
Chaumont-Gistoux.
Reproduction électronique autorisée moyennant
mention de la source. http://www.botarosa.
org/botarosa/roses/grappes/moschill.htm#serapion
Fig. 50 Rosa moschata; botanischespaziergaenge.at Thema anzeigen - 24. Woche
2013
Fig.51 Rosa moschata Herrm. Hips. http://plainfieldgardenclub.org/ =1757
Fig.52 Rosa moschata Herrm. Western
Himalayan shrub form.
http://www.ludwigsroses.co.za/
71
[Table 9.] Rosa moschata Taxonomic Description
Accepted Name
Synonym
Common Name
Rosa moschata J. Herrmann
Rosa arboreal Pers.
Mus k Rose
Rosa broteroi Tra tt.
Mos chus rose
Rosa brownii Tratt.
Gol-e moškin
Rosa manueli Losa
"Gra ham Thomas's Musk"
Rosa nepalensis Andrews
Rosier Musqué
Rosa opsostemma Ehrh.
Si ngle Musk
Rosa pissardi Ca rr.
Rosa recurva Roxb.
Rosa ruscinonensis Gren. & Desegl.ex
Desegi.
Rosa sempervirens Dup. ex Steud.
Rosa moschata ‘Plena ’
[Table 10] Rosa moschata Bot anical description
Fl owers
Crea my whi te
Si ze
5 cms
Borne
Loose clus ters on slender 3cms. s talks
Col our
Crea my whi te. Wa vy, pale yellow, s ta mens .
Scent
Strong, musky
Buds
Poi nted
Fl owering period
Bl ooms in flushes throughout the season. September, October
Hi ps
Small oval, with protruding
Growth
Low climber (5.0m)
Spines
Very few, s traight thorns .
Foliage
Light green. Fi ve to seven leaflets, ova te (2cm) long.
72
Geographic Distribution of Rosa moschata Herm.
The following map illustrates the geographical distribution of Rosa moschata Herrm.
Sources. N-India, Nepal, (World Plants, Oct 2016) Corfu, N. India, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan (Louette 2002, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan to Kashmir.
Mediterranean. Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, N India and Java. Persia
cxxxv
(Backer & Van Brink 1, 1963; Hegi IV (2), 1923;
Ochse & Van den Brink 1931, 1005 pp.; Terra 1966, 107 pp.; Vul'f & Maleeva 1969, 566 pp.)
[Map. 6] Geographical distribution of Rosa moschata Herrm
73
4.6 Rosa phoenicia and Rosa abyssinica
Despite that using DNA sequencing Iawata et al showed beyond all reasonable doubt that are the parents of
Rosa x damascena there remain authorities who still insist that the parentage includes Rosa phoenicia and/or
Rosa abyssinica. The issue is discussed in Case Study 2 (p.42) and in The Syrian Rose project (p.146).
For the sake of completeness the following descriptions have been included.
4.7 Rosa abyssinica R.Br. nom.nud.
R. abyssinica [Figs. 71 & 72] has recently been suggested by Ivan Louette of Belgium, to be part of the Rosa
moschata complex. R. abyssinica also known as Rosa × richardii, or holy pink, or pink Abyssinian Rose St. Jean,
is low growing shrub with white single flowers grouped in corymbs in panicles. It has been know known since
antiquity and is a spontaneous hybrid between Rosa gallica × Rosa Phoenicia.
Images are Copyright Brian J. McMorrow
[Fig. 53] Abyssinian Rose (Rosa abyssinica) Simien Mountains 21.01
[Fig. 55] Abyssinian Rose (Rosa abyssinica) Simien
Mountains 21.01.2009 Images are Copyright Brian J.
[Fig. 54] Hips, Rosa
abyssinica ispb.univl yon1.fr
74
[Table 11]. Rosa abyssinica Taxonomic Description
Provisionally Accepted Name
Infraspecific taxon:
Common Name
Rosa abyssinica R.Br., nom. nud
R. moschata var abyssinica
Arabia's wild rose
Rosa abyssinica R.Br. ex Lindl.
Holy Rose
Pink Abyssinian Rose
[Table 12]. Rosa abyssinica Botanical Description
Flowers
Single, solitary or groups of 2/3
Size
3 - 4 cms
Borne
Small, in large clusters bloom form.
Colour
White
Scent
Strong rose plus cloves
Buds
Long pointed sepals
Flowering period
Long flowering period
Hips
Reddish black, smooth, egg shaped (1.5cms)
Growth
Straggly shrub, scrambler
Spines
Short, recurved
Foliage
Bright green, ovate to oblong, fine shallow teeth
[Map. 7] Distribution of Rosa abyssinica.
Rosa abyssinica. The only rose growing wild in sub Saharan Africa, in Ethiopia, and across the Red Sea [Fig.
100] in Saudi Arabia. (Philips & Rix 2003)cxxxvi [Map 10] G.S. Thomas stated that “the rose originated in Syria in
the 4th century, where, in 1954, it was by then unknown”. Can be found in Yemen, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
(Thomas 1979)cxxxvii
75
4.8 Rosa phoenicia xxiv
Often cited as a parent of R. x damascena including (Mahboubi 2016) R. phoenicia [Figs. 105, 106] is
included here for that reason. Indigenous to the Middle East. The branches, resemble vine shoots. It is
resilient to dry soil and hot climatic conditions.
This rose is considered by the Anatolians as one of the possible parents of the Damask.
[Fi g 13] Rosa phoenicia
Fi g. 57. Rosa phoenicia Vinta ge 1957
Botani cal Print wi th Bible Verse Book Pa ge
[Map. 8] Rosa phoenicia Distribution Turkey, Syria, Lebanon. Lebanon , Syria , Israel , Turkey
76
[Table 13]. Rosa phoenicia Taxonomic Description
Provisionally Accepted Name
Infraspecific taxon:
Rosa phoenicantha Gand.
Rosa phoenicia Boissier
Common Name
Rosa phenicia Bu. , 1849
[Table 14]. Rosa phoenicia Botanic Description
Flowers
Single
Size
2.5 cms
Borne
Small, in large clusters bloom form.
Colour
White to blush
Scent
Musk
Buds
Leafy sepals and buds.
Flowering period
Once only
Hips
Ellipsoids fruit, orange, 10 to 15 mm long.
Growth
Vine like Height of 8' (245 cm). Width of 4' (120 cm).
Spines
Foliage
Medium green wrinkled (rugose) foliage. 3 to 5 leaflets.
Ploidy
Diploid
4.9 The geographical and botanical point of origin of Rosa x damascena.
This thesis proposes that cultural linkage facilitated the transmigration of the remontant gene in the Damask
rose, from the river Amu Darya watershed in Uzbekistan, the river Oxus valley of Classical Latin and Greek,
circa 3,500 BCE., to arrive in Classical Rome by 300 BCE., and how the rose extended its range throughout the
Middle East and Mediterranean by 1400 CE. The geographical point of origin of this naturally occurring hybrid
had remained unclear up until this research, save for an educated guess that it might have come from
Northern Persia. The research, explained in the preceding chapters, has now permitted the construction of
two sets of data.
Firstly, detailed in Chapter 4, is the research into the various Floras of Central Asia, for the geographical
distribution of Rosa x damascena and its parents, Rosa gallica, Rosa moschata and Rosa fedtschenkoana. The
term ‘Flora’ refers to the plants occurring within a given region, as well as to the publication of scientific
descriptions of those plants. A Flora may contain just a simple list of the plants occurring in an area, to a very
detailed account of those plants. Floras contain scientific names, and may also include common names,
literature references, descriptions, habitats, geographical distribution, illustrations, flowering times, and
77
notes. The distributions of Rosa x damascena’s parents, Rosa gallica, Rosa moschata and Rosa
fedtschenkoana, have been updated over the last ten years, pertinently, the distributions of Rosa gallica and
Rosa fedtschenkoana. Recorded distributions of the latter in the Floras and the Medicinal Plants of Central
Asia (Eisenman 2013) cxxxviii have effectively extended the geographical distribution of Rosa fedtschenkoana,
and research into the historical records of roses of the Persian Empire have extended the range of Rosa
gallica to the extent that a significant overlap of some 180,000 square miles (450,000 square kilometres) has
been plotted between all three parents. This information has only recently become available hence previous
authors on the subject have deemed the overlap of the three parents, improbable or impossible. Only by
reading the reports of the plant collectors who provided the material for each country’s, or region’s Flora,
has it proven possible to plot the approximate natural distribution of each of the three parents of the hybrid
Damask Rose. Whilst the point of origin of the hybrid is located within a region where the distributions of the
hybrid’s parents overlap, clearly, this is an inexact science and as such open to discussion because there are
so many variables. Issues over the recording of the exact location, or the correct identification; synonyms for
the same plant, or for different plants, are the most significant vagaries. However, this thesis has not sought
to accurately pinpoint the very centre of the range of the distribution of Rosa x damascena. It is has sought
instead, to identify the region of its origin within a degree of tolerance sufficient for this thesis to evidence a
sufficient degree of overlap to take in to account the very limited vagrancies of insect pollination.
It has been suggested that rose hips might have been carried in horse droppings, much in the same way that
Barrie Juniper and David Mabberley have hypothesised that Malus sieversii transmigrated from the slopes of
the Tien Shan mountains in Kazakhstan. (Juniper & Mabberly. 2006. The Story of the Apple.)cxxxix Horses do
not eat rose hips because the fruits are bitter.
Since rose seed is too heavy to be carried in the plumage of the few passerines, the thrushes, that eat rose
hips, and Rosa x damascena bears hips which are stripped bare by local birds before migration of passerines
starts in the region, (Cramp 1988)cxl it is unlikely that birds were the sole contributors, if they were at all, to
bringing one parent into contact with another. Consequently, so long as the distributions plotted, overlap by
several times the distance a pollinating insect is able to travel from the pollen plant, the overlap that occurs is
the most likely region of origin [Map 17].
The insects that pollinate roses only travel within a limited range, normally no more than ten kilometers from
the pollen plant. Consequently, to determine the point of origin of Rosa x damascena this thesis had to
evidence an overlap of at least ten kilometres, because a ten kilometre margin is insufficient to allow for the
margin of error required to cope with the inexactitudes of botanical distribution plots. On that basis, plotted
below are geographical distributions, described in detail above, of the three parents of R. x damascena, R.
gallica, R. moschata, and R. fedtschenkoana. The overlap in the three distributions, plotted below [Map 7.] is
the most likely point of the origin of R. x damascena.
78
[Map.9]. The geographical distribution of the parents of R. x damascena and their overlap indicating the point of origin of R. x damascena
Rosa moschata
Rosa gallica
Rosa fedtschenkoana
The overlap in the parental distributions indicates that the likely point of origin of R. x damascena is in a range extending over the watershed of
the river Amu Darya that includes the foothills of the Tien Shan.
NB.
The ellipses have been drawn to illustrate the overlapping distributions of the parents of R. x damascena by plotting only the maximum
extent geographically of their occurrences as reported by plant collectors and records from the Floras. Plotting each occurrence
of the plants concerned would not add clarification to this thesis because the over lapping distributions would appear confused and are therefore
considered to be the subject of a further work.
79
Panning into the map where it shows the three overlapping distributions reveals the point of origin to lie
within the watershed of the great Amu-Darya river. The river is the Transoxiana of Alexander the Great, the
River Oxus of classical Latin and Greek, and the “foiled circuitous wanderer” in Matthew Arnold’s (1822-88),
Sohrab and Rustum (Arnold 1853)cxli. Some 1,385,000 square kilometres (535,000 square miles) of land is
drained by the Amu Darya into the Aral Sea basin, a closed endorheic drainage basin, which retains water
but allows no outflow, but converges instead into a series of lakes or swamps, now for the most part drained.
The watershed includes most of Tajikistan, the southwest corner of Kyrgyzstan, the northeast corner of
Afghanistan, a long narrow portion of eastern Turkmenistan and about half of Uzbekistan. About 61% of the
drainage lies within Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, while 39% is in Afghanistan. (Rakhmatullaev et
al 2009).cxlii The high volume of water flowing through the Amu Daryä comes almost entirely from glaciers in
the Pamir Mountains and Tian Shan, which, standing above the surrounding arid plains, collect the available
atmospheric moisture. The river is the only source of fertility in this harsh, arid, dry region. Without its
mountain water sources, the Amu Darya drainage system would not exist because it rarely rains in the
lowland areas through which most of the river flows, and where the annual rainfall is less than 300
millimetres per annum.
[Map 10]. The river Amu-Darya watershed
80
[Map 11]. The river Amu Darya (Oxus) watershed was the nucleus of
successions of Bactrian civilizations. 329 – 125 BCE and the interface
between Central Asia and the Chinese Han Dynasty.
It is important to know when scanning Literary Sources,
that in classical antiquity, the river was known as the
Ōxus in Latin and Ὦξος Ôxos in Greek. In Vedic Sanskrit,
the river is also referred to as Vakṣu. In Middle Persian
[Fig. 58. Bāqī Chaghānyānī pays homage to Babur
beside the Amu Darya River, 1504 CE
sources of the Sassanid period, the river is known as Wehrōd the "good river”. (Spuler 2009)cxliii . Medieval
Arabic and Muslim sources call the river Jayhoun ( )ج يحونwhich is derived from Gihon, the biblical name for
one of the four rivers of the Garden of Eden. The Oxus was the nucleus of several successions of Bactrian
civilizations and kingdoms [Fig.53] and was the borderline between the Persian satrapy of Sogdiana
northward, and Bactria southward; the western part belonged to nomads. Confirmation that Rose water was
in use in the region by 1405, come from records that state that Tamerlane (1336-1405) the Turco-Mongol
conqueror, died in February of that year оп his way to China. His body was perfumed with rose-water, musk
and camphor, placed in а coffin decorated with pearls and then dispatched in the dead of night, to avoid
unsettling his troops back, to Samarkand 400 miles away. (Silkadventure 2016)cxliv.
Caveat, Validity and Precision.
It is proposed in this thesis that the overlapping parental distributions of R x damascena indicate that the
point of origin of the rose was the watershed of the great Amu-Darya river. This point of origin is caveated
with the fact that the botanical distributions that create the overlap illustrated in [Map 9] are dependent on
the accuracy of published locations reported by plant collectors and botanists in the field. It is acknowledged,
that simply connecting the dots between these reported finds, renders the outline of distribution
approximate rather than precise. Plotting botanical geographical plant distributions is, by definition, an
inexact science, however plots are perfectly acceptable for the purpose of this thesis
81
4.10 The Cultivation of Rosa x damascena
Comparative studies of methods used to propagate and cultivate Rosa x damascena.
A comparative study of the known commercial methods used to propagate and cultivate roses, to establish
how it was historically possible to propagate, and to cultivate, Rosa x damascena under the harsh climatic
constraints of Central Asia and the Middle East.
Propagation
Seed.
Propagation by seed within the area of geographic distribution of the Damask is possible, but onerous. This is
because climatically, the seed requires periods of prolonged, near freezing, temperatures for four months,
and then two further years to germinate. Commercially, growers do not have that length of time to devote to
the process. One possible way to reduce this time is to scarify the seed, and then place it for two or three
weeks in a damp medium at a temperature of 27 o - 32oC. followed by four months at 3 oC.
Scarification involves weakening, opening, or otherwise altering the coat of a seed, mechanically, [Fig. 54]
thermally, and chemically to encourage germination. It is also possible to sow seed immediately it is
harvested when "green"; that is, when the seed is fully developed, but before it has dried on the plant.
[Fig. 59] Photograph of rose hips from the poster which will advertise the field identification guide. Hermova 2016. (Case study 4.)
82
Vegetative Propagation
Leaving aside recently developed laboratory methods of propagation such as micro-propagation, there are
only a certain number of methods that can be used for vegetatively propagating roses. Only those
methods detailed below [Figs. 56-62], have been used traditionally, methods that have not changed over
the last four thousand years. Had those methods included cuttings of any description, the timing for
making the cuttings had to fall within the seasonal constraints in the table below [Fig 55].
[Fig.60] . [Fig. 26] Chart showing the months for making
cuttings in the northern hemisphere
.
[Fi g.61 Root Cuttings;
Very sus ceptible to desi ccati on
Key
HW = hardwood cuttings
SR = semi ripe-wood cuttings
SW = softwood cuttings
Stem Cuttings
[Fi g. 63]. Semi Ha rdwood Cuttings .
[Fi g.62] Softwood Cuttings Ma terial lasts for just a few hours
Fig. 64 Hardwood Cuttings
83
Grafting This propagating material can last for up to seven days if kept moist and cool.
Budding
[Fig.65] Root grafting
[Fig.66] Crown grafting/ Whip or tongue graft
[Fig.67]. T - Budding. A form of grafting technique favoured by
commercial rose growers for the last three thousand years,
throughout Asia, Europe and North Africa.
[Fig.68] Chip budding
Fig. 69 Layering or suckering.
The technique used traditionally throughout Central Asia for propagating and cultivating the Damask.
[Fig.70] Trench layering
[Fig.71] Suckers
[Fig.72] Suckers
84
Planting suckers ripped off from the root of the mother plant is the traditional method of propagating Rosa x
damascena, and has been practised for 3000 years in Central Asia and was seen in Morocco, in 2015. The
method, that involves ‘ripping’ a piece of mature stem, that is still attached to a piece of mature root, is not
subject to desiccation to the extent of the propagating material used for cuttings and grafts.
4.11 Historic transportation of propagating material
Is it possible to transport propagating material over long distances, in harsh climatic conditions?
Whilst the research has established that Islamic aggressors could have insisted that their converts use rose
water as part of their Muslim doctrinal rites, was it physically possible to establish the production of rose
water from R. x damascena, under the harsh terrain and climatic conditions of the settlements that had
been subjected to Islamic conversion? An expedition was mounted to ascertain whether it is possible to
propagate and establish R. x damascena south of the Atlas Mountains in sub Saharan Morocco, a region
that is representative of the topographical regions of Muslim conversion. This was followed by a
comparative study of the methods used in Morocco, and those traditional methods used in Iran.
All rose growing professionals are well aware of the fragility of transporting propagating material. The
fragility is primarily a function of desiccation, and the smaller the piece of propagating material the higher
the risk of it drying out and the less time the propagator has to make the new plant from whatever piece
of the mother plant he decides to use. Consequently, transporting small pieces of propagating material for
any length of time more than a few minutes is not viable. Therefore, cuttings have to be made and struck
in situ which is possible if there is stock close by to the planting plot but not if the propagating material has
to travel any distance. Conversely, hard wood torn from mother stock in the form of suckers or layers, will
last several days even weeks if kept moist and well-covered in moist blankets or moist hessian sacking.
[Page 91, below]
4.12 Literary review of the Classics to establish which methods were used to propagate
and cultivate R x damascena in antiquity.
The issue arises, why have a succession of translations from the Classics ignored the horticultural term
“sucker” when applied to propagating roses. To a professional grower mono-specific vegetative propagation
by suckers corresponds to commercial volume production because it is the one inexpensive, technically
simple, means of producing thousands of plants of the same species or species-hybrid. Important to this
thesis, is how the Damask rose was able to be transported from the River Oxus (Amu Dyra) watershed in
about 3500 BCE to Rome by 300 BCE. This is significant, because in the harsh arid and hot climates of Central
Asia and the Middle East, propagating material such as cuttings, grafts, whips, layers, saplings and quicksets
would not have survived due to desiccation. The only form of propagation material that survives these
85
climatic extremes are suckers. Propagation of rose species by suckers is a ubiquitously used technique
whereby stems are ripped off the root ball of a species rose retaining a portion of both the tap root and
adventitious roots. A bundle of suckers, normally ten to a bundle, wrapped in a blanket or in hessian squares,
and kept moist and in the shade, can remain viable for several months thereby allowing them to be
successfully transported from one arid area to another.
Robin Lane Fox when asked for his opinion stated that Pliny wrote that suckers have been used to propagate
vines since antiquity (Pliny 1 )).
“De cetevo ipsa se colit stolones supervacuos enecante
Idem saepe praebet in singulis vitulamen”.
“For the rest the tree looks after itself, as its shadow kills off superfluous suckers”.
In the same passage, Pliny refers to suckers as stock-shoots which they translate as propagines.
Why, if the term sucker is used in the description of the cultivation of vines, is not it used to describe what
was a widespread method of propagation of roses? Instead the words viviradices, flagellis and mergis have
been used in translations, by for example Bostock, and Fée, of those agriculturally and horticulturally
knowledgeable writers, such as Pliny, Virgil, Theophrastus, Dioscorides and Columella. These words do not
seem to describe a ‘sucker’, albeit that the writers describe the production of rose water, and it follows, the
cultivation of the Damask, in considerable detail.
Quotations, from Columella’s: De Re Rustica and De Arboribus illustrates the point on [Page 90]. The
references and quotations are from the Loeb Classical Library edition: Vol. I (Books 1-4) by H. B. Ash,
published in 1941; Vols. 2 and 3 (Books 5-12), and the de Arboribus) by E. S. Forster and E. Heffner, first
published in 1954-1955. De Re Rustica and De Arboribus Book 4.1.1 and De Re Rustica and De Arboribus Book
4.1.2 . Classicists have repeatedly translated Pliny, when he quotes from Theophrastus describing the
specification of rose propagating material, as “quills, tiges, cuttings or saplings”.
The conundrum was also put before the Reverend Richard Smail, a leading Classicist from Oxford University.
“The problem with your three words is that they are non-technical terms being used in a technical
context, and dictionary definitions in fact rely heavily on the translations you quote, because there aren't
many (if any) other examples of usage.
Flagellum simply means a whip.
Mergus means something which dives (the commoner usage is for seabirds which dive into the water).
The meaning layer (for a vine) is based on the two uses by Columella (who was, after all, a
gentleman farmer!) and one by the elder Pliny (who was a polymath, not an expert).
Mergus is an uncommon derivative of mergo, a verb which means plunge, dip, sink, bury, cover etc.
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Vive/viviradix simply means having a living root.
I'm afraid that this isn't at all helpful, but I can't see a way of translating any of these words as sucker”.
But there are Latin words for suckers. The translators of Pliny, Virgil and Theophrastus, Dioscorides and
Columella, have translated suckers in the propagation of vines, as stolones, vitulamen, or propagines.
Why then did they not use these words when translating how roses were propagated by suckers? Could it
simply be that the translators were unaware that suckers were used in propagating roses as well as vines?
Pedantic this might seem, but because the literary review evidences that Rosa x damascena is propagated
from suckers, certainly in Iran, Uzbekistan, Syria and Turkey, the hypothesis that the rose was able to
transmigrate despite the heat and aridity of the growing terrain, remains valid. Finally, observations of the
propagation of the Damask rose by suckers, observed during the field trip to Morocco described in Case
Study 3, substantiates the literary review.
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4.13 Case Study 3.
Cultivation of Rosa x damascena in Morocco in 2015.
This study opens up the issue of how the Muslims transported the material for the production of the
Damask, from Central Asia and Persia, to the Mediterranean. The research has traced rose water usage in
the traditions of the Sunnis and Sufis, the Ottomans, the Turkic people, the Egyptians and the Greeks.
Conveniently, and far more accessible than Persia, modern day Iran, is the area where R x damascena is
grown by the Berbers in the Sub Saharan desert, south of the Atlas Mountains, in Morocco.
The Berbers were the ancient, indigenous people of North Africa, west of Egypt. They were made up of
many tribes, but nevertheless, co-ordinated their culture, their Hamitic languages, and considerable
military power, during successive invasions of their lands. The Berbers were subjects of Islamic conquest
following the death of Muhammad in 632 CE. (Brett 1997) cxlv(Abun-Nasr 1997) cxlvi O’Shea 2006).cxlvii By
642CE, the Arabian Islamists controlled Mesopotamia and Egypt; they had invaded Armenia, and were
concluding their conquest of the Persian Empire. It was at this point that Arab military expeditions into
North African regions west of Egypt were first launched, furthering the spread of Islam to the West. Unlike
the conquests of previous religions and cultures, the conversion to Islam by the Arabs was to have a
pervasive and long-lasting effect on the Maghreb, the Arabic name for the North West part of Africa. The
new religion penetrated nearly all segments of society, bringing with it armies, learned men, religious
doctrine and fervent mystics. Faced with the Jihad against North Africa, the Arab Muslim aggression
against the Berbers of Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco, the nomadic Berbers were quick to convert, and
assist, the Arab conquerors. (Westermarck 1926) cxlviii
No documentary evidence has been found to date the beginning of the cultivation of R. x damascena in
the Dadès Valley near Ouarzazate in Morocco. This is an area which has a pre-Saharan bio-climate, and the
relatively low temperatures suitable to rose growing. However local tradition, by word of mouth, says that
cultivation was established by the Berbers at the time of their Islamic conversion to produce dried rose
buds and rose water. Twelve hundred years later in the 1940’s, French colonial perfumers built on the
tradition, and built distilleries at Kalaat M’Gouna in the Dadès valley to produce rose oil and rose essence.
Traditional horticultural methods of cultivation originate in antiquity, and rarely change from one
generation to another. Was the method of cultivation in Morocco the same as that used in Persia? If so,
was there proof, or at least evidence for, an Islamic or Persian horticultural technique, that had
transmigrated west to Morocco with the Muslim demand for rose water production?
In Persia and in Central Asia, R. x damascena is propagated from suckers whereas in Europe and North
Africa, roses are traditionally propagated from seed, or by budding, a specialised form of “T” grafting. An
expedition in 2015 to Kalaat M’Gouna in Morocco was organised to establish which of the propagation
methods described above [pp.65-67] were in operation in this remote area of North Africa, and how did
88
those methods compare with those used thirteen hundred years ago in Persia. Furthermore, could it be
established that the mode of cultivation carried on by subsistence farmers in Morocco today could have
been delivered by Muslim expansionists travelling to Morocco via the Silk Road? Examining current rose
water production methods in Iran, Turkey and Bulgaria did not help because nowadays, these volume
producers use modern methods and materials. However, further research into Iranian production showed
that small groups of subsistence farmers still exist, who cultivate small plots that are not horticulturally
viable for the mechanised large operators. [Fig. 62 p.67] These small farmers propagate the Damask, using
the traditional methods of suckering. (Zahra Rose Water Co. 1978)cxlix
It was found that the propagation being practiced by the Berbers in 2016 in Morocco is exactly the same
method being used in Iran today, where the traditional Persian regimes are still practised. Suckers occur
on the roots of a plant naturally without man’s intervention, they not require crafting or re-inventing. In
neither country, despite that they are 10,000 kilometres distant from each other, has the method of
cultivation changed. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to presume, that horticulturally the plant, its
propagation, and cultivation techniques were introduced directly, or indirectly, from Persia. Further
support to this hypothesis is that this method of propagation at Kelaat M'Gouna [Fig. 66, 67] stands in
isolation amidst the surrounding regions of garden rose and cut-flower production, where the traditional
European and North African method of propagating roses by “T Budding”, is practiced. Fig.62 p.89]
Kalaat M’gouna & The Valley of the Roses
Kalaat M’gouna قلعةم كون ةis located in the province of Tinghir and in 2014 had a population of only
16,956 (World Gazetteer 2014)cl. The small oasis town, a monument in itself to Rosa x damascena, [Fig. 68]
is located at the base of the Valley of Roses in the Dadès Valley which is irrigated by the Asif M'Goun River.
Rose cultivation takes place in two distinct, local, geographical areas: the first begins some ten kilometres
from Kelaat M'Gouna village, and continues for a further ten kilometres north west, ending near the town
of Boumalne Dadès. The second growing area, and by far the most important, begins at Kelaat M'Gouna
and continues along a secondary road that climbs due north to the village of Bou Tharar. There are about
thirty uninterrupted kilometres of rose cultivation along the wadi. This verdant valley, lying beneath an
ochre canyon, is an incredibly beautiful landscape. Roses are a very important crop, offering the major
source of income during a season which begins around the 10th April and ends around the 20th. May. An
idea of the importance of the rose industry can be measured by looking at the number of shops in the
town, virtually every other enterprise, sells rose water, rose oil, rose perfume, rose petals, rose everything
…. The author does not speak Berber or Arabic, but does speak French, mercifully the second language of
the old French colonial period. This allowed in-depth conversation with locals, from whom it was possible
to ascertain the local methodology and horticultural practises on the rose nurseries, and in the distilleries.
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[Fig. 73] Homage to Rosa x damascena, Town Square, Kalaat M’gouna
Propagation and Cultivation of R. damascena in the Dadès Valley
The whole Dadès valley is ‘planted up’ with R. x damascena, but not planted in rows in fields as
nurserymen would do in northern Europe. Rather, the roses are planted as hedges that surround tiny
areas of land each about half an acre (0.2 hectares). Small terraced fields [Fig. 69, 70], located along the
sides of the river, are banked with low ridges of soil planted with ‘simple suckers’ or ‘mound/stool layers’.
The suckers are stripped from mature plants of R. x damascena and planted to form hedges that surround
tiny half hectare fields [Fig. 72], in which are grown wheat and barley. These small fields, protected by the
R. x damascena hedges, are fertilized each year with manure and composted plant material. Consequently,
the soils are rich which, in the Dadès Valley, irrigated by the Asif M'Goun River, allows two grain crops to
be grown each year. The first crop, barley is harvested by early July, the field is then ploughed and put
down to wheat, which is harvested before the end of October. Much of the farming is still done by manual
labour. Fields are cultivated using wooden or iron-tipped ploughs pulled by a team of horses, or a mix of
horses, mules or donkeys. Crops are harvested by hand and once dry, are threshed by treading with teams
of donkeys or mules. The soils consist of deep strata of clays and colluviums, which are easily
differentiated by their colours which vary according to the geological content. They are slightly alkaline
with pH ranges of between 7.4 and 7.8. The organic and nitrogen content of the alluvium is low, hence the
need for manuring.
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[Fig. 74]. R. x damascena Layered plant with
unopened bud Kalaat M’Gouna, Morocco.
Propagation of R. x damascena is by ‘layering’ or
[Fig.75]. Small “field” growing wheat, Kalaat M’Gouna,
surrounded by a hedge of R. x damascena Morocco. 2015
‘suckers’ (Fig. 74 ) taken in clumps from old hedges [Fig. 75], which are then planted out in 40cms deep
trenches cut into the banks of soil from November to February [Fig. 77]. They are planted out in parallel
rows, 45 cms. apart, the plants alternating with each other to form a dense hedge [Fig. 76]. Plants reach
sufficient maturity to produce enough flowers to be able to harvest from Year 3. However, flower
production increases with the age of the plant such that flower bearing hedges of 30 to 40 years standing
[Fig. 75.] are common. Old plants display remontancy.
[Fig. 76] There are no flowers shown because they had all been picked earlier
that morning. No photographs of the harvesting are allowed because Moslem
women do wish to be photographed.
[Fig. 77]. 20-25-year-old hedge of Rosa x
damascena in the Dadès Valley Morocco.
91
Irrigation, and feeding with potassium, phosphate and nitrogen is common practice but the use of sprays and
chemicals against pests and diseases is practically non-existent. Pruning is rudimentary at best. The tools
used are grubbing axes, sickles and anvil secateurs. The young plants are fertilised during planting to increase
flower production, and also to avoid lateral root extension, using a basal dressing as rich as possible in
organic matter, potash and phosphorus [Fig. 77].
The first flowering period extends from April to June and lasts between 25-45 days depending on the weather
conditions, in particular the last frosts and the amount of rainfall. Distillers find that flower production is
better in years when the first flowering period is short, (15 April to May 15). There is no picking from the
repeat flowering plants, because the volume of flowers gathered is too low to warrant firing up the modern
distillation machinery. Historically non-mechanised distillation pots could handle low quantities of pickings.
Gathering flowers involves picking the barely open or closed buds by hand, which are then dropped into light
jute sacks, a job undertaken by women and children. Each worker can harvest between 10 to 15 K ilograms of
fresh roses per day. It is considered uncomfortable work on account of the thorns, and itchiness. This
method of production is ideal for low volume production by subsistence farmers and a transient population.
It solves the conundrum of how the Moslems could have sustained the production of rose water as they
extended their geographical range. The Berbers make use of suckers that do not desiccate quickly, and strike
easily.
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Section 3.
Tracking the transmigration of the Damask rose from Central Asia to Rome.
Having established that the likely origin of Rosa x damascena lies in the watershed of the river Amu Darya,
where it the first written records are from in circa 3500 BCE [p.78. Map 9], Homer (c. 740 – 720 writes of
roses in the 8 th. Century BCE, and that the rose appeared in Rome by 300 BCE [p.11], the thesis now turns its
attention to how and why the rose transmigrated, and the route that it took. Consequently, this section
investigates the passage of the rose over those 3000+ kilometres, and over 3000+ years; and who enabled
that passage, and for what reason. The research for this thesis comes from two disciplines. A literary review
of works by writers of the Classics that describe the nursery production process in detail. This is supported by
a comparative study of the historic and contemporary production of rose water across central Asian into the
Middle East and finally Rome.
The principal trading routes and the arterial roads used for long distance travel in Central Asia and the Middle
East, over the period 3000 BCE and 300 BCE, evolved from the Assyrian trade routes of 3500 BCE into the
Royal Persian Road, which in turn evolved into what are now known as the Silk Roads. During this research, it
was found from studying Classical texts that the link between Rosa x damascena and its passage along the
Silk Roads, was the cultivation of the Damask for its use in the production of rose water. This link was not at
all obvious. Little is known of rose water in the West, much less how it is produced, and the traditions dating
back to antiquity that surround the use of the product. Yet the volume of rose water produced both today
and in antiquity is, and was, enormous. In fact, the production equated to the production of olive oil. The
manufacture of rose water, and correspondingly the cultivation of the Damask, spread from the east to the
west over the entire period from 3500 BCE, to 1400 CE.
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Chapter 5.
Rose water
5.1 Introduction
Whilst it has proven possible to define a caveated point of origin for the Damask from phylogenetic analysis,
and with botanical and geographical distribution maps, these data do not include the dates for the
transmigration of the Damask. Research from Assyrian cuneiform tablets revealed references to the
production of roses from as far back as 4000 BCE, followed by a plethora of references to rose water from
the Latin, Greek, Persian, Syrian and Turkish writers from 1000 BCE. [See time-line p.132]. Since rose water is
produced, principally, from the Damask rose, tracking the passage of the production of rose water
corresponds with tracing the transmigration of the rose itself.
This thesis is concerned with the Damask as the prime source of petals for manufacturing rose water.
However, one must be aware that there in fact, three species of rose, cultivated globally, for the production
of rose oil. Rosa x damascena, the Damask rose, which dominates the industry, and is the rose most widely
grown throughout the leading rose oil producing countries which are, Syria, Bulgaria, Turkey, Russia, Pakistan,
India, Uzbekistan, Iran and China. Secondly, Rosa centifolia, the cabbage rose, which is more commonly
grown, in low volumes, in France and Egypt. (Hass 2015)cli. Lastly, Rosa rugosa is grown to some extent in
Japan and China. (Ueyama et al 1990)
5.2 Definitions.
Rose water, rosaceum, rose oil of antiquity and the rose oil of today, attar of roses.
The four rose-derived products most discussed in ancient texts are:
a)
Rose water, flavoured water made by steeping rose petals in water.
b)
Rose confection, or rose paste, called rosaceum, which is an unguent, a thick jam, produced by
blending roses with sugar or honey.
c)
A rose oil cited in Islamic texts, made by steeping roses in sesame seed oil, or olive oil, and then left
in the sun.
Lastly, the rose oil we know today. This is the oil known as rose otto, attar of rose, attar of roses, rose essence
or rose essential oil.
a)
Rose ottos are extracted through steam distillation.
b)
Rose absolutes are obtained through solvent extraction, or supercritical carbon dioxide extraction.
The oil bearing parts of the petal are the calyx and the white parts at the base of the petal itself. Little has
changed; it appears from cuneiform tablets that Assyrian doctors were precise in their use of rose
94
water. Penny Cyclopaedia (ca. 1839)clii includes details for various medicinal uses of rose, such as the petals
of R. damascena. The buds were to be collected before they expanded. The calyx and lower parts of the
petals were dried, with about 2,000 flowers yielding 10 pounds of dry petals.
Even with their high price, and with the advent of inorganic synthesis, rose oils are still perhaps the most
widely used essential oil in perfumery today. The modern mass production of rose water, through steam
distillation, was refined by the Persian polymath, Avicenna (980-1037 CE). He practised in the medieval
Islamic world when, his experiments led to efficient, and more economical, uses for the perfumery industries
[Fig. 74].
Very little has been written about rose water production and its history in the West, probably because, in the
West roses, are considered a garden plant, not as a horticultural crop. Nevertheless, archaeologists have
excavated Assyrian and Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets, together with extraction ewers dating back to
3500 BCE. Research has shown that Sumerians and Assyrians (1200 BCE) were among the first to have
mastered the art of extracting fragrances. (Hűsnű-Can-Baser 2012)cliii Rose water was used as an agent for
perfuming water, for holy water in religious services, in medicine and in cuisine and it is used in the
production of rose oil, and attar of roses.
It was known as golāb in Middle Persian, and as zoulápin in Byzantine Greek. (Shahbazi 1990)cliv Assyrian
tablets describe rose and rose water. (Thompson 1949)clv Cuneiform texts indicate that the roses were not
directly distilled, but boiled with water to produce fragrant water.
5.3 Rose Water and Rosaceum in Antiquity (5000 – 1200 BCE) and in Islamic
Expansionism
Rose oil and rose water are both obtained by the hydro-distillation of fresh rose petals. Most scholars
attribute the method to the Arabian alembic, a process that dates back to the 9th century CE, but some
authorities attribute it to the alchemists of Alexandria, from 50 BCE onwards. (Schmidt 2013)clvi. However,
Schmidt also says that there is one record of distillation, in earthenware ceramic pots, from the Indus Valley
civilization, 5000 BCE. The remnants of a distillation pot were excavated in Harappa, an ancient city of 2600–
1900 BCE, in the Punjab. (Schmidt 2013)clvii This pot resembles the attar-production stills used to this day in
Kannauj, India. The Kannui process involved firstly, the distillation of rose petals in water, then, trapping the
resulting residue in sandalwood. One theory hypothesises that Mesopotamian clay tablets, and unearthed
extraction jugs, dating back to 3500 BCE, show that the Sumerians and the Assyrians, had mastered the art of
extracting fragrances. (Altintas 2010)clviii Assyrian tablets tell of rose and rose water. Of course, it is not
possible to identify the rose species discussed in these ancient texts, but its scent is praised, suggesting
fragrant rose species such as R. gallica, R. centifolia, R. moschata, or R. damascena of Anatolia. (Thompson
1949)clix Fragrant materials were submerged in boiling water for a day, and then drained. After adding oil, the
95
mixture was slowly heated. The perfumes prepared by this method by the Assyrians were ‘world’ famous.
(Altintas 2010)clx Cuneiform texts also indicate that the roses were not directly distilled but boiled with water
to produce fragrant water. The very small quantities prescribed — as little as one carat (3 grains) [0.2 g] —
illustrate how precious it was.
Herodotus (c.485 BCE) says that a rose was cultivated in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Theophrastus (310290 BCE) mentions the rose in seven passages in his Book of Scents.
In India, rose oil was named Itr-i Cihangiri (Jahangir’s fragrance) after the Mogul Emperor Jahangir (1605 to
1627). According to legend, when Jahangir’s wife, Nurjahan, was bathing in a warm water pond filled with
roses, she discovered highly fragrant oil droplets on the surface of water. Another history claims that ponds
of the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore, Pakistan, were filled with roses during wedding feasts. On hot summer
days, oil droplets would cover the water’s surface, emitting rose fragrance into the air. (Altintas 2013) clxi
Syrup could be made from the rose petals, but their chief use was in distillation; one hundred pounds of rose
flowers yielded less than three drachs (c. 25 grams) of rose oil. According to (Flückiger and Hanbury 1874),clxii
the classic world did not know how to distil rose oil. The rose oil described by the Greek physician
Dioscorides, was a fatty oil in which roses had been steeped. This was used to make an unguent, a confection
of roses, named rosaceum. Rosaceum was made from fresh, red, rose petals, which were beaten and
combined with honey, and then rubbed together by hand. (Flückiger and Hanbury 1874), clxiii The Hittites of
Anatolia (1750-1180 BCE) knew rosaceum as pillu and prepared medicines with it. (Baytop 1990)clxiv
Fig. Gathering red and white roses from Tacuinium Sanitaris based on an Arab treatise by the Christian physician, Ibn Butlan of
Baghdad 15th. Century.
,
A hieroglyph depicting a rose that was found in the tomb of the Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose IV (1600 BCE), is
the earliest record of the rose in ancient Egyptian civilization. (Flückiger & Hanbury 1879) clxv A wreath of roses
96
was later discovered later in an Egyptian burial chamber dating back to 400-200 BCE. (Flückiger & Hanbury
1879)clxvi The Egyptian queen. Cleopatra (69-30 CE), was said to have laid out rose petals in the path of
Marcus Antonius (83-30BCE) so as to impress him. Christian Loeben, curator of the Egyptological collection of
the Museum August Kestner has recently catalogued The Plants of Ancient Egyptian Gardens (Kappel &
Kestner 2009)clxv ii
There is a record of distillation in earthenware ceramic pots in the Indus Valley (5000 BCE). The remnants of
a distillation pot were excavated in Harappa, an ancient city (2600–1900 BC) in the Punjab. (Schmidt
2013)clxviii This pot resembles the attar-production stills used to this day in Kannauj, India. The Kannui process
involves the distillation of rose petals in water; the resulting distillate was then trapped in sandalwood oil
(Santalum album) and the product called “rose attar” or “rose otto.” [Fig. 85]
5.4 The Damask Rose in China
Confucius (551-479 BCE) the Chinese philosopher, wrote about the rose and its significance within the
Chinese Empire. According to Confucius, roses were highly esteemed by the Emperor during the Zhou
dynasty (1046-256 BCE). They were said to be planted in the Royal Gardens in China, and the Royal Library is
supposed to have contained over six hundred books on rose and rose cultivation. (Altintas 2013) clxix. Despite
that Chinese records show that rose water was being made from R. rugosa, further records from 810BC
indicate that the province of Faristan in Persia, exported rose water to China, and throughout the
Islamic world. (Scarman 2002)clxx
Interestingly, according to rosarian Charles Quest-Ritson there is no record of the Damask rose in Chinaclxxi
This seems unlikely in light of Scarman (Scarman 2002)clxxii and Ochir. (Ochir 2010)clxxiii . Rose water
translates to 玫瑰水, anglicised as Méiguī shuǐ in traditional Chinese. Ochir says that “Mei-gui Hua has been
used as a crude drug in traditional medicine and as herbal tea in China. The scientific name of Mei-gui is Rosa
rugosa thunb. However, the morphological characteristics and botanical ecology of Mei-gui were different
from those of R. rugosa. Since the botanical origins of Mei-gui cultivated in China have not yet been clarified,
we compared Mei-gui and R. rugosa in terms of their morphological characteristics, phylogenetic analysis,
and phytochemical studies. Our research suggested that Mei-gui cultivated around Tarim Basin in Xinjiang
Province showed homology to Rosa gallica, while those cultivated in the north eastern parts of China are
considered to be hybrids of R. rugosa.
The question over the presence of the Damask in China requires further research, starting with tracing the
parentage of Tarim Basin Méiguī as opposed to the north eastern Chinese, Mei-gui. Once again, it appears
that taxonomic synonyms are causing confusion. Could it be simply a question of the Chinese Damask being
lost in translation and botanical definition?
97
5.5 Rose Water and Rosaceum in Classical Rome and Greece (1200 BC- 400AD)
The significance of rose water in Roman domestic hygiene
The Romans and peoples of the classical world were to put it delicately, smelly. In fact, eye wateringly,
pungent smelly. The hot Mediterranean climate and constant physical exertion in the absence of machinery,
predicated for hot and sweaty, smelly bodies. Furthermore, the smells from the remains of popular
gladiatorial and animal blood-bath games must have been over-powering. Open-air Roman markets must
have added to this sensory assault. The fly-infested fish and meat quickly turned rancid. It’s no wonder
Romans made liberal use of heavily fermented fish sauces to hide the taste of deteriorating foods.
Furthermore, Roman religious’ festivals required a daily blood sacrifice of at least one bull, sometimes dozens
of them. The smells of human carcasses, also burning by the hundreds, constantly filled the air. Despite this
foul-smelling atmosphere, the ancient Romans are widely admired for what appears now to be an enormous
commitment to hygiene and public health. They built vast sewer systems, such as the very grand Cloaca
Maxima. (Koloski-Ostrow 2013)clxxiv .Grant, (Grant 1992)clxxv indicates however, that hygiene in the Roman
World was limited only to the rich and famous. (Grant 1992)clxxvi Grant’s research has revealed that the
Roman’s Cloaca, and other cities’ sewer systems, weren’t constructed primarily for the removal of human
waste. They Sewers moved odoriferous water, away from urban development and industry, but they did not
contribute much to urban sanitation. The olfactory senses fade very quickly. In fact, noxious smells extinguish
within seconds or minutes (Greenberg 2013)clxxvii. Smells are one thing, but stench is quite another, which is
why the ubiquitous use of rose water was so very important to quell the olfactory senses.
5.6 Rose Water and Rosaceum Production described in Classical Roman and Greek
texts and archaeology.
Rose unguent (rosaceum) had been manufactured in Greece since antiquity. The tradition was described by
Homer in the Illiad (XXIII, 186-7)clxxviii when the corpse of Hector was massaged with ‘divine rose oil’ (the oil of
the ancients not modern rose oil) and in a similar vein by Hippocrates (Lazarrme 1729) clxxix. Pedanius
Dioscorides (40 – 90 AD) author of Materia Medica (Le Wall 1915) clxxx, a prime historical source of
information about the medicines used by the Greeks, Romans, and other cultures of antiquity, dedicates
Chapter 43 of his Materia Medica (Le Wall 1915) clxxxi to the healing properties and manufacture of rose
unguent. The rose water was manufactured in workshops constructed expressly for the purpose [Figs. 70, 71]
(Brun 2000)clxxxii
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[Fig. 75.] The plan of the Paestum building (IB) in the vicinity of the
stadium (Brun 2000) clxxxiii
[Fig. 77] - Paestum. Marble base of winepress in the perfumery
workshop It was intended for both Olive oil
pressing and for use in the manufacture of perfumes
(area of the Forum, N-O angle). (Source: Brun, JP, 2000 P. 292)
[Fig.76]. Plan of the work shop in Paestum
(Brun 2000)
[Fig. 78]. Sketch of a working model of Fig.88
(Brun 2000) clxxxiv
99
[Fig. 79] Workshop manufacturer of perfume,
Casa dei Cervi, Herculaneum ((Brun 2000)
Theophrastus (c.372-c.287) is the first significant source for descriptions of scents and fragrances in antiquity.
He describes making rose perfumes in his “Enquiry into Plants (volume II) Concerning Odours” To make rose
perfume they use ginger grass aspathalos, and sweet fig. These are steeped as in the case of the Greek tree
kypros. The root of the alkanet also contributes to the colour of rose perfume. Salt is used in its manufacture
as a preservative. The rose even reawakens the effect of compound perfumes; for when the flowers is at its
best they treat compound perfumes with it; and when these come to be opened, they smell only of or chiefly
of rose. The admixture of rose perfume, whether in scents or flavours, if it be well blended, is beneficial in the
one case by removing the heaviness and strength of the scent, in the other by imparting a fragrant scent or
sweet taste to the flavour as in the case of wines”.
Dioscorides (90 AD) three centuries later describes the manufacturing process in greater detail. (Le Wall
1915) clxxxv “First of all, boil up, five pounds, eight ounces of reed. Shred the cooked reed by stirring the canes
and put the macerated concoction to soak in water. Then add twenty pounds, five ounces of oil to the reed.
Dioscorides makes a point about the quality of the oil and its ability to extract and retain the ‘essence’ of the
roses. His preference was for oil made from green olives (Dioscorides Materia Medica Vol I, p. 30clxxxvi). After
cooking, the oil had to be filtered. The ungenteur covered his hands with honey, and would repeatedly mix
the paste, pre- pressing the mix gently. After leaving the mix to macerate for one night, it was ready to press.
Once the sediment had settled on the bottom, the remaining oil was decanted, and then preserved in an
amphora strewn with honey. [Figs. 72, 73, 74]
The principle difference in the methods described by Theophrastus and Dioscorides is how the pressing from
the rose petals were preserved. Theophrastus describes the use of salt and steeping in oil flavoured olive oil.
Whereas Dioscorides, there hundred years later describes a far more sophisticated method by which spongy
reed is used to absorb the pressing from the petals, before they in turn are pressed.
Both Pliny (XXI, 112-120)clxxxvii, and Dioscorides are explicit when it comes to the best variety of reed even
down to the best forms of the stems and canes. They both identify the best varieties and their characteristics.
Their preference is for the fragrant' (Pliny “iuncus odoratus”, XXI, 120; cf. X, 104) clxxxviii, which when crumpled,
gives off a scent of roses (in confricando odorew rosae emittit rubentibus fragmentis”. Pliny notes that the
reeds growing in Italy (XVI, 157)clxxxix, “have a spongy structure and tend to absorb liquid well, which allowed
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better thickening of the rosaceum”. The rosaceum, the unguent or ointment, was now ready for the
introduction of the first pressing of rose petals. Just the base of the petals and calyx were used. This first
pressing was the most highly sought. Dioscorides (Dioscorides Materia Medica Vol. I, 30cxc) go on to say that
the process could be repeated up to ten times, each subsequent pressing producing a lower quality product
than the one before. Eight pounds three ounces of the condensed oil (Ec; tuuuévou), was poured over the
pressed petals, and a layer of honeycomb spread between each pressing. To proceed with a second pressing
of the rose petals (éY1ßoÄ1i) Dioscorides says that “thousands of fresh and dry roses, again shuffled with
hands impregnated with honey, must be introduced to the first pressing. Likewise, the third and the fourth,
and so on, always using dried flowers and always sprinkled with honey”. The original maceration was
effectively renewable with fresh rose petals for a period of seven days, particularly with the addition of salt.
In Chapter 113 of Materia Medica, (Dioscorides Materia Medica Chapt.I13cxci).
Dioscorides (90AD) also explains the process for the extraction of the juice from the fresh rose petals. “After
the white bases to the petals were cut out, they were to be pounded in a mortar and the juice that was
produced left in the shade to condense”. There are commentaries from other writers. Aetius, (Olivieri
1935)cxcii recommends “the use of the white bases of red rose petals, which are then left to dry for a day and
a night. Then in well-defined proportions the petals are put in olive oil made from immature olives,
omaphacium. This is poured into vessels, covered with a linen cloth, and left outside in the sun for several
days but no more than forty”. Alternatively, the vessels could be kept suspended for forty days in a well of
cold water. (Mello 2003)cxciii
5.7 Rosa centifolia, Rosa phoenicia, Rose Water in the Levant and Islamic Expansionism
Thus far, this thesis has only considered rose water production along a route running from the Amu Darya
Water shed in modern day Uzbekistan to ancient Greece and Rome. There is a second possibility, albeit
unlikely, that is that rose water production started in the Levant and Eastern Mediterranean using the species
Rosa centifolia and Rosa phoenicia. (Widrlechner 1981)xl The hypothesis in part, is not perhaps entirely
unfounded if one considers the possibility of Rosa centifolia as being a hybrid, a form or even a variety of
Rosa x damascena. Both plants prevail through the Levant and Mediterranean are very similar. In support
experience of the author shows Rosa x damascena is polymorphic varying enormously in the size of its
flowers and the number of petals. On the rose nursery, a row of 500 plants will show considerable variation.
Rosa phoenicia is very similar to f Rosa x moschata, so similar morphologically that it could well be a form of
the polymorphic R. x moschata which we know to be a parent of R. x damascena. DNA analysis in the ongoing
research programme described above [Page 42] should clarify the issue.
There are further possibilities. Suzanne Amigues wrote an excellent commentary (Amigues 2010)cxciv in
respect of comparisons of specie and hybrids of the Mediterranean region described by Theophrastus who
describes roses with smaller, less fragrant but very double flowers. She goes on to say that Herodotus
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describes roses in the gardens of the son of Midas that have sixty petals and have a perfume that surpasses
all other roses. Furthermore that these roses resemble R. gallica in respect of their sepals, thorns and hips.
There appears little reason not to presume that R. gallica was involved in the Mediterranean hybrid much as
it is in the hybrid R. x damascena of Central Asia. Indeed they as hypothesised above, they may well be the
same.
Meanwhile, aside from determining parentage, what is interesting is how the rose water producing hybrid be
it the R x damascena x R. gallica x R. moschata hybrid, or even if it is in fact a R. centifolia x R. phoenicia
hybrid, spread around the Mediterranean. Robin Lane-Fox describes in his Travelling Heroes how Homer
plots the sea routes used by the great maritime Mediterranean travellers the Phoenicians. Evidence from
archaeological finds of unguentaria, small ceramic or glass bottles have been found distributed throughout
the eastern Mediterranean.
Bronze Didrachm coins from Rhodes 166-86 BCE depict a single rose with long petals, a small calyx and a bud
borne on what could be construed as immature climbing growth. (American Numismatic Society
19001949/1941.153.870.rev.width350.jpg). Wild roses (single flowers) flourish on Rhodes, one being Rosa
phoenicia. This rose was known to the ancients, and is still found scattered in numerous localities in the Troad
and Syria. (Carter 2015) W. L. Carter Roses in Antiquity Volume 14, Issue 55 September 1940, pp. 250-256
Rosa abyssinca thought to be a hybrid of Rosa gallica and Rosa phoenicia is another possibility, as is Rosa
richardii once known as Rosa sancta. Another coin. (American Numismatic Society
19001949/1941.153.870.rev.width350.jpg). appears to depict a semi double rose. Theophrastus (d.287 BCE)
describes roses which he writes, vary in number of petals, roughness of bark, colour and scent; they have
five, twelve, twenty or more petals, and those with the sweetest scent come from Cyrene, and are used for
making perfume. He lists the times of flowering of different roses. The identification of the roses on these
coins becomes further complicated if hybrids selected by man are included in the list of possibilities.
Until such time as the research project ‘The evolutionary genetics and taxonomy of R. moschata and R.
phoenicia’ has determined a phylogenetic table for the species and naturally occurring hybrids of the Levant,
North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, attempts at identification can only be speculative because
currently the options are unknown.
Meanwhile, the Damask rose translates into Persian as the Muhammadan rose, (gul-i Muḥammadĩ); rose
water translates as (gulāb); and rose oil translates as ('ațr). Allegedly, rose water obtained its Arab name,
from the Islamic legend that the rose was created from the drops of perspiration, that fell from the forehead
of the prophet Muhammad during his miraculous, nocturnal ascent (mi`rāj), through the seven heavens, to
the Throne of God. Islamic accounts hold that the Prophet exhibited a characteristic feature of sanctity, in
that his body exuded a fragrant odour. A further association of the rose with Islam's Prophet, is the depiction
of the Muhammadan rose (Conran 2007)cxcv with the ninety-nine epithets of Muhammad inscribed on its
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petals. According to medieval sources, the finest quality rose water in the Near East was produced in Shiraz,
in the southern Iranian province of Fars. In the high caliphal period, circa ninth century, the province of Fars
was known to have sent thirty thousand flasks of rose water and one thousand measures of rose honey to
the 'Abbasid’ treasury in Baghdad as part of its annual Tribute (Subtelny 2007) cxcvi
5.8 Rose Water production in the Turkic Cultures of Turkey and Syria
In the early history of Central Asian Turks, sources tracing the Turkic use of rose water reach back only as far
as the 11th century. (Altintas 2013)cxcvii Two lengthy works written in the 11th century, mention the use of
rose in Turkic societies. In Kitab-u Divani Lugat-it Turk (The Dictionary of Turkic Words) by Mahmud Kashgari
(1005-1102) from Kashgar, describes Ugdulmish, the vizier’s son, advising Odgurmish, the ascetic, on “the
rules of conduct at a banquet,” He suggests that Odgurmish offers culab and culengebin syrups prepared with
rose water. The aforementioned text confirms that the Turks were preparing syrups using rose water since
the 9 th. Century AD. (Yusuf Has Haji 1988)cxcviii In The Dictionary of Turkic Words, Mahmud Kashgari refers to
“a copper rose-water vessel as kumgan”, and therefore had a word for it in their language. Supporting the
fact that Turks were making rose water.
Further investigation of the word kumgan reveals significant historical information. Cosmographer and
geographer Al-Dimashqi (1256-1327) cxcix, a prominent scholar of the 13th century Muslim world, notes the
important centres of rose-water production in the Middle East in his book Nuhbetu’d-Dehr fî Acaibi’l-Berr
ve’l-Bahr (Important Interesting Creatures of the World’s Lands and Seas) cc Al-Dimashqi particularly
emphasises an important rose growing centre in Syria, called Mezzeh. He describes the art of making rose
water as practiced in Mezzeh as follows: “The storage vessels were filled with roses, and then the alembics
were put in their places. When each alembic was filled with rose water, the rose water was poured into huge
glass jugs, or into copper vessels with two handles, called kumkum.” (Ebi Talib el-Ansari ed-Dimashqi, 1988)cci
The term, used by rose water manufacturers in Mezzeh, sounds much like kumgan.
In Isparta, the centre of modern-day of rose cultivation in Turkey, the special vessel with a narrow mouth in
which distilled rose oil is stored, is still called a kumkuma. The word is also used colloquially in the saying
“gossip kumkuma,” which alludes to gossiping women. That the word for the copper ewer holding rose
water,’ kumgan’, was in use for 900 years, illustrates the Turkic tradition of the production of rose water.
Anatolian Seljuki Turks used motifs of rose, rose water, and rose oil in their literary works [Fig 91] and called
rose water tradesmen, the manufacturers, the, gulab-ger (Mercil 2000)ccii . The 13th century Persian poet and
mystic, Rumi (1207–1273) also mentions gulab-ger in his Divan-i Kebir: “Wake up, the artisan is making rose
water, like sweat oozing out, be free.” (Rumi 2005)cciii . Ibn Battuta (1340-1369) provided one of the earliest
sources of information on rose-water production in Anatolia. He wrote about the rose water produced in
Nusaybin, near Mardin, south east Turkey, in 1330: “The rose water produced in this region is unique in its
103
fragrance and its taste.” He also describes the tradition of using rose water after bathing in the hamam in
Ladik. (Ibnul-Baytar el-Mufredat 1842)cciv . A study of an Ilhanate city in the Mongol Empire in ancient Persia,
cites sources that discuss a “rose house” (gülâb-hane) beside the hospital. In the city, newly discovered in
1309, the rose-water manufacturing shop was one of the still standing buildings. (Özgüdenli 2013)ccv The
same sort of facility was observed in the Ottoman city of Edirne, where the Darussifası, the hospital, founded
in 1488, also had a gülâb-hane, or gulhane. Official documents dating from 1489 note, “There are three lead
furnaces for making rose water.” (Gökce 2000)ccvi Since rose water was used abundantly in the hospital in
those days, the expenses of making rose water in the furun-i gul, the rose water boiler, were accountable.”
(Gökce 2000)ccvii
5.9 Traditional methods of rose water manufacture in the Islamic world [Figs. 81, 82, 83].
[Fig.80] Miniature
portrait of Mehmed II
1432 – 1481
smelling a rose. (Pic.
Courtesy Nurham
Atasoy). Note the rose is
double, denoting it as a
hybrid and
therefore, a form of R x
damascena, in all
probability.
[Fig.81] A distillation plant in
Damascus consisting of
multiple units for producing
rose water (13thCentury)
(Yassan 2011)
104
[Fig. 82].1 -4. Traditional technology and equipment used for the manufacture of rose water and rose oil 780BCE
(Haghighi & Tehranifar 2008) ciii Note the similarity with the equipment used in Morocco Fig. 100
ccviii
Fig. 4 The oil is then liberated in the neck of the rec eiving bottle, the surier.
105
5.9 Case Study 4.
Rose Water Production in Morocco
The Moroccan production process.
Rose oil is made in Morocco by steam distillation using the same method that is used in Syria, Turkey and
Iran. [Fig. 84] This method, involves passing steam through the plant material containing the desired oils.
Steam distillation is a special type of distillation, [Figs. 85, 86] a separation , used for temperature sensitive
materials. Dried petals [Fig.87] are also produced in volume, for medical and culinary use.
[Fig.83]. Rose fields. Kalaat M’Gouna – Nicholas 2015
[Figs. 85] Distillation tanks
for rose oil production Kalaat M’Gouna 2015.
[Fig. 84]. Kalaat M’Gouna – Traditional method of rosewater
production. 2015
[Fig. 86] Distillation tanks Kalaat M’Gouna 2015.
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[Fi g.87] Dried rose petals. Kalaat M’Gouna 2015.
[Fig.88] Selection of bottled rose water. Note the antique
rose water bottle, the Ashkdan, on the right. Kalaat M’Gouna 2015
Production of rose water in Iran and the Persian Empire
Iran supplies 90 percent of the global demand for rosewater. During the medieval period the finest quality
rose water was produced in the region of Shiraz in the southern Iranian province of Fars. From here, it was
exported to all parts of the world, including Egypt, India, and China, where it was referred to simply as the
"Persian rose" (gul-i fārsī). The large cultivation area of Damask rose in Iran represents a potentially rich
source of genetic resources for the species. To explore the diversity, Damask rose genotypes from various
cultivation areas of Iran, and one from Bulgaria, were evaluated with 37 simple sequence repeat (SSR)
markers and characterized for 10 morphological traits and their ploidy levels. A total of 224 bands were
scored from 37 SSR primer pairs. UPGMA cluster analysis based on Dice genetic similarity revealed 11 distinct
groups for SSR and only three for the morphological data. Although most of the Damask roses were
tetraploid, one triploid, and two hexaploid, genotypes were also found. The discriminating power of the SSR
data was similar to previously reported data from RAPDs. The high level of molecular diversity revealed in this
Iranian collection of assessions of R. x damascena, suggests that the modern day Iranian sector of the Persian
Empire of antiquity, is the probable centre of diversity for Damask rose. (Kiani et al 2009)ccix. Geographically,
it is close to the river Amu Darya watershed.
107
Map. 12: Map of Iran showing the five important provinces of Damask rose production and the locations
ccx
Iranian Production (Kiani et al 2009)
Every year during the second half of May, the Golabgiri festival of rose and rose water is held in Kashan
(RussianExim 2015)ccxi The season for picking rose and preparing rosewater is from early May to mid-June.
Production of rosewater in Iran dates back to over 2,500 years (Houtum-Schindler)ccxii who maintains that an
East Roman official picked some roses from the slopes of Kooh Asbi mountain near Qamsar [Fig. 86.] and took
them to Damascus. Maybe he did! The author has found no evidence in support of this myth, which might
possibly be found in Iranian literature.
[Fig. 89]. Looking S/SW from the summit of Chapakro the distant peak [Fig. 90] Traditional harvesting varies little. Iran 2014
on the right is Atash Kooh 3713 m. In front of and to the left of it:
Asbi Kooh 3819m. Source http://www.summitpost.org/atash-kooh-asbi-kalak/ 230753 June 15, 2006.
108
Method of Production of Rose Oil in Iran
After planting, the rose suckers take at least 3 years to attain maturity. A mature rose field normally yields 5
tons of fresh roses per hectare. However, in a carefully nurtured field, the yield may increase to 7 -to-8 tons
per hectare. It is normal for a field to be productive for as long as 20 to 30 years. Roses are handpicked in the
early hours of the day and transported to the ‘factory’. [Fig. 90] A skilled worker can pick about 40 kg of roses
in 8 hours. The factories remain open 24 hours a day, for one month. When the season is over, the factories
are cleaned and closed down until the next season. In village-type distillation, [Fig.91] freshly picked flowers
[Fig. 89] are loaded into 150 to 1,000 litre copper or galvanized steel, open fire, stills; most stills have a 300
litre capacity, and consist of a retort and a head. The removable spherical head is connected to a pipe, which
leads through a pool filled with lukewarm water to cool the condensate. At the outlet, there is a 9 litre glass
collecting flask. Typically, 10 kilos of flowers and 60 litres of water, are loaded into 300-litre stills, and are
distilled for 1 to 2 hours in order to collect two flasks holding 18 litres of the distillate.
[Fig. 91]. Village-type rose oil distillation facility in Iran.
[Fig. 92]. Village woman. Kashan, Iran 2014
The oil does not separate due to the low concentration of oil in the distillate. Therefore, about 60 litres of the
distillate is redistilled, yielding another 18 litres of distillate, from which the oil that floats to the top, is
decanted. The aqueous phase is diluted with distilled water and marketed as rose water.
Generally, industrial production employs larger 3,000 litre copper or stainless-steel stills. Each still has a
charge size of 400 to 500 kg flowers and can hold 1,500 to 2,000 litres of warm water. The stills are steamjacketed, that is, they contain an inner double-wall inside in which steam is circulated. There may also be
provision for the injection of live steam into the still to speed up distillation. The distillation process takes one
and a half hours. The condenser temperature is kept at 95oF (35 oC) to avoid the solidification of waxes. The
distillate is collected in 200 litre stainless-steel Florentine flasks. The oil that separates out is called crude oil,
first oil, or direct oil. Distillation is terminated when the distillate no longer has a bitter taste. The overflow of
the Florentine flasks is collected in 500-litre tanks. These ‘bottom waters’ or ‘first waters’ are then pumped
into 5,000 litres, stainless-steel still tanks. The ‘bottom’ waters are cohobated, that is they are distilled again.
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This time in 3,000 litre stills, for 1 to 1.5 hours to obtain what is called the second oil, cooked oil, or indirect
oil. The distillate that remains after oil removal is sold as rose water [Fig. 104]. The first and second oils are
filtered and kept in glass flasks in the dark. When the production season is over, the first and second oils are
mixed to yield rose oil and packed in special 2 to 5 litre, tinned-steel containers. Generally, 3.5 to 4 tons of
flowers yield 1 kg rose oil which equates to about 0.02%.
Iranian Rosewater production equipment
Comparisons have been drawn to assess the similarities between production in Morocco and Iran. The
equipment used for the extraction of rosewater in Qamsar, Iran [Table 22] has hardly changed over 1500 years,
it includes:
1.
A copper pot with a capacity of 120-150 litres.
2.
A big clay pot is used to cover the copper pot. A major advantage of clay pot was that it did not burn the fragrance
of the flower.
3.
A copper pitcher with handle and a capacity of about 30-40 litres which is used to add cold water, so that flower
nectar and sap are turned into liquid.
4.
Four wooden stakes which are attached to each other to connect the pot to the pitcher; today, aluminium pipes
are used instead of the timber.
5.
A water pool for the liquefaction.
6.
Oil or diesel fired heating equipment under the copper pot. In the past wood and dried shrubs provided the fuel for
the heating process.
Table 15. Equipment used for extraction of rosewater in Qamsar 2016.
First the copper pot is put on an oven made from bricks and cement or stones and mud. The heating
equipment is positioned below it. Up to 30 kg of rose petals are then poured into the pot and 80 litres of
water is added. The pot is then covered, and a heavy weight is put over it to control steam pressure. Probable
holes and cracks are covered with a mortar made of the remnants of boil flowers and bread dough to prevent
loss of steam. Nowadays instead of weight and dough, the nurserymen use elastic washers, screws and
levers. The copper pitcher is put into the water and is kept in place by a ladder, or by cast iron pipes, so that it
does not surface. Then canes or aluminium pipes are inserted into the pot, on the one side, and into the
pitcher; on the other side they are held fast and wrapped it in a piece of cotton, so that water does not
penetrate into the pitcher. Water or any other foreign object will ruin the rose water. Preparation complete,
the oven is fired to boil the pot. At that time, rose water and water steam rise up the pipe as far as the angle.
From there, rose water steam continues toward the pitcher and condenses. It takes about four hours before
a pitcher full of rose water (40 litres) is obtained. The rose water is poured into bottles and allowed to cool
down. The waste collected at the bottom of the pot, which is called ‘bongol’, is used to feed livestock, and is
also dried for use as fuel in winter, or as fertiliser for gardens. The quality of the end product is dependent on
a steady, moderate flame. Or, in other words, the longer the distillation period and the steadier the flame,
110
the higher the quality of the end product.
This chapter of the research was successful, in so far that it provides possible evidence that the traditional
means of propagating R. x damascena by the ancient method of suckering, or layering, in the small
subsistence farms in remote Iran, is mirrored by the methods used by the Berbers in remote Morocco today.
This is a propagation method that stands in isolation in Morocco, where “T” budding would be the first choice
of nurserymen growing a crop of modern day garden roses. Furthermore, ‘Suckers’ are easily transported in
the hot, arid climates by packing the propagating material in moist sacking, or carpet, to avoid desiccation,
and in which they can survive for weeks, if not months.
5.10 Rose water Pharmacology
References to Rose water in Islamic Medical Texts
The tradition in Persia of using rose water, rosaceum and early ‘rose oils’ was recorded far earlier than the
advent of Islam about 2000 BCE. (Baytop 1990)ccxiii. Detailed Persian records are scarce until the Arab thinker,
Al-Kindi, in the 9th century BCE noted that he prescribed rose water products for stomach pain, ulcers, liver
and mouth diseases, and sore throats. He also used rose oil for burns, ulcerated wounds, and as an ingredient
of haemorrhoid salves. (Levy 1966)ccxiv . Al-Dinawari’s (9th century BCE) texts noted the refreshing effects of
rose water, and recommended it for fever. He also recommended the application of rose oil to the head for
alleviating fever and due to its calming effects. (Altintas 2010)ccxv Abu Bakr Mohammad ibn Zakariya Al-Razi
(Rhazes), the 9th century Arab physician, called attention to the therapeutic value of rose and stated that
“the rose diminishes drunkenness.” (Levey 1966)ccxvi The great polymath Ibn-i Sina Avicenna, (11th century
CE) was the first scientist to emphasise the Damask rose fragrance’s beneficial effects on the heart and the
brain. He said “Because of its exquisite fragrance, the rose addresses the soul,” Furthermore, he wrote, “It
has a calming effect and is highly beneficial for fainting and for rapid heartbeats.” He praised rose water’s
effects on mind and spirit. “It enhances comprehension and strengthens memory.” ( Abd Allāh ibn Sīnā –
Latinised name Avicenna 980 1037 CE)ccxvii Like Ibn-i Sina, Ibn-Al-Baitar also noted rose water’s beneficial
effects on the brain: “Rose water strengthens the mind and the brain, sharpens the senses, and increases the
life force; it is beneficial for rapid heartbeats due to anxiety; because of its beneficial fragrance, it empowers
the body.”( Ibnul-Baytar el-Mufredat 197–1248)ccxviii Ibn-AlBaitar also stated that boiling rose water, and
exposing the head to its steam had healing effects and that it was especially beneficial for eye diseases. He
also recommended inhalation of the steam to alleviate drunkenness and headaches. In his famous medical
book Kemaliye, Mahmud of Shirvan (15th century BCE) described a powder prepared by crushing dried rose
petals in a mortar for application to the neck, breast, and armpits after bathing, so as to impart a favourable
smell to the body and to “treat the spirit.” He claimed that this scent empowered spirituality and purified the
heart. He wrote that “the fragrance of rose is the fragrance angels like.” (Sirvanli 1430)ccxix The same powder
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also is mentioned in the Edviye-i Müfrede which translates as Simple Drugs, of Ishak bin Murat (14th century
BCE) for use in Turkish baths. It was said to be beneficial for those suffering from scabies. If rubbed on
pimples, it reportedly cleared them. (Geredeli Ishak 1387) ccxx Salih bin Nasrullah (17th century CE) said of
rose water in his book Gayetül Beyan trans. Human Health and Sanitation Techniques, that when rubbed on
the body, it gives a pleasant smell, and when rubbed on the head, it alleviates headaches. He also wrote that,
ground, dried rose petals can be rubbed on mouth ulcers to alleviate pain. It is reportedly, also beneficial for
smallpox or measles lesions if sprinkled on the skin. (Nasrullah trans.1991) ccxxi. A review paper [Table 14] on
the pharmacological effects of R. damascena has recently been published. (Boskabady 2011)ccxxii
Table of ailments treatable by rose water
[Table 16] Pharmacological Activities of Rose Materials (Boskabady 2011) ccxxiii
Type of Extract/Essential Oil
Activit y Shown
Technique
Reference
Aqueous and/or ethanolic extract
Hypnotic
Pentobarbital-induced sleep time
41, 42
Aqueous and/or ethanolic extract
Analgesic
43, 44
Aqueous and/or ethanolic extract
Antitussive
Hot plate, tail flick, acetic acid, and
formalin tests
Citric acid method
Aqueous and/or ethanolic extract
Bronchodilatory
46, 47
Aqueous and/or ethanolic extract
Potentiation of heart rate and
contractility
Anti-inflammatory
Inhibit ion of calcium channels of
guinea pig tracheal chain
Isolated guinea pig heart
Carrageenan-induced rat-paw edema
45, 49
Rats by gavage and intraperitoneal
injection
Sun Protection Factor (SPF)
determination
Mortality rate in adult Drosophila flies
50
Mouse model induced by sulphur
dioxide gas
Measurement of free radical
scavenging activity
Measurement of a-glucosidase activit y
53
Reduction in turbidity of a triolein
emulsion by porcine pancreatic lipase
Effects on C8166 human T
lymphoblastoid cells infected with
HIV-1MN and H9 human T-cell
lymphoma cells chronically infected
with HIV-1IIIB
Disk, well-diffusion, microdilution
methods
PTZ (Pentylenetetrazol)-induced
seizures in Wistar rats
The amygdala electrical kindling
seizures in rat
Inhibit ion against acetylcholine
esterase (AChE)
Neurite outgrowth activity testing
59
73
Hepatoprotective
ACE (Angiotensin-I-converting
enzyme) inhibition
Antioxidant activity tests
Ophthalmic disorders
Clinical tests
75
Aqueous and/or ethanolic extract
Aqueous and/or ethanolic extract
Aqueous and/or ethanolic extract
Laxative
Constipation
Anti-solar
Aqueous and/or ethanolic extract
Antiaging
Ethanolic extract (R. centifolia)
Antitussive
Hydroalcoholic, ethanolic extracts,
and essential oil
Methanolic extract
Antioxidant
Methanolic extract
Anti-lipase
Flavonoid compounds isolated from
methanolic extract
Anti-HIV
Essential oil and absolute
Antimicrobial
Essential oil
Anticonvulsant
Essential oil and phenylethyl alcohol
Neuroprotective, memory
enhancing
Neuroprotective, treatment of
dementia
Cardiovascular function
Chloroform extract
Cyanidin-3-O-β-glucoside from rose
buds
Fresh flower juice
Herbal eye drop containing R.
damascena extract
Antidiabetic
45
48
51
52
54-56
57, 58
60
55, 61-67
68-70
71
72
74
112
The author is indebted for much of the proceeding section on Turkish rose water history and medicine, to
Professor Dr. Ayten Altintas (1948- ) Emeritus professor of the Department of Medical History and Ethics of
Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine 1996-2015). Professor Dr. Ayten Altintas focused on Turkish Medical
Education which led on to Ottoman medical treatments, which prompted her enthusiasm into rose water
history on which she a leading authority. Together with her colleagues Hüsnü Can Baser, and
Mine Kürkçüoglu, Dr. Ayten wrote her seminal work “Turkish Rose: A Review of the History, Ethnobotany, and
Modern Uses of Rose Petals, Rose Oil, Rose Water, and Other Rose Products” in 2012, which I have used and
cited enthusiastically.
5.11 Rose Oil
Rose oil, also known as rose otto, attar of rose, attar of roses, or rose essence, is the essential oil extracted
from the petals of Rosa x damascena. Rose ottos are extracted through steam distillation, the rose
absolutes are obtained through solvent extraction, or supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. Even with their
high price, and with the advent of organic synthesis, rose oils are still the most widely used essential oil in
perfumery. Rose essential oil is a product of double distillation. It is a complex mixture of thousands of
components. The development of the analytical techniques and methodology, and the elucidation of its
composition is becoming progressively, better known. (Base & Buchbauer 2003)ccxxiv
5.12 The Chemical and Olfactive Features of Rose Water and Rose Oil
A comparative study was initiated to explore whether the constituent content of various assessions of the
Damask, ranging in locality from Bulgaria to Turkey, and Syria to Iran, showed similarities sufficient to identify
the passage of the Damask from one area to another. That is, is it obvious that the constituent chemicals in
the base of the petals from roses from different localities, even countries, shared a common origin. The basic
character of rose oil is mostly dependent upon citronellol and geraniol. It is further modified by nerol (5 to 11
%) and farnesol (0.2 to 1.4 %). Higher farnesol content gives a stronger floral character. Nerol not only adds
to the rosaceous character, but also to its freshness. When the geraniol content is low, freshness of nerol
manifests itself as slightly citrusy. When geraniol content is high, the combination of citronellol, geraniol,
farnesol, and nerol, results in a strong, sweet, floral, fresh rosaceous character. Other typical constituents of
rose oil are geranyl acetate, nonanal, citronellyl formate, citronellyl acetate, eugenol, methyl eugenol, cisrose oxide, alpha-terpineol, phenylethyl alcohol, and linalool. Damascenones and some sulphur compounds
are among the minor components. Stearoptenes, the paraffins, are natural constituents of rose oil, and due
to their presence, rose oil solidifies at room temperature, and when refrigerated. (Sari 2000)ccxxv, (Baser
1992)ccxxvi This research investigated whether there was correlation between samples, taken from assessions
growing along the path of the transmigration of the Damask from its Central Asian and Persian origins, to
Rome. To further that end, the main constituents of rose oil, noted in this comparative study, are recorded in
[Table 17], and are as follows:
113
Table 17. The main constituents of rose oil (Verma 2010) c c x x v i i
(Structures from ChemSpider, Royal Society of Chemistry. http://www.chemspider.com)
Citronellol
C10H20O
Citronellol, or dihydrogeraniol, is a
natural acyclic monoterpenoid, which
are lipids that can be found in all
classes of living things, and are the
largest group of natural products.
About 60% of all known natural
products are terpenoids.
Both enantiometers occur in nature.
The two stereoisomers that are mirror
images of each other, but nonsuperposable, that is they are not
identical. (+)-Citronellol, which is
found in citronella oils,
including Lemon Grass is the more
common isomer. (−)-Citronellol is
found in the oils of rose (18–55%)
and Pelargonium geraniums. (Lawless
1992)ccxxviii
Geraniol is a monoterpenoid and an
alcohol. It is the primary part of rose
oil, palmarosa oil, and citronella oil.
Monoterpenes are a class of terpenes
that consist of two isoprene units and
have the molecular formula
Nonadecane is an alkane hydrocarbon
with the chemical formula CH₃(CH₂)
₁₇CH₃, simplified to C₁₉H₄₀.
Geraniol
C10H18O
Nondecane
C19H40.
Nerol
C10H18O
Nerol is a monoterpene found in many
essential oils such as lemongrass and
hops. It was originally isolated from
nerol oil, hence its name.
1-nonadecane
CH3(CH2)17 CH3
Simplified to C19 H40., Nonadecane is
an alkane hydrocarbon.
Phenyl ethyl
Alcohol
C8H10 O
Phenethyl alcohol, or 2-phenylethanol,
is the organic compound that consists
of a phenethyl group attached to OH.
114
It is a colourless liquid that is slightly
soluble in water, but miscible with
most organic solvents
Linalool
C10H18O
Linalool is a naturally occurring
terpene alcohol chemical found in
many flowers and spice plants.
Rhodinyl
Acetate
C12H22O2
Terpene-alcohol-acetates mixture;
colourless-to-yellow, combustible
liquid with rose scent; soluble in
mineral oil, alcohol, and glycerin.
Citronellyl
Acetate
C12H22O2
A colorless clear liquid
Beta damascenone
Damascenones are a series of closely
related chemical compounds that are
components of a variety of essential
oils.
Damascenones
The damascenones belong to a family of chemicals known as rose ketones, which also includes damascones
and ionones. beta-Damascenone is a major contributor to the aroma of roses, despite its very low
concentration, and is an important fragrance chemical used in perfumery. (Leffingwell 2016)ccxxix Research by
Firmenich, a private Swiss company, the largest private company in the world, in the perfume business led to
the discovery of the so-called Rose Ketones. The importance of the rose ketones has allowed the creation of
dramatically new type perfumes for example, Dior’s "Poison" (1985)], wherein damascenone and the alpha& beta-damascones may be used at quite high levels.
115
The information from [Table 17.] above, re-interpreted in a pie-chart [Fig.100].
Rosa damascena
Mill.
Aromatic compounds
2%
Other
Sesquiterpenes
6%
7%
Unsaturated
hydrocarbons
3%
Saturated
hydrocarbons
12%
M onoterpenes
oxygenated
70%
[Fig. 93]. Percentage Composition of the Components Identified through Gas Chromatography in Essential Oil
ccxxx
of Rosa Extracted through Hexane Solvent Extraction (Younis 2007)
Linalool
16
70.9
citronelly l acetat e
23
2.7
β-caryophyllene
Iran-Kashan
phenylethyl alcohol
1.5
1-nonadecen e
3.7
Nerol
Geranio l
Pakistan
Nonadecan e
Citronellol
volume
rhodinol
percentage of
Heneicosan e
Units by
methyl eugenol Germacrene D
To the same end, comparisons were made of the chemical composition of the different genotypes OilBearing Roses. [Table 18]
Origin
10.5-
2.5
7-14
40.5
14.5-
5.5
10.5-
47.5
-18
40.5
Iran-Kashan
48.2
17
Turkey
35.2
22.2
13.8
10.3
India
115.9
8.3
4
4
2.6
-
-
-
16
9.6
Iran-Kashan
35.3
32.
5.1
15.5
Iran-Guilan
7-14
3.1
5.4
7.9
18.6
3.4
Turkey
38.7
17.2
7.2
8.3
India
24.5
2.1
6.4
0.7
1.8
2.3
-
-
-
-
-
-
42.9
18.1
18.9
7.6
5.4
8.9
10.5
India
Bulgaria
23.4
19
11.9
7.5
Saudi Arabia
23
14
11
6
-
-
-
-
28
20
16
11
26
28
4
12
6
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
30
31
6
14
8
3
Syria
27.2
7
8
ccxxxi
[Table 18]. Chemical composition of rose essential oil from different part of Central Asia .
116
Regrettably, the research proved to be inconclusive, [Table 16a] save that in broad terms the further west the
Damask transmigrated, the lower the Citronellol content. Whether this becomes significant in future rose
breeding programmes remains to be seen.
[Table 19] Graph showing Citronellol content by country.
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Citronellol
content
.
Rose Oil Producer
117
Culinary Uses
Tempting as it is to turn this thesis into a rose water recipe
Method
recital, suffice to say that rose water is used ubiquitously in
Put the pistachios in a large frying pan and
toast them very lightly for a couple of
minutes. Leave the pistachios to cool, and
then grind them as finely as possible in a
food processor.
cuisine throughout the Arab world, and, indeed beyond.
Recipes for drinks, savoury and sweet dishes are to be found
in the cuisines of the Moslem world and throughout Central
Asia and India.
This thesis promotes but one, a life saver in the hot, dry, arid
world of the Damask rose; rose water ice cream!
Ingredients
200g pistachios, plus extra for garnish
600ml milk
75g sugar
6 egg yolks
300ml double cream
1–3 tsp rose water
candied rose petals, for garnish
Read more at http://www.hairybikers.com/recipes/view/rose
Western cookery today does not make much use of roses or rose
water. However, it was a popular ingredient in ancient times and
Put the pistachios in a saucepan with the
milk and 40g of the sugar and heat until the
sugar has dissolved. Allow the milk to come
almost to boiling point, and then remove
the pan from the heat, cover, and leave to
infuse. Leave the mixture for at least an
hour for a decent flavour, or overnight
if you can.
Strain the milk and pistachio mixture
thoroughly, then reheat, again to
just below boiling point. Put the egg yolks
in a bowl with the remaining sugar and
whisk until the mixture is light and mousselike. Pour the infused milk over the egg
yolks, stirring to combine, then pour
everything back into the saucepan. Stir
over a very low heat until the mixture is the
consistency of fairly thin custard. If you are
worried about the mixture curdling, you
can pour the mixture into a bowl and place
it over a pan of simmering water, then stir.
continued to be popular well into the Renaissance. It was most
commonly used in desserts, and still is found as a flavour in
traditional desserts such as marzipan or turrón.
Remove the custard from the heat and
leave it to cool down. Chill thoroughly, and
then pour in the double cream. Mix to
combine then gradually add the rose water,
tasting as you go.
Churn the mixture in an ice cream maker,
then put it in the freezer for a couple of
hours before serving. If you don’t have an
ice cream maker, freeze the mixture in a
plastic box and whisk at regular intervals to
get air into it. Continue until it is too hard
to work. Serve garnished with candied rose
petals and chopped pistachios. [Fig.94]
Fig. 94 Rose water ice cream
118
Chapter 6.
Roses in antiquity and the Damask rose in Classical Rome
Roses in Antiquity
The preceding chapters have set the background for this chapter, an analysis of where the Damask rose was
grown in antiquity, and specifically where it was grown in Classical Rome.
The earliest historical records on Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets indicate that rose became known to
humans about 5,000 years ago (Farrar 2006)ccxxxii. A clay tablet inscribed with a commentary about Sargon the
1st. the King of Akkadia (2684-2630 BCE), records that the king took ‘rose saplings’ during his military
campaign to the countries across the Tigris River (Vecera 1989)ccxxxiii. The author disputes Vecera’s assertion,
in so far that the correct translation should be “suckers”, not “saplings”, (4.12 p.85)). Since Sargon formerly
lived in the ancient city of Ur, near Babylon, his journey was most probably to south eastern Anatolia, in
present-day Turkey. (Vecera 1989)ccxxxiv One of the many pitfalls encountered in the search for evidence of
roses in the literature of antiquity, is the use of the word ‘rose’ in connection with plants that have no
association whatsoever, with roses. For example, the Rose of Jericho which is a colloquial name for Selaginella
lepidophylla, the spike moss; as it is for, Anastatica hierochuntica, a Palestinian tumbleweed. Another
example is the Rose of Sharon, a common name for Hypericum calycinum. This is particularly true of
references to roses in the Old Testament, although notably in Ecclesiasticus 24:14; 39:13; 50: 8; Solomon 2:1.,
Esdras 2:19., and Isaiah 35:1 the text appears to describe the rose. Certainly, rose are indigenous to Syria,
and therefore it seems likely that these references, refer to the rose, as in the genus Rosa. However, at the
time of writing there is no published, conclusive study.
The rose and cultural traditions in antiquity
In Greek mythology, the rose is known as the flower of the goddesses. Chloris who was associated with
spring, flowers and new growth, wore a crown of roses; and the rose was the symbol of Aphrodite, the
goddess of love and beauty. When Aphrodite presented a rose to Eros, the god of love, the rose became the
symbol of love and desire, which is why she anointed Hector’s dead body with rose oil. (Altintas 2013)ccxxxv
The rose became the symbol of silence and secrecy when Eros gave a rose to Harpocrates, the god of silence,
hence sub rosa “under the rose”, refers to something confidential. The term was actually derived much later
from medieval diplomatic meetings, during which a rose was hung as a sign of secrecy and confidentiality.
(Scotland Europa 2012)ccxxxvi
The Greek poet Sappho (600 BCE) named the rose “the Queen of Flowers” in her poetry. (Altintas 2013)ccxxxvii .
According to the Greek historian, Herodotus, (490-420 BCE), the Phrygian king Midas, who reigned in Central
Anatolia near Eskisehir in 700 BCE, grew fragrant roses in his gardens. After his defeat by the Persian army,
he took his roses to Macedonia. Those roses were believed to be R. damascena var. semperflorens which is
still grown and referred to in some parts of Anatolia, as the “King’s rose.” ((Altintas 2013) ccxxxviii.Theophrastus
119
(300 BCE), the Greek naturalist, wrote the botanical descriptions of a whole range of different roses, bearing
from between five petals and one hundred petals. (Altintas 2013)ccxxxix . Herodotus wrote of 60 petalled roses.
Lane Fox says that “there are many who believe these to be R. gallica not R. x damascena”. Without a
description of the morphology of the whole plant it is difficult to know which Herodotus describes. However
a clue may be found in that Herodotus describes roses in cultivation rather than roses growing in the wild. If
that is the case Rosa x damascena was the favoured plant.
The Flower of Venus
The Romans were besotted with roses in their public, social and personal lives. Whether for their scent, their
use in the arts, medicine, hygiene, sanitation, decoration, as gifts to their gods (Columella), ccxl or, albeit
rarely, in their gardens, roses were ubiquitous. Flowers were of huge importance in the Roman world and
with no flowers from distant countries to import and compete (Kock 1884)ccxli roses were at the forefront of
the Roman floriculturists’ world.
Sources that describe this phenomenon are numerous. In respect of floriculture in the ancient
Mediterranean, Theophrastus (d. 287 BCE) extols the rose in his influential Historia Plantarum (The History
of Plants) written between c. 310 BCE and c. 287 BCE (Theophrastus 350-287BCE)ccxlii. Pliny the Elder speaks
of flowers and wreaths in the opening lines of his XXI book of Naturalis Historia.ccxliii Pliny the Elder drew on,
among others, the works of Mnesitheus of Athens (4th. C BC) (Pliny Naturalis Historia)ccxliv ; Callimachus (311240 BC), the great scholar and poet of Alexandria Egypt, and Apollodorus of Damascus (d.181 BC), a SyrianGreek, from Damascus, of the 2nd century AD (Pliny, Naturalis Historia).ccxlv.
Roses in Classical Rome
[Fig. 95]. The Painted Garden of the Villa of Livia, Prima Porta. Painted
c. 30-20 BC,
Fig.96. Detail from [Fig 95] Note the number of petals
indicating the form of the Damask, as opposed to R.
gallica, or R. centifolia.
The frescoes of Livia’s villa at Prima Porta, Rome, [Figs. 95 & 96] are the most famous representations of
Roman gardens. (Caneva & Bohuny 2002)ccxlvi analysed the botany of the painted flora and critically discussed
previous identifications. Their analysis is frankly open to doubt in so far that they identify the roses in the villa
120
as Rosa centifolia. They cite Coggiatti (Coggiatti 1986) ccxlvii as their source who says, “diagnostic elements,
the habit of the plant, the general morphology of the flowers, five petals brightly red coloured, along with
some considerations of historical character (Coggiatti 1986) ccxlviii , lead to the exclusion of a Damask rose as
proposed by Gabriel (Gabriel 1955)ccxlix”. Manifestly Coggiatti is incorrect. The rose depicted is clearly and
lightly double and hence a hybrid not a species. R. gallica is never very double and only very rarely lightly
double. Realistically, the only lightly double candidate, at the time, was the Damask; and, he confuses the
single Rosa gallica with the heavily double Rosa centifolia [Fig. 42]
The Roses of Paestum
The most beautiful of the roses grown in the region of Italy in the vicinity of Rome, and indeed, in the classical
world, were the roses of Paestum.(Mello 2003)ccl Paestum was, historically, a major ancient Greek port, on
the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea in Magna Graecia in southern Italy. [Map 13]
[Map 13]. Location of Paestum, south of Naples, Italy.
Following its foundation by Greek colonists under the name of Poseidonia, the Greek being Ποσειδωνία, the
port was eventually conquered by the local Lucanians and later, by the Romans . The Lucanians renamed it,
Paistos, and the Romans later gave the city its current name. (Cancik et al. 2013)ccli. As a centre for rose
growing it was abandoned in the early part of the first century BCE, not only because the growers lacked
artificial heating, but also because this marshy region became ridden with malaria. The growers dispersed to
the Roman colonies, consequently the rose of Paestum was not necessarily the only rose celebrated in Latin
literature as pestane, because the name was also given to those pestane roses grown by the colonials.
However, by the end of the second part of the first century the region had become brackish Loperte et al
2011)cclii, and the effects of malaria, and the effects of the war against Hannibal, (247 –181 BC) had subsided.
(Mellow 2003) ccliii Rose growing around Paestum was back in fashion. Pliny however, makes not a mention of
121
the Rose of Paestum which is curious considering his dedication to detail of all things horticultural; and
furthermore because over the same period, both Columella in De re Rustica (X, 35 ff.) ccliv and Martial
(Epigrams VI, 80) cclv describe this nub of Roman rose growing, in poetic detail. Pliny was however, a man of
the world, he knew the area of Campania particularly well, and held allegiances to the region. Paestum sits a
little further to the south, and was major competition to the region of Campania, which was also noted for
the prowess of its rose nurseries during the Golden Age. (Aratus, Phaenomena 1XII)cclvi The ground was well
drained compared to Paestum and was suitably fertile for rose growing which enabled the plants to produce
more scent than their Paestum counterparts. What is more, they flowered over an extended season
compared with the once flowering rose species, and they flowered early. (plus apud Campanos ointments
quant apud ceteros olei proud (Pliny Naturalis Historia XVIII, 111).cclvii. (Campania east, Milesia evening
novissima tamen Praenestina) (Pliny Naturalis Historia XXI, 20).cclviii. The result, the roses from the Campania
region just north of Naples, particularly from Capua Preneste became far better known than the roses of
Paestum. It appears that considerable efforts were made to guard the details of the methods of cultivation of
the two regions. (Mello 2003) Not least that the late flowering Damask Rosa x damascena was grown in
Campania (Pliny Naturalis Historia X XI 17).cclix rather than the form we now know as Rosa centifolia that was
grown in Paestum at the time. This trade secret evidently became widely known in so far that Rosa centifolia
was displaced by the far more productive, Rosa x damascena. (Mello 2003)cclx. There is firm literary evidence
for the manufacture of rose water, and also that the fame of the roses of Paestum was widespread in the
second half of the first century BCE. (Ellis 2012)cclxi The remontancy substantiated allegedly by Virgil in his oft
quoted phrase, Nerem biferique rosaria Paesti, (Virgil Georgics, IV, 119)cclxii. Is based on a mistranslation.
"Atque equidem, extremo ni iam sub fine laborum
vela traham et terris festinem advertere proram
forsitan et, pinguis hortos quae cura colendi
ornaret, canerem biferique rosaria Paesti
quoque modo potis gauderent intiba rivis
et virides apio ripae, tortusque per herbam
cresceret in ventram cucumis . . .”
This, from Virgil's Georgics (IV:116-122), has been taken to refer to reblooming roses in Paestum Italy in the
Augustan age of Rome. However, the pertinent section literally translates as "the rose-gardens of twicebearing Paestum."
And I myself, were I not even now Furling my sails, and, nigh the journey's end, Eager to turn my vessels row to
shore, Perchance would sing what careful husbandry Makes the trim garden smile; of Paestum too, the rose
beds of twice bearing Paestum;; cclxiii
122
Double- or constant-bearing was something of a poetical commonplace for expressions concerning
‘bounteous Nature’ in classical times. Homer remarks on the continuous bearing through the year of pears,
apples, figs, grapes, and olives in the garden of Alcinous in the Odyssey (VII:117 ff.); Hesiod, in Works and
Days (lines 172-173) refers to three-times-a-year bearing in the Blessed Isles, for the benefit of defunct
heroes. Less poetically, in a classical Florus 1:11:3, we see a reference to Campania, where Paestum is
situated; it tells us that Campania "bis floribus vernat” which translates as “Campania twice springs with
flowers” or “everything is repeat-blooming in Campania”! Ovid (Metamorphoses XV: 708) puts it succinctly:
"On towards Leucosia and Paestum's headland,
Where roses love the warmth."
It would appear that the supposed reblooming roses were simply vigorous plants blooming over an extended
season much as the same as many other plants in Paestum and Campania due to the favourable climate.
Maybe the "twice-bearing Paestum" and the "twice-blooming Campania" are literary conventions similar to
the expressions "thrice beautiful" or "doubly accursed", namely intensifiers, not a statement to be taken
literally. Maybe this, and the complete absence of any definitive written word puts paid to the claim for truly
remontant roses in Paestum.
However, as this thesis has described above (pp. 36-40) remontancy is not so cut and dried as was once
thought. The commentators on Virgil’s biferique rosaria Paesti were writing prior to recent biochemical
research. Advances post DNA analysis in evolutionary genetics and taxonomy, together with recent research
that has identified the remontant gene and how it operates, has painted a less than black and white picture
of which roses and when roses are remontant, and the extent to which roses are remontant. Climatic change,
particularly increases in temperature has accentuated the issue. There are degrees of remontancy that vary
with the vagaries of habitat and climate, and with the number of shoots that are genetically disposed to
flowering repeatedly, and thus the number of flowers produced. Roses once thought of as once flowering
now display remontancy. The roses of Paestum can no longer be classified as remontant or not. Extended
flowering periods might now be described as remontancy and twice flowering roses may not be the only
remontant roses. The definition of remontancy has changed and broadened. It would be imprudent to write
off remontancy of the Roses of Paestum until the genetics involved in remontancy of both R. x damascena
and R. centifolia are fully researched. To confuse the issue Propertius, advises (IV:v:61) that
"Sweet Paestum's rose, for life and beauty born
May wither in the sultry breath of morn."
The rose to which he refers does not exhibit the florist’s demand for a long shelf life.
123
It seems that in the interests of entrepreneurial diplomacy, Pliny was silently, protecting the trade secrets of
Campanian growers, rather than favouring the nurserymen of Paestum. We do not know when and for sure
even if the Greeks brought the art of rose growing to Paestum, and there is little concrete evidence of exactly
how and when the first nurseries were established. (Kock)cclxiv. However, there is archaeological evidence of
perfume shops dating back to 273 BCE (Brun 1999)cclxv Also, evidence from the production of unguentaria,
small ceramic or glass bottles, found frequently by archaeologists at Hellenistic and Roman sites, which were
commonly used as containers for rose for oil (Brun 1999)cclxvi.
The characteristics of the roses of Paestum
The Paestum roses were bright pink, almost reddish; they were intensely fragrant, and they flowered over a
long season. This was something new to the Romans. Never before had they encountered roses that
flowered longer over a longer period than the few weeks of the rose species.
Ovid suggests that roses flowered twice due to the warm climate, and Martial, (Epigrams VI, 80). cclxvii quoting
Vergil cclxviii says that the roses even flowered during the winter, (Epigrams X, 31, 1 ff.) cclxix and likewise, in
Egypt. (Martial)cclxx The only other plant that flowered repeatedly, and was used in daily commerce was the
violet.
Roman perfumers and perfume
An essential part of the supply chain were the perfumers, the retailers of rose water. An interesting aspect of
Paestum floriculture, and also the economic history of the city, were the apparatus used for the extraction of
essences and for the production of perfumes. In particular, the presses used to extract the valuable juice
from the petals, and the vats for seeping the roots of the rose to make the cheap by product rhodinum.
Rhodinum was used as a substitute for pressings from the rose petals to make a cheaper but inferior product.
The cost of production of pure rose water was very high, because of the enormous quantity of the raw
material, the flowers, which were required to make the best perfumes. Consequently, the growers resorted
to pressing other parts of the plant, for rhodinum from the roots in particular, with which to adulterate the
juice from the rose petals. (p.97) Overtly, or not, they used any process to get the product by the cheapest
means possible to the suburban areas. (Mello 2003)cclxxi. To have the job done professionally and
expeditiously, the entrepreneurial perfumers relied on a pool of highly capable, freelancing, skilled workers.
J. P. Brun’s seminal work, Roman Perfume Boutiques, published in 1998cclxxii , both confirms, and describes,
how the businesses worked, using evidence from archaeological research conducted in the 'north-west
corner of the forum in Paestum. There, ever since the founding of the Greek colony, an area was reserved for
perfumer’s shops. Interestingly, these shops are similar to those found in archaeological digs on Delos, a
Greek Cycladean island, close to Mykonos. The perfumers of Paestum, who clearly enjoyed the best vantage
points for their shops, were similar to those discovered in Pompeii and Capua. In fact, the co llection centre
for the Capuan product was actually in the centre of a nearby town called Seplasia. The brand ‘Seplasian’
denoted high quality. There was not just one firm, but many producers called ‘ungentarii’ and ‘thurarii’ . Their
124
names are well documented. (Forbes 1955). Since there was no guild of ‘unguent’ makers, most of the
‘ungentarii’ were managed by a few larger producers, who owned efficient organisations for the collection
and despatch of not only of their own product, but the product from the smaller producers. It would seem
that the Capuan trade, (Forbes 1955)cclxxiii bought raw product from Paestum, and also from Praeneste and
Capua itself. Foreign spices, when required to add different aromas to the product, were bought from
Vespasian’s Spice Market, the centre of the trade in Rome. Even though other towns produced rose water,
Capua appears to have outshone them and captured the export trade. Late in the Empire, adulteration of the
product became rampant. Pliny has much to say on the subject. (Forbes 1955). Demetrius, a commercial
magnate who tried to corner the market, was accused by the townsmen of Seplasia of using white drops of
resin from the ‘stone pine’, Pinus pinea, instead of the very expensive ingredient, frankincense. Seplasia’s
reputation was demolished, and Capua’s fraudulent policy cost the town its western Mediterranean
competitive trade, which was happily taken on by the city of Alexandria in Egypt. (Forbes 1955).
Archeologically important, are the excavated remains of the renowned perfumeries on the island of Delos.
Hellenistic-period perfumeries have been identified by finds of equipment used for pressing oil; storage jars,
furnaces for heating, and basins for ‘steeping ‘the petals in oil. (Brun, 2000). cclxxiv. The area around Corinth
was also associated with perfume production. Archaeologically significant, are the finds of the small ceramic
aryballoi for containing oil, which were shipped all around the Mediterranean. During archaeological
excavations, a portrayal of the rose water manufacturing process was discovered in a fresco from the House
of Vettii, Pompeii (pre.79CE). Cupids are involved in extracting oil from a wedge press, [Fig.97] and are also
shown adding rose petals to a steeping basin, while nearby a lady samples the fragrances. (Mattingly,
1990)cclxxv.
Fig. 97 A section of a long frieze depicting cupids at work. House of Vettii, Pompeii 62 CE.
http://clagnut.com/sandbox/dynamic-layout/
125
Jashemski’s work at Pompeii has identified commercial gardens within the city, the most likely locations for
the production of flowers for the perfume industry. Inscriptions have been found in the town that name two
of the unguentarii, M. Decidius Fastus and Phoebus (Jashemski, 1979)cclxxvi. Flowers in Campania were also
used to make garlands, essential to deck out animals for sacrifice, as well as for wearing at festivals
and convivia, the dining parties of Roman elite. Evidence for garlands is primarily textual and iconographic,
again in Pompeian wall paintings, but also in sculpture. (Mattingly, 1990)cclxxvii.
Significant to the transmigration hypothesis, proposed in this thesis, is that the method of perfume
manufacture described in Paestum, and illustrated in Pompeii, was used over a millennium earlier during the
Bronze Age. Clay tablets, inscribed with Linear B Script, from the Mycenaean-era palace at Pylos, refer to the
supply of product for the manufacture of scented oils. The name of the manufacturer was this case, Thyestes,
the ‘ungentarus’, the ‘unguent boiler’, the perfume maker. Deliveries of olive oil and other scented
ingredients, such as coriander and sage, were recorded, and it seems likely that the perfume was made in
courtyards on the north east of the palace (Shelmerdine, 1985). The Linear B script also refers to henna,
Lawsonia inermis, being used to colour the perfume, a practice of which Theophrastus was aware. Historia
Plantarum (The History of Plants VI, 31) BCEcclxxviii. In the Late Bronze Age, scented oils were traded all around
the Mediterranean, in ceramic stirrup jars. Traces of oil of iris, but not of rose as yet, have been identified
through ‘residue analysis’ in aryballoi dating from c.2000 BC, at Chamalevri on the island of Crete (Tzedakis
and Martlew, 2002). (Day 2013)cclxxix
Roman rose water trade.
Rose petals, and cut flower are fragile and have a very limited ‘shelf life’. Consequently, the rose growers of
Paestum and Capua had to transport their product, their high quality cut flowers, as quickly as was possible
to their customers in the large urban centres, particularly Rome. Given the long sea faring tradition along the
Italian coast, traffic by sea in fast boats was the obvious and preferred choice. The supply chain model was
solid; grower – transport to the port by horse drawn cart- dockers- sailing boat- port-dockers-transport- and
lastly the retailer, the perfumer. Martial talks at length on how this system operated. (Martial, Epigrams X,
31)cclxxx
With the propensity of the Romans to indulge in luxury, the rose growing industry flourished which became a
problem in itself. The Romans over-indulged. So much so, that their salacious indulgencies began to take an
effect on the Roman ideal of life, to the extent that Lucius Julius Caesar (135-87 BCE) and P. Licinius Crassus
(87-53 BCE) judged it necessary to put a stop to the sale of ‘exotic perfumes’ (edixisse it quis venderet
unguenta exotica; sic enim appellavere) in an attempt to quell the excesses of dissolute fashion. (Mello
2003)cclxxxi.
“The business model worked efficiently until the decline of the Roman Empire when demand diminished,
and when once again, (Martial, Epigrams. VI, 80, 6: X, 60, 1: X, 26, 3) cclxxxii the growing fields degraded into
malarial marshes. Any production that remained was sold as expensive flowers for weddings to the wealthy
126
classes”. References to production and trade, ceased until the 5 th. Century, (Mello 2003)cclxxxiii when Ennodius
(474-521), the bishop of Pavia, 35 kilometres south of Milan, refers to pestane roses growing in two locations
in the sixth century. He likened these roses to the roses of Paestum, citing the colour and their remontancy,
and their cultivation, to those described by (Columnella)cclxxxiv. In the Middle Ages, Walahfrid Strabo (808-49),
an Alemannic Benedictine monk, inspired by Columnella, refers to the roses of Paestum being used for their
healing properties. (Mello 2003)cclxxxv
Apart from these few references the plant was lost until early Middle Ages, when it was generally
acknowledged to have been reintroduced into Europe from Syria by the Crusaders, hence the name
damascena. Research for this thesis has revealed nothing to substantiate what can only be considered a
myth, a view supported by Jennifer Potter in her book, The Rose. (Potter 2010)cclxxxvi
Whilst Romans appreciated the rose and used it in their meetings, feasts, and parties because of its exquisite
fragrance, early Christians repudiated rose as a pagan symbol.
Apocryphal, as the story of Heliogabalus’s parties may be, the subject of this painting [ Fig.3. p.13] admirably
illustrates the connection between roses in classical Rome, and the Romans’ penchant for debauchery and
dissolution. In summary, the cultivation of roses at Paestum was neglected for several centuries after the fall
of Rome. During this period, the only people with the leisure and sensibility to grow roses were monks and
nuns, but even then, during a time of Christian antipathy towards roses and Roman tradition (Joret,
1892)cclxxxvii. Christian writers condemned the roles played by the rose. (Coates 1970)cclxxxviii For them the rose
was in disfavour because of its connection with Venus, and only gradually did it make its reappearance in
Christian iconography. Clement of Alexandra (150-211/14) an extremist writing as a moralist, forbade the
ceremonial use of crowns of flowers, especially singling out roses and lilies; (Coates 1970)cclxxxix whilst
Pridentious (348 -405) the influential Spanish poet praised Eulalia for despising of roses.
“Hic mihi rosae spolia
Nullus aromate frgrat odor”
Trans.
“Here no plunder of the rose
No scent of spice smells my nostrils”
The rose suffered a partial eclipse in Spain, again because in Rome it had become symbolic of a life of
voluptuousness, and debauchery. The severe asceticism of some early Christians, notably the Greek, St.
Clement of Alexandria (150-215 CE), caused the use of all flowers and perfumes to be denounced as
abhorrent. The Greeks considered roses and lilies, special culprits (Gordon, 1953). Theirs was a natural
reaction to the significance of roses to their near neighbours, and mortal enemies, the Romans. To the
Greeks of the second and third centuries CE, roses, and rose water, were a major sign of Roman luxury, and
indispensable on occasions of conspicuous consumption. Not only were there whole fountains of rose water,
and not only would the floors sometimes be carpeted knee-deep with rose petals, but guests at banquets
127
would have rose petals thrown over them. At a banquet given by Nero this rain of rose petals reached such
proportions that allegedly several of the noble guests suffocated under the mass of flowers (Kriissmann,
1977). Could be this be an erroneous source for the story depicted Alma-Tadema’s painting of Heliogabalus’s
rose party. [Fig. 3.p.13]
Was the Paestum Rose the Damask rose, Rosa x damascena?
Conclusive identification is impossible without DNA testing. To that end, McCurdy
ccxc
has recently reviewed
the literature and archaeology, but to date, no remains have been found to analyse. Consequently, it is the
morphological descriptions by the Roman and Greek authors quoted earlier, who describe the plant in such
detail, that the identification of the Paestum Rose as a synonym for Rosa x damascena is valid. Descriptions
of, remontancy, colour, fragrance and size and shape of the shrub, tally with the plants growing in the field
today. (Kock)ccxci (Hurst 1941)ccxcii.
Damasks are not the only source of rose oil as has been explained above [p.24 ] However, growers are
businessman. They will only grow the most productive hybrids, varieties or forms available. Rose water and
being such a valuable commodity the growers of Paestum, with their international connections, would have
searched far and wide for the most productive rose. That rose is today, as it was then, the Damask.
Remontancy is an issue. Learned debate over the translation of Vergil’s “biferique rosaria Paesti biferique” are
interesting but not necessarily helpful in light of recent work on remontancy. Climatic change, particularly
increases in temperature has induced remontancy into roses that were once, once flowering.
Once flowering roses are easy to identify taxonomically, they flower on a stem and do not flower again. Rose
bushes that flower repeatedly, or recurrently, or continuously may flower on the same stem from new
shoots, or may flower on new shoots per se. It is the growth inhibitor TF1’s homologue RFK described in [3.15
p.36] that determines whether the plant will flower again. This gene has been shown to be heavily influenced
by heat, water, nutrient and day length (Iawata, Remay) ccxciii. Accordingly, there is no reason why Rosa x
damascena should not exhibit different remontant characteristics depending on where it is grown.
Phylogenetics has advanced significantly post DNA analysis. Rose family trees have recently been compiled
that reliably define which roses are related to which. Naturally occurring hybrids are now more easily
recognised, whilst cladistic values and what is a form, a variety or a hybrid are more easily determined. Texts
of antiquity that describe morphological detail that varies from one location and era to the next can hardly be
definitive. Therefore the most compelling evidence for the identification comes from a study of the historic
cultivation of the Damask for rose water production, and the historic manufacturing process compared with
those still practised today, and described in the preceding chapter.
128
Chapter 7.
Rosa x damascena ‘On the move’.
The connections between the Silk Road, the transmigration of R. x damascena, and the
use of rose water.
Cultural Linkage facilitated the transmigration of Rosa x damascena from Central Asia to Rome
Having revealed an approximation of the geographical origin of the Damask, and that the Damask was used in
the production of rose water, it rests now to investigate, how the plant transmigrated from the Amu Darya
watershed to Rome. Research revealed that is unlikely, if not impossible, for the rose to have travelled
naturally. The research has also shown that the plant travelled with the spread of the production of rose
water, and that it is possible to transport, and keep suckers from which the rose is propagated, alive in a hot
and arid terrain [p.85]. Road transport appears the obvious answer, perhaps carried in back packs, or on hand
carts, or by horse and cart. The options? The roads had already been constricted by 3000 BCE. Firstly, by the
Assyrians, who by 2-3,000 BCE, had set up secure trading routes, as recent research published in 2015, has
evidenced. (Kulakoğlu & Öztürk 2015) ccxciv They found a large deposit of old Assyrian cuneiform tablets, some
23,000 in number, near Kayseri, in central Turkey, and the location of the capital city of the ancient kingdom
of Kanesh. This site has shed light not only on the history of Anatolia, but also on the history of the entire
Near East in antiquity. [Map 12].
[Map 14]. The map of Assyrian trading routes and major cities 2-30000 BCE (after Kulakolu & Kangal 2010
Next, the Persian Royal Road 500-300 BCE, established during the Achaemenid Empire, (500-330 BCE) would
eventually become a main artery of what became known in the 19 th. Century as The Silk Road. The Royal
Road, which would have taken the rose from Samarkand, directly to Rome, ran from Susa, in north Persia,
129
modern day Iran, to the Mediterranean Sea in Asia Minor. The road featured postal stations along the route,
equipped with fresh horses for envoys to quickly deliver messages throughout the Persian Empire.
Herodotus, (Histories, 8.98)ccxcv, writing of the speed and efficiency of the Persian messengers, stated
(Histories, 8.98)ccxcvi:
“There is nothing in the world that travels faster than these Persian couriers. Neither snow, nor rain, nor
heat, nor darkness of night prevents these couriers from completing their designated stages with utmost
speed."
The Persians maintained the Royal Road carefully, and expanded it through smaller side roads. These paths
eventually crossed down into India, across Mesopotamia, and over into Egypt. [Map 15]
[Map 15]. Persian Royal Road 500-330 BCE The Persian Royal Road http://www.ancient.eu/
130
Lastly, The Silk Road 130 – 1453 CE, discussed in detail on (Page 136). [Map 16],
[Map 16]. The Silk Road. From Dru C. Gladney, ‘Central Asia and China: Transnationalisation, Islamization, and Ethnicisation’ in The
Oxford History of Islam, ed. ed. John Esposito (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), 441.
It is not possible to date when the Damask originated using botanical or biochemical analysis, because such
analysis does not carry a date of origin. However, as opposed to most other roses grown horticulturally, Rosa
x damascena was grown as a main stream commercial crop. In fact, the Damask is the only Central Asian rose
grown in any volume, for the production of rose water. Writers and scholars from 5,000 BCE in antiquity
wrote detailed, dated commentaries on the rose water production process. Preceding Chapters have
surveyed the extensive volume of literature that details who produced rose water and why. [pp.63-65]
Essentially the literature describes which people used rose water in their religious ceremonies, for their
sanitation, their health and their hygiene; and who used rose water to fragrance a malodorous society, and
also who used roses for ornament. The impact of religious ceremony on rose water usage is explored in
depth [pp. 137] and the political effect of Islamic expansionism on the spread of rose water usage is the
subject of future work. The research resulting from investigation into where, and when along the trade
routes, rose water production was established, has been built into a timeline. The time line has then been
transposed on to maps in order to evidence the route the rose took, and by what dates. The plots evidence
that the Damask extended its range along the Silk Road, and the Royal Persian Road, and kept spreading West
between 3500 BCE and 1400 CE.
131
Plotting a time-line of cultural linkage.
The table below lists references in the text in terms of the date written, the writer, the location and the
cultural period in which the writer lived, or referred to; annotated with numerical references detailed in the
references. Geographical references have been plotted on a map, over the two principal travel routes that
existed at the time.
[Table 20] Transmigration of Rosa x damascena. Time line and cultural linkage .
Date
Culture
Location
Author
Reference
AD 1523
Islam
Alexandria, Egypt
Clement
ccxii
AD 1503
Roman Catholic
Rome
Bronzino
iv
AD 1500
Orthodox
Knossos, Crete
p.144
xx
AD 1405
Timurid, Islam
Samarkand
Tamerlane p95.
AD 1340
Orthodox
Mardin, S. Turkey
Battuta
cxlv
AD 1340
Timurid , Islam
Anatolia
Rumi
cxlv
AD 1309
Islam
Erdine
Brun
cxlvii
AD 1256
Shia, Islam
Syria
Al-Dimashq
cxli
AD 1207
Sunni, Islam
Persia
AD 1197
Islam
Malaga, Spain
Al-Baitar
clii
AD 1120
Tengrism
Samaxi, Azerbaijan
p.119
cliii
AD 1055
Islam Ghaznavid
Qamsar
Malekshah
clxxi
AD 1005
Islam
Kashgar
Kashgari
cxl
AD 1000
Islam
Baghdad
Fars
cxxxxviii
AD 980
Islam
Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Avicenna
cli
AD 800
Islam
Baghdad
Al-Kindi
cxlviii
AD 800
Islam
Morocco
See Case Study p.131
xli
AD 632
Islam
Saudi Arabia
Muhammed
clxvi
AD 474
Roman, Pagan
Pavia, Italy
Ennodius
ccvii
AD 455
Vandal
Carthage
Dracontius
cllxxxvi
AD 348
Roman, Pagan
Spain
Pridentious
ccxii
AD 310
Roman/Vandal
Bordeaux, France
Ausonius
cllxxxvi
AD 181
Roman, Pagan
Damascus Syria
Apollodorus
clxxxviii
AD 203
Roman, Pagan
Rome
Heliogabalus
v
AD 70
Roman, Pagan
Cadiz, Spain
Columnella
clxxxv
AD 50
Roman, Pagan
Rome
Pliny Naturalis Historia
ccxcvii
AD 43
Dacian Roman
Romania
Ovid
cllxxxvi
.
132
AD 41
Roman, Pagan
Egypt
Martialis
cxcviii
AD 41
Roman, Pagan
Egypt
Martialis
cxcviii
AD 41
Roman, Pagan
Rome
Martialis
cllxxxvi
AD 40
Byzantine
South East Turkey, Syria
Dioscorides
clxxvii
AD 4
Roman, Pagan
Syria
p.119
cxxi
BCE 4
Macedonian
Athens, Greece
Mnesitheus
clxxxviii
BCE 8
Seleucid
Ionic Syrian
Homer
clxxvii
BCE 58
Roman, Pagan
Rome
Livia
cxc
BCE 247
Roman, Pagan
Paestum
Hannibal
cxciii
BCE 300
Ptolemaic
Athens, Lesbos
Theophrastus
clxxviii
BCE 311
Ptolemaic
Egypt
Callimachus
clxxxviii
BCE 454
Macedonian
Bulgaria
Aetius
cxxxvi
BCE 460
Archaic Period
Greece
Hippocrates
cxxxv
BCE 480
Achaemenid
Delos
p.150
ccii
BCE 480
Bacchiad
Corinth
p.150
cciii
BCE 490
Persian
Macedonia
Midas
clxxvii
BCE 600
Persian
Lesbos Greece
Sappho
clxxvi
BCE 900
Hellenistic
Ios, Greece
Homer
BCE 1200
Akkadian
Sumeria
p.119
cxvii
BCE 1200
Mitanni
Assyria
p.119
cxvii
BCE 1500
Gandhara
India
Zoroaster
clxxxi
BCE 1500
Phoenician
Syria
Zoroaster
clxxxi
BCE 1500
Armenian
Egypt
Zoroaster
clxxxi
BCE 1600
Hyksos dynasty
Egypt
Thutmose
cxxviii
BCE 1600
Minoan
Crete
p.119
cxxvii
BCE 1750
Hittite
Anatolia, Turkey
p.119
cxxvi
BCE 2000
Minoan
Crete
P150
cciv
BCE 2500
Sumerian
Iran
Houtumn-Schindler
clxxi
BCE 2600
Harappan
Punjab
p.119
cxvi
BCE 2684
Sumerian
Ur, near Babylon
Sargon
clxxii
BCE 3000
Harappan
Taxilia, Afghanistan
Hearth
clxxiii
BCE 3500
Sumerian
Mesopotamia
p.119
cxvii
BCE 3500
Semitic Nr. East
Assyria
p.143
clxxiii
BCE 5000
Harappan
Indus Valley
p.119
cxv
133
Map 17. The geographic and botanical point of origin of Rosa x daamscena. See Chapter 5.
Superimposition of the dated references from Table 23, over the route of the Silk Road, and over the point of
origin of Rosa x damascena
Layers of information from: [Map 9 p. 58]; the trading routes of the Assyrians 2-3,000 BCE [map 14]; plus,
the route of the Persian Royal Road 500-330 BCE [Map 15.] the references complete with their dates
included in the timeline [Table 20.] have been plotted on the map of principle routes of The Silk Road. [Map
16] to produce [Map 18].
This map graphically illustrates the transmigration, the passage of Rosa x damascena from its Central Asian
origin to Rome along the Silk Road from 3000 to 300 BCE.
134
480 AD
43 AD
980 AD
490 BC
310 AD
41 AD
203 AD
474 AD
1120 AD
1309 AD
300 BC
247 BC
1750 BC
480 BC
1309 AD
1340 AD
600 BC
70 AD Spain
348 AD
1197 AD
1200 BC
40 AD
800 AD
41 AD
1600 BC
1500 BC
1055 AD
2684 BC
1207 AD
4 AD
181 AD
1256 AD
1111 AD
1405
AD
2500 BC
3500 BC
2000 BC
1600 BC
455 AD
1405 AD
1500 BC
1200 BC
3000 BC
1500 BC
5000 BC
3500 BC
1055 AD
2600 BC
632 AD
311 BC
[Map 18]. Rosa x damascena, geographical point of origin and direction and dates of transmigration, from the watershed of the river Amu Darya in Uzbekistan to Classical Rome
1.
2.
3.
4.
Key:
Hypothetical geographical point of origin of Rosa x damascena.
Plots by date and location selected from Table of references to Rosa x damascena and rose water BCE.
Plots by date and location selected from Table of references to Rosa x damascena and rose water AD.
Note that Rosa x damascena carrying its remontant gene both the requisite for the production of rose water.
progresses steadily west from c.3000 BC through to c. 1300AD west from the Oxus Valley along the route of the
Persian Royal Road, a main artery of The Silk Road, until it arrived in Rome
135
“The Silk Road, A New History”
“Purity of the mind is considered just as important in the Islamic world, as an unsullied physique”. (Quran
2:222)ccxcviii Chapter 5.10, examined the pharmacology associated with rose water, and its influence on
physical complaints. The following essay explores the influence of rose water on the religions, more
specifically, the belief systems, of Central Asia and the Middle East, in an attempt to discover whether it was
the nurture of the spirit, or the body, that encouraged the transmigration of the Damask rose.
The Silk Road conjures up an image of caravans of camels, laden with silk on a dusty precipitous desert track,
reaching from China to Rome. However, Valerie Hansen, of Harvard University, in her extensive and scholarly
researched, recently published “The Silk Road, A New History” has questioned the long held notion of the
straight and well-travelled road to China, or come to that, to Rome. (Hansen 2012) ccxcix Hansen found key
records that had remained hidden, often for safe keeping, in the sands of the Taklimakan Desert and in the
seven oases located along the route, from Xi’an to Samarkand. In the oases towns merchants, envoys,
pilgrims, religious refugees and travellers all mixed in cosmopolitan communities, tolerant of each other’s
religious beliefs. These ranged from Buddhism to Christianity, and Zoroastrianism to Manichaeism, that is
until the arrival of Islamic conversion.
There was no single continuous road but rather a chain of market towns that traded within a radius of 80
kilometres that ran between East and Central Asia. China’s principle trading partner was Persia; there was no
direct trade with Rome. Silk was not the most important trade on the route, rather it was paper, metals, spice
and glass and silk. But, it was, Hansen found, the dissemination of ideas, technologies and artistic motifs,
which were by far and away the most important transmission. Never the less as Schafer says in his ‘The
Golden Peaches of Samarkand’ there were goods, in this case exotic peaches that made their way from
Samarkand to China in the T’ang dynasty (Schafer 1985).ccc
However, for this research, it is the religious refugees and their Islamic aggressors described by Hansen, who
are the most important Silk Road inhabitants. “These converts brought their religions and languages to their
new homes. Buddhism originating in India and enjoying genuine popularity in China, had the most influence,
but Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism and the Eastern Christian Church based in Syria, all had strong followings.
The people living along the Silk Road played a crucial role in transmitting, translating and modifying these
belief systems as they passed from one civilisation to another” (Hansen 2012) ccci. Until the arrival of Islam
these different communities were surprisingly tolerant of each other’s beliefs. Islam put a different inference
on social relationships. There was interaction for the first time, and the hitherto inalienable right to wo rship
the God of your choice was under threat. The Islamic aggressors were intolerant of others beliefs, believing
that the one true path was through conversion to Islam, and adopting Islamic teaching and doctrinal rites.
Although Hansen did not recognise it, one common denominator of these religions, is their use of rosewater
as an integral, essential, feature of their ceremonies and its use in health, sanitation and fragrancing. It was
not difficult for the Islamic aggressors to insist on the continuing, copious, use of rose water in their converts’
136
religious services and customs, in medicine and in the kitchen. Crucial to this thesis, Hansen describes the
waves of religious refugees, fleeing north and then east and west from the Muslims. Valerie Hansen has
been very helpful in pointing the author in the direction of potential evidence to support the theory that the
aforementioned refugees were subjected to religious conversion to Islam, and that this conversion to Islam
included the production of rose water, so as to sustain the Islamic doctrine.
The Damask rose growers would have followed the Islamic converts, presumably selecting their most
productive remontant hybrids, to plant as they resettled to satiate demand from the converts or from the
refugees as they resettled.
The religions of the ‘Old World’ of 1500 BCE to 1400 CE, which were connected to overland trade in Asia.
Asian and Mediterranean religions followed a similar pattern of growth and dissemination, from west to east
and from east to west along the Silk Road. Rose water was used in the religious ceremonies of the Buddhist
faith, (Chuang 2006) cccii the Hindus (Hindu Universe 2016)ccciii, the Zoroastrians (Eduljee 2015)ccciv. Rose water
is used to clean the Kaaba, the Qibla for Muslims located in Mecca, (Al-Zahrani 2016)cccv where water from
the Zamzam Well is combined with rose water as an additive. In the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia
during Muslim burials, rose water is often sprinkled in the dug grave, before placing the body inside.
(Teachings of Islam, Talim-ul-Haq 2016)cccvi. Rose water also figures in Christianity, particularly in the Eastern
Orthodox Church (Alkiviadis 1992)cccvii, and in the Baha'i Faith, the Most Holy Book (Kitab-i-Aqdas 1:76) orders
believers to make use of rose water. (Baha’u’llah 1992)cccviii As new religious communities were established
throughout Asia, their continued existence was ensured, largely, by support from the merchants.
Consequently, the relationship of religious traditions to traders, including the use of rose water, was one of
dependence such that arguably, and historically speaking, the whole idea of world religion is inextricably
connected to long-distance commercial activity. (Foltz 2000)cccix The Silk Road runs along the southern edge
of the central Eurasian steppe, where the dry flatlands, meet the mountains, and where snow melt streams
provide a secure water supply. Human migrants settled within this ecological transition zone between 3000
BCE and 200 CE, eventually establishing oasis towns where travellers would rest, resupply, and trade. The
Persians of the steppe played a substantial role in transporting gold, silver, and wool to China. There also
appears to have been a return trade; a silk fragment from China was discovered in an Egyptian tomb dating
from about 1000 BCE. (Lubec 1993)cccx The ancient Israelites, ancestors of the Jews, also may have traded
along the Silk Road. It is certain that by 722 BCE, Israelites lived in the eastern Iranian world, because their
Assyrian conquerors transplanted them there. (Foltz 2000)cccxi.
In ancient times, religions did not practice missionary work. Religious traditions were viewed typically as
specific, cultural attributes, not as universal truths to be adopted by all peoples. For example, the religions of
the Iranians and the Israelites spread quite widely throughout the ancient world, but peoples with whom the
Iranians and Israelites traded would have perceived their religious influence at best as intriguing foreign
137
ideas, rather than as an ultimate spiritual truth upon which salvation depended. The benefits of a particular
religious approach were considered the inalienable property of the culture possessing it. When the Persian
king Cyrus (530 BCE), liberated the Jews from Babylonian captivity in 559 BCE, many Jews chose to take up
residence within the Persian Empire. At the same time, these people remained in contact with other Hebraic
groups from Babylonia as far as to Egypt, through trade. Those living in the Iranian world conveyed various
aspects of Persian culture to those living elsewhere, and in this way many Persian religious ideas were
absorbed into Judaism, and later into Christianity, Manichaeism, and Islam. Among these were an
eschatological view of time and the belief in a messianic saviour, a bodily resurrection and a last judgement, a
heavenly paradise and a hell for sinners, and a supernatural force responsible for evil.
The first Christians were Jews, who spread Christianity through Jewish trade networks based in Babylonia.
The Virgin Mary was dubbed “the thornless rose,” and, to some extent, pagan legends about Aphrodite and
her rose began to be attributed to Mary. (Vecera 1989)cccxii During the first centuries of the Christian era,
doctrinal disputes increasingly led eastern Christians to assert their independence from the leaders hip of
Mediterranean Christianity. By the late 5th century CE, the Eastern Church, with its seat at the Persian capital
of Ctesiphon in Mesopotamia, broke from the Church of Rome. A synod of eastern bishops in 497 CE declared
Nestorianism, a theology that stated the human and divine natures in Jesus Christ were distinct, to be their
official doctrine. It was this Nestorian form of Christianity that Persian and Sogdian merchants transmitted
eastward along the Silk Road. By the middle of the 600s Nestorian bishoprics were found in Samarkand, in
central Uzbekistan; and Kashgar, in the present day, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. Along the
Persian Royal Road, the main artery of the Silk Road, miracle-working Persian Nestorian priests, whom the
Turks perceived as especially powerful shamans, baptised large tribes of Turkic nomads.
During the early 3rd century CE another universal, missionary religion, Manichaeism, emerged from
the mixed Semitic-Persian cultural zone of Mesopotamia. Its prophet, Mani, was born of Parthian parents
into a Jewish-Christian Baptist sect, but he travelled to India in his early 20s, and in addition absorbed various
influences there. His religion drew from Semitic, Persian, and Indian traditions, combined with a belief in
Gnosticism, the salvation through secret knowledge. It postulated a radically dualistic universe in which good
and evil were locked in constant struggle. Along with certain Buddhist concepts such as reincarnation, Mani
adopted Buddhism’s four-part social structure, divided between male and female monks and laity. Within a
hundred years his teachings attained widespread popularity throughout the Mediterranean and Persian
worlds, posing a severe threat to competing religious visions. His main rival at the Sassanid court was Kartir,
the chief priest of the Persian monotheistic religion, Zoroastrianism. The rose appears in the ancient
Zoroastrian religious book, Avesta, written in Persia during the 9th century CE, as one of the symbols of
immortal angels. It was believed that the beautiful fragrance extracted from the flowers had mystical powers
and played an important role in the worship of the god of light, Ahura Mazda. (Vecera 1989)cccxiii . Despite the
persecution of devotees throughout both the Roman and Sassanid empires, Manichaeism continued to
138
spread and win converts. In the east, Sogdian merchants, yet again, played the major role in transmitting the
religion along what is now known as the Silk Road, via their communities of traders. A major Manichaean
centre took root in the Sogdian capital of Samarkand, beyond the military reach of the Sassanids. The
Sogdians returned with the Uygurs, to their capital north of the Tien Shan, and eventually converted the king
to their faith. Under the king’s sponsorship Manichaeism became the state religion of the Uygur Empire until
840 CE, and for several centuries afterward it retained many Turkish adherents including the use of rose
water. The spread of the religions described above are plotted on [Map 19]. In early 600 CE Islam appeared in
western Arabia. Rose water takes a fundamental role in Islamic religious ceremony. Arab conquests followed
international trade routes, and as a result Islamic law increasingly ruled international trade. By 711 CE the
Arabs had conquered Transoxiana, in southeast Central Asia, and Sogdian merchants again saw the
advantages of belonging to a culture with wide-ranging commercial contacts. With the fall of the Mongol
Yuan dynasty in 1368 CE, the period of peace that had so favoured trans-Asian trade, came to an end. With
their connections to cultural centres in the west broken, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Manichaeism, and
Christianity faded from the scene in Central and Eastern Asia. (Foltz 2000)cccxiv. Starr describes these
transmigrations with greater insight. (Starr 2015) Starr F. Lost Enlightenment: Central Asia's Golden Age from
the Arab Conquest to Tamerlane Princeton 2015
The Silk Road has left spiritual beliefs that are now known as “world religions,” faiths that were founded in
the caravans of east-west trade, and over time and land spread throughout the world. [Map 19. P.140]
139
[Map 19]. Transmigration of R. x damascena and the production of rose water superimposed on the Belief Systems or Faith Systems of the region.
Key to Belief Systems
Lamaistic Buddhism
Theravada Buddhism
41 AD
203 AD
474 AD
43 AD
Shinto Buddhism
300 BC
490 BC
600 BC
1750 BC
40 AD
455 AD
2000 BC
1600 BC
800 AD
311 BC
1120 AD
1309 AD
1340 AD
4 AD
181 AD
1256 AD
1309 AD
Confucianism Taoism
Buddhism
1200 BC
1405
AD
41 AD
1055 AD
Hinduism
1207 AD
1600 BC
1500 BC
2500 BC
3500 BC
3000 BC
Tribal & Traditional
1500 BC
1200 BC
2684 BC
632 AD
1111 AD
1055 AD
5000 BC
Sunni Islam
3500 BC
2600 BC
Shia Islam
Eastern Orthodox
Direction of transmigration of R. x damascena and rose water ac ross different regions of belief from 3000BC to 1200 AD.
Protestantism
Roman Catholic
Spread of Zoroastrianism (1200 BCE to 700 CE)
Spread of Manichaeism (216 – 1400 CE)
Spread of Nestorianism. (385 – 635 CE)
Spread of Christianity (1 CE -)
Spread of Islam (700 CE -)
Judaism
140
Chapter 8 .
Discussion
Introduction
So as to allow preceding sections to read fluidly, the evidence for, and the arguments against the proposals
put forward, have been integrated within the respective chapter. There is nothing to be gained by repeating
this debate. However, there are a few of points of contention, which require further debate.
Remontancy in the wild was not thought to show over lapping distributions
Remontancy in the wild was not thought to show overlapping distributions in Central Asia and Europe. [3.16
p.39] This is not so much a question of previous authors being wrong per se, but more that those authors
were ill informed. Either, they did not fully investigate distributions recorded in the relevant Floras, or, that
new information has only recently come to light. In particular, the revised distribution of Rosa
fedtschenkoana which is highlighted on [pp. 59-63]; and, the new research that shows remontancy in several
more Central Asian Rose Species. [p.40; Appendix 3]. It appears that remontancy is not a black and white
phenomenon, but rather a question of how much a rose exhibits the ability to flower recurrently, and under
what conditions.
Caveat, validity and precision in plotting plant distributions.
The definition of the measure of accuracy, in plotting the geographical botanical distributions rose species,
has been explained in [Chapter 4.9 p.81]. This is the measure of accuracy required by this thesis, to evidence
the overlap of the distributions of, Rosa x damascena Mill, Rosa moschata Herm. and Rosa fedtschenkoana.
The evidence has been built by ‘linking the dots’, that is, linking up and plotting the recorded locations, of the
species concerned on maps. The thesis does not pretend that the distributions are complete, there are still
locations of the plants which have yet to be recorded, or, are not as yet published.
141
Rosa x damascena in Mattock’s Oxford Rose Nurseries (Botanical artist Olgaberi 1960)
142
Rose Water.
Perhaps under emphasised, in [Chapter 4.9 p.73] is that merely plotting the point of origin of Rosa x
damascena despite in itself, being a new contribution to botany and history, was insufficient to evidence the
hypothesis that cultural linkage facilitated the transmigration of the remontant gene in Rosa x damascena,
the Damask rose, in circa 3,500 BCE, from the river Amu Darya watershed in Central Asia, to Rome by 300
BCE. Botanical records of plant locations, do not illustrate why a plant extends its geographical range. It was,
therefore somewhat of a break through to discover, from reading Classic texts, the ubiquitous use of rose
water, throughout Central Asia and the Middle East in antiquity. Plotting references to the use of rose water
described in the texts, established a time line, and the routes by which the Damask extended its range, and
furthermore, the reason why it transmigrated; the cultural linkage of the hypothesis.
The Roses of Paestum.
No fossilised, or archaeological ‘finds’ of the Damask have been discovered in Rome, consequently
Paleoethnobotanic archaeology has been of no assistance, in providing DNA for identifying whether the Rose
of Paestum, the pestane rose of the Classics was, in actual fact Rosa x damascena. In the absence of DNA,
evidence has instead, been based on comparisons of the detailed descriptions of the pestane rose both in the
literature and in frescoes, and with the botany, and the ecological and cultural information, available for
comparison with modern plants. Pliny compares R x damascena and R. centifolia without the hindsight of
phylogenetics and evolutionary genetics to assist him in determining the phylogeny. The evidence that the
pestane rose of the Classics was Rosa x damascena is compelling and will become more so after the study on
the evolutionary genetics and taxonomy of its parents is complete. [Chapter 6. p.96-102].
Meanwhile, research into R x damascena and the fragrance in its flowers, moves on at some pace. Why?
The vast rose water and rose oil industry, is so lucrative in Iran, that the search for means of increasing
production is of huge concern, and well-funded. For example, a study has found different genotypes of R. x
damascena in the Kashan, Kerman and Tabriz regions, whilst looking at the Iranian production of Damask
Roses (Haghighi 2009) xcccxv The question currently being posed, in their quest for increasing rose oil
production, is R. x damascena a species, or is it a complex of cultivars? (Haghighi 2009) cccxvi Is the plant
currently known as R. x damascena, just the plant that Miller found first, and that he named as the ‘type’?
An analogous situation occurs in respect of R. moschata Herrm. In this case, Herrm describes the specimen
first known to him, as the ‘type’. However, there are a whole range of morphologically similar, ‘musk-type’
roses, including R. moschata, R. ruscinonensis, R. abyssinica, R. freitagii, R. godefroyne, R. brunonii, and R.
143
sambucina. Their phylogeny is only just beginning to be determined, [see Appendix 1 Case Study 2] and
work published in by Fougère et al (Fougère et al 2015)cccxvii.
In summary, there is an element of ill-founded doubt over whether Rosa fedtschenkoana is the pollen
parent of R x damascena. However, in support of this thesis, whatever the parent that Iawata et al found,
turns out to be taxonomically, it will be a Central Asian rose species and at a biochemical, molecular level,
one of the parents of R. x damascena.
Remontancy in rose species present in Central Asia in addition to Rosa fedtschenkoana.
To clarify the situation conclusively, the project, the subject of [Case Study 2] based at the University of Bath,
aspires to clarify the phylogeny of this largely un-researched group of roses. (see Appendix 1). Meanwhile,
because they are mentioned in Ciragan’s argument the following are detailed in Appendix 3. Rosa
beggeriana, Rosa brunonii, R. webbiana.
144
Chapter 9
Conclusion
The thesis exhibits conclusive evidence that cultural linkage facilitated the transmigration of the remontant
gene in Rosa x damascena, the Damask rose, a species not indigenous to Europe, from the river Amu Darya
watershed in Central Asia, in circa 3,500 BCE, to Rome by 300 BCE,
The multidisciplinary research towards proving this hypothesis comes from both the humanities and the
sciences. The conclusion was reached by synthesising evidence from both disciplines. Archaeological
specimens of plant material from Rosa x damascena have not been discovered, and are not therefore
available for identification by scientific analysis. Conversely the remontant Rosa x damascena was identified
in Roman paintings and frescoes in classical villas in Rome, which provoked the question, why? Remontancy
was thought to have arrived in Europe far later, in the 16 th. and 18th. centuries. A literature review of the
classics revealed references to these repeat flowering, remontant roses. Theophrastus is particularly helpful,
because he describes the roses he saw growing, from a professional grower’s perspective. He records the
number of petals, the fragrance and the colour of the flowers as well as the nature of the growth. Pliny is
more specific in that he helpfully compares the species we now know as Rosa centifolia with Rosa x
damascena which he knew as the pestane rose, or the rose of Paestum. The painting of the rose in ‘The
Painted Garden of the Villa of Livia, Prima Porta’ painted in c. 30-20 BC and the painting depicting rose water
production in Pompeii 62 CE., support the descriptions of the rose in the literature. The identification of the
Damask as the remontant rose growing in Rome about 300BC came from comparing these descriptions with
named specimens of Rosa x damascena, growing in Europe today. Quite clearly the remontant rose in the
Rome of antiquity, was the Damask.
A clue to the rose’s origin came from the work of three Japanese biochemists who discovered the parentage
of Rosa x damascena to be Rosa gallica, Rosa moschata Herrm and Rosa fedtschenkoana. Their research was
held in doubt, not least because whilst the geographical distributions of Rosa gallica and Rosa moschata
Herrm were known to overlap, it was thought that the geographical distribution of Rosa fedtschenkoana did
not. Research in the Floras of Central Asia, and in the medicinal herbals of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
and Turkmenistan, revealed that the distribution of Rosa fedtschenkoana lay far further to the west than
originally thought. The distribution was found to overlap with those of Rosa gallica and Rosa moschata.
Plotting the revised overlap evidences that Rosa x damascena was a naturally occurring hybrid, and
pinpointed, for the first time, that its point of origin lies within the River Amu Darya watershed.
The hot arid harsh climate of Central Asia predicates against the long distance travel and survival of most
forms of plant material used in the propagation and the cultivation of the Damask except for ‘suckers’.
Detailed descriptions in the classics prove to be misleading because 19 th. and 20 th. Century translators of both
the original, and the secondary sources, used the words for cuttings, saplings and grafts applied to the
145
propagation of vines, propagating material which would not have survived the desiccation induced by the
climate of Central Asia. They did not translate the propagation of roses with a word for a sucker. Suckers
wrapped in a wet blanket, can survive for weeks. Never the less the descriptions of rose propagation in the
classics are supported by research undertaken during a recent field trip, which established which methods of
propagation and cultivation of the Damask, are used in present day Morocco, under similar climatic
conditions to those of central Asia. The research showed that the methods of horticultural production and
cultivation used in Morocco today mirror those of Central Asia in antiquity.
The evidence for transmigration comes from an analysis of the current locations of the use of the Damask for
the production of rose water, plus the detailed descriptions in the classics, of the large white bases of the
petals from the Damask rose, being used in the manufacture of rose water. A new perspective, because in
the west roses are considered to be garden plants rather than a commercial horticultural crop. That the
Damask was used in the production of rose water on a grand scale, and that this production was so
widespread, was something not described in western literature. The classics record where and when rose
water production took place. Dates for rose water production were established, either from references in the
texts, or by using the date of birth and death of the writer, then plotted on a time line, and subsequently,
overlaid on a map of the established roads of the classical era. The roads are now known as The Silk Road,
and its principal artery, the Royal Persian Road. The superimposition of the dated, classical references to the
production of rose water, on to historic maps of the Silk Road, show that two correlate over the entire
distance from Samarkand to Rome.
The use of rose water and the cultivation of the Damask spread in tandem, because of the increasing demand
of civilisation for the product in health, hygiene, sanitation, medicine, and fragrancing.
The classics revealed that the Damask had been used in Rome and Greece for the production of rose water
from 300 BCE and that rose water was in use from 3500 BCE in Central Asia. A comparative study seeking to
establish whether production methods were unique to any one region showed that the method of
production is ubiquitous, and has not changed significantly, since 2500 BCE.
Research into the early spread of faiths and beliefs across Central Asia did not substantiate a correlation with
the spread of the production of rose water. Surprisingly, because the early faiths, Zoroastrianism,
Manichaeism, Judaism and Orthodox Christianity all used rose water. It appears that the inalienable right to
practice one’s religion seems to have had little effect of the production and use of rose water, and the
direction in which the rose transmigrated. The cultural linkage involving the education of different, but
geographically nearby races, in corporeal cleanliness, medicine, sanitation and cuisine, appears to have taken
precedent over religious fervour. That is until Islamic aggressors started to enforce their doctrines on their
neighbours. As a result, the Damask ceased to transmigrate peacefully. A lesson the warring nations of the
Middle East, might do well to learn again.
146
This thesis fills a significant gap in the knowledge of how the Damask rose played a pivotal role in the history
of the rose, and presents a new perception, a new history, of how repeat flowering, large flowered, strongly
fragrant garden roses arrived in the West.
Table of research findings
The rose carrying that carried the remontant gene to Rome by 300 BCE was Rosa x
damascena, the Damask Rose.
The geographical distribution of the rose species, Rosa gallica, Rosa moschata
Herrm and Rosa fedtschenkoana, the parents of Rosa x damascena, overlap.
The point of origin of Rosa x damascena has been derived from the overlap which
when plotted on a map shows the location to be the river Amu Darya watershed,
in Central Asia.
Rose water, rosac eum and rose oil is produced from the petals of the Damask.
The connection between the Damask and rose water production in antiquity was
established from reading descriptions of the production in the Classics. Notably,
those written by Columnella, Dioscorides, Pliny and Theophrastus and Virgil.
The cultivation of the Damask for rose water production is described in detail in
the Classics. However, Latin and Greek translations of the original sources have
misleadingly confused the word for ‘sucker’, the term for the material used to
propagate the Damask, with the words for saplings, cuttings, reeds, screws and
twigs. The latter would have perished in the climate of the Silk Road, and
consequently the Damask would not have transmigrated.
The use of rose water and the cultivation of the Damask spread in tandem,
because of the demand for the product in health, hygiene, sanitation, medicine,
and fragrancing.
Rose water production spread west along the routes used by merchants and
religious refugees, namely The Silk Road and the Royal Persian Road.
Dates and locations for the transmigration of the Damask, derived from Classical
texts, have been plotted on to a time line and onto a map. The map evidences and
illustrates the passage of the Damask from Central Asia to Rome.
Cultural linkage enabled the geographic spread of the manufacture of rose water,
and in consequence the transmigration of the remontant gene in the Damask
along the Silk Road to Rome.
Rose water manufacture was stopped by the Roman Christians circa 350 CE, and
recommenced with Islamic expansionism from circa 800 C.
The thesis examines whether beliefs and faith were the driving force behind the
cultural linkage, and concludes that the use of rose water in health, hygiene and
medicine transcended religious fervour. Map plotted.
The thesis fills a significant gap in the knowledge of how the Damask rose played
such a pivotal role in the history of the rose.
Lastly, the thesis proposes a new perception, a new history, of how repeat
flowering, large flowered, strongly fragrant garden roses arrived in the West.
*Unpublished,
research by
Mattock
# Sourced
from other’s
research
#
*
*
#
*
*
*
*
*
*
#
*
*
*
147
Summary
In summary, the thesis shows for the first time, how horticulturally, and botanically, remontancy arrived in
Classical Rome in the genome of the Damask, Rosa x damascena. This has been demonstrated, by a map
illustrating the point of origin of the Damask rose, a ‘time line’ and a map describing when the rose extended
its range along the Silk Road to Rome, and finally a map evidencing that transmigration of the Damask along
the Silk Road was incentivised by the demand for improved health, sanitation, medicine and for a fragrant
society rather than religious subservience. In conclusion, it was not an enthusiasm for a gardening novelty,
but rather cultural linkage in the use of rose water, that incentivised the transmigration of the Damask from
Central Asia to Classical Rome. The result, a new perception, a new history, of how repeat flowering, large
flowered, strongly fragrant garden roses arrived in the West.
148
.
[Fig. 98] Rosa x damascena var. Ispahan.
Growing in the Robert Mattock Roses Nurseries, near Oxford 2003
149
The Syrian Damask Rose Restoration Project.
Syria and the potential for a practical, humanitarian application of the research for this thesis.
‘The Silk Road Hybrids’ (Mattock 2017) showed that Syria played a pivotal role in the transmigration of Rosa x
damascena and rose water production from the watershed of the Amu Darya in Uzbekistan to Rome by
400BCE. Syria served as the interface of the traditions of rose water production of the Persian Empire and
those of the Roman Empire. Consequently the Syrian use of rose water and the rose water production
process was well documented since the days of Theophrastus in the third century BCE. ‘The Silk Road
Hybrids’ demonstrated that regardless of which faith held sway in the Levant rose water linked different
peoples, because it improved health, hygiene, sanitation, medicine, and the fragrancing of daily life.
Regrettably and recently, this cultural
linkage has come to an abrupt, and
abhorrent, stop. The current civil war in
Syria has resulted in the decimation of the
rose fields used for producing the Rosa x
damascena, the Damask rose.
“Withered by war” stated the French
Agence Presse in May 2016: “Syria’s
Damask rose is under threat.”
Abu Bilal, 52, [Fig.99] owned a distillery in
Ain Tarma in the Eastern Ghouta area near
Damascus, where he made rose oil. His production plant is now a rebel stronghold. The war closed him down
in 2011. The tradition of picking the crop has also faded, as entire families have fled the fighting between
regime forces and rebel groups. “For farmers and traders, the Damask rose is a symbol of a people’s agony in
a country racked by a conflict, which has killed more than 400,000 people, and created millions of refugees”.
“Douma used to smell of roses”, he said, of the besieged main town in Eastern Ghouta. "Now it reeks of
gunpowder”. Mr. Bilal now works at a perfumery, in a souq in the Old Town of Damascus. Only two, of the
eight distilleries, are currently operational in the souq.
According to merchants in the souq, “It takes three tonnes of dried rose petals, to make a kilogram of Syrian
essential oil”. "Insufficient dried petals are being produced. The result, is that today there are barely 250
grams of oil available to buy in the whole market." Abu Bilal goes on to say, that while most of the world’s
Damask rose crop, which he thinks, is grown in Iran, Bulgaria and Turkey, the original oil, he insists, from
Damascus is unique. "It’s smell is headier, its quality is better, and it produces more oil.” The pharmaceutical
150
and cosmetics companies, and our customers in the Gulf, like to buy our oil, it was the original oil and as such
buying the best is a source of pride to them."
In short, the situation in Syria, awful as it is, presents an opportunity for introducing a humanitarian project
into war torn country.
This is not to say that research and practical projects aimed at bettering the production of Rosa x damascena
and the lot of the Syrian rose growers has not been undertaken already. Still open to conjecture is why the
Syrian form of R. x damascena, the Syrian Damask, produces the best rose oil. In 2000 (Iwata et al 2000) cccxviii
three Japanese biochemists, discovered that the parents of the Damask are (R. gallica x R. moschata) and (R.
fedschenkoana). Mattock in his ‘Silk Road Hybrids’ (2017) validates Iwata et al’s work by plotting the
overlapping distributions and thus ascertaining the point of origin of R. x damascena. Always in the
background, however, were historic reports that both R. phoenicia and R. abyssinica were parents of Rosa. x
damascena in The Levant and in particular, Syria. Could it be that one or other or both of these Levantine
rose species introduced the quality that makes Syrian rose oil so fine? This project seeks to establish if that is
so. Research from Damascus University has identified the oils present in various assessions of the Syrian
Damask but has not searched for additional parents.
Two leading Syrian research projects both from Damascus University, state that that Rosa phoenicia is a
parent of the Syrian R. x damascena. Mirali, Aziz and Namuls (2012)i cccxixpublished the ‘Genetic
characterization of Rosa damascena species growing in different regions of Syria’ and secondly in the
research by Alsemaan, Albatal, Baydar and Almaarri (2011) in their ‘Genetic Diversity and Qualitative
Variation of Rosa damascena in Syria History & Utilisation’ cccxx
Similarly there is no mention of Rosa phoenicia in the excellent project, funded by The Syria Trust for
Development (FIRDOS), ‘The revival of Damascus rose production and the protection of local variety in the
Marah region’ which was completed in 2011. ‘Marah is one of the oldest villages that specialise in growing
the Damascus Rose and manufacturing its products. Continuous drought, however, is affecting the growth of
Damascus Rose in Marah. It is important to increase the areas where Damascus Rose is planted to ensure the
species continues in this historical growing region’. The project not only funded the nurserymen themselves,
but also the sales, marketing and branding of the end product. The project’s notes state that ‘Rosa
damascene, or Damascus Rose, is a hybrid of Rosa gallica with Rosa phoenicia which was bred in Asia Minor
and distributed throughout Syria, the Near East and the Middle East.
In summary despite the depth of research and its practical application, why when the parentage of the
Damask, R. x damascena was firmly established in 2000 (Iawata et al 2000) cccxxi do the Syrians still insist that
Rosa phoenicia is one of the parents? Why is there no mention in the Syrian research of Rosa fedschenkoana,
the established remontant pollen parent? Are the historic references to Rosa phoenicia to be believed? The
parentage of the Syrian Damask has a direct effect on its ability to produce rose oil and the quantity and
quality of that rose oil. Prior to embarking on a programme to reintroduce, or restore or conserve the Syrian
151
Damask it would appear pragmatic to ascertain the parentage of the Syrian forms of the Damask to see which
form should be selected, which might be improved or indeed which of the old forms should be conserved.
To that end, using the model worked up in the ‘Silk Road Hybrids’, this project is seeking to bulk up a stock of
the best of the Syrian assessions, of Rosa x damascena, those that Abu Bilal says produce a form where the
smell is headier, the quality is better, and rose oil production is greater, sufficient to be able to donate
sufficient plants to the Syrian rose nurserymen, for them to reconstruct new, economically viable, rose fields.
There is precedent for the project. UNESCO, and a German NGO, sponsored a scheme in 2004, that
introduced Rosa x damascena and rose oil production into a war ravaged, Afghanistan.
Stage one of the project is the collection of rose hips from Syria. In fact from six regions that previously grew
the Damask. There will be some plants that are still growing in or around the old rose fields shown on the
map below located near: Al Mrah, Emah, Issal, Masrabah, Nankoos and Bab Alnayrab
I am seeking small samples (7-10) of rose hips of the Damask rose, and also hips from R. moschata,
R. phoenicia and R. abyssinica. A maximum of ten hips should be placed in a brown envelope and sent to me
personally.
Postage will be refunded. The seed is to be germinated at Thenford in Oxfordshire, subjected to DNA analysis
at the University of Bath and grown-on in rose trials near Oxford in the U.K., before being reintroduced to
Syrian growers as ‘suckers’ or ‘briars’.
152
[Map 20] The traditional areas of the nursery production of R. damascena in Syria
1
1
2,7
7
2
2
Single White Banksian
6
Rosa banksiae Aiton (1)
Rosa banksiae Aiton var. lutea Lindl. (1)
Rosa beggeriana Schrenk ex Fisch. & C.A. Mey.
Turkey
7
Uzbekistan
Syria
6
Tajikistan
Pakistan
7
Kyrgyzstan
Iraq
7
Kazakhstan
Iran
7
Israel
Egypt
7
Palmir, Alai, Tien Shan
Rosa arvensis x R. phoenicia (1)
Rosa arvensis x R. phoenicia (1)
Rosa banksiae R. Br. In Ait., var normalis
Regel
7
Turkmenistan
Rosa arvensis Huds.
Synonym
Rosa alba flore simplici
Rosa alba L.
Rosa usitatissima Gaterau
R. proocera Salisb.
Rosa arabica (Crép. ex Boiss.) Déségl.
Rosa arvensis Huds.
R. arvensis ovata
R. arvensis var. ovata Desv.
R. arvensis var. pilifolia (Borbás) R.
Keller
Azerbaijan
Accepted Name
Rosa x alba L. (4)
Armenia
Appendix 1.
Afghanistan
Remontant
153
2
2
2
Rosa anserinifolia Boiss.
Rosa cabulica Boiss.
Rosa daenensis Boiss.
Rosa iliensis Chrshan.
Rosa lacerans Boiss. & Buhse
Rosa latispina Boiss.
Rosa lehmanniana Bunge
R14
1
1
1,1
5
1,6
154
A
F
Rosa bracteata J.C.Wendl.
Rosa brunonii Lindley
Rosa canina L. (21)
400 forms
Rosa canina x R. dumalis subsp. boissieri
Rosa centifolia L. (4)
Rosa cinnamomea L
Rosa clinophylla Thory
Rosa damascena Miller var. Trigintipetala (17)
Rosa x damascena (1)
Rosa dumalis Bechst (25)
Rosa mitis Boiss. & Buhse
Rosa operta Sumnev.
Rosa silverhjelmii Schrenk.
Rosa macartnea Dum.
Himalayan Musk Rose
Rosa brunonis Wall.
Rosa clavigera H. Lév.
Rosa moschata var. nepalensis Lindl.
Rosa napaulensis Andr.
Rosa nepalensis Lindl. ex Steud.
Rosa pubescens Roxb.
A
M
A
Z
E
G
IR
IQ
IS
KZ KY PK
R7
Dog Rose
see link and App. 1 for 169 more
syns.
Rosa belgradensis Pancic
Rosa leucantha Loiseleur
Rosa pseudoscabrata Bllocki ex R.Keller
Rosa sarmentacea Woods
Rosa sphaerica Grenier
Rosa surculosa Woods
SY TS
U
Z
T
U
TK
13
1
1, 6
1
7
7
7
7
7
1
1
1
1
1
1
7
1,6,1
3
1
1
1,2
1
2
Rosa gallica var. centifolia Regel
Rosa majalis Herrmann
Cinnamon Rose
May Rose
Rosa involucrata Roxburgh ex Lindley
Kazanlik
R7
Rosa belgica Mill.
Damask Rose
Rosa canina L. var. dumalis (Bechst.) Hayek
Rosa vosagiaca agg. Vogesen-Rose
PA
7
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
6
2
7
13
2
2
1
155
A
F
A
M
A
Z
E
G
IR
IQ
IS
KZ KY PK
SY TS
U
Z
T
U
TK
PA
Rosa caésia Sm. agg. Lederblättrige
Rose
R. uriensis (Christ) Puget. Uri-Rose.
R. canina L. var. dumalis (Bechst.)
Hayek
Rosa dumalis Bechst (Crépin) Ö. Nilsson var.
boissieri (15)
Rosa dumalis Bechst. subsp. boissieri (Crépin)
Rosa dumalis Bechst. subsp. boissieri
Rosa dumalis var. boissieri
Rosa ecae Aitch
Rosa elymaitica Boiss. & Hausskn. (2)
Rosa fedtschenkoana Regel
Rosa filipes Rheder & Wilson
Rosa foetida J. Herrm. (12)
Rosa foetida x R. hemisphaerica (1)
Rosa foetida'Persiana'
Rosa freitagi
Rosa gallica L. (4)
Rosa glabrifolia C.A. Mey ex Rupr.
Rosa heckeliana subsp. Vanheurckiana
2
2
2
2
R. xanthina var ecae (Aitch
Rosa x ecae Hort.
Rosa mogoltavica Juz.
Rosa pedunculata Kult.
Rosa elymaitica var. tomentella Boiss.
R. albicans Godet ex Boiss
R. albicans var. flexicaulis Godet et
Boiss.
Rosa caraganifolia Sumn
Rosa coeruleifolia Sumn.
Rosa epipsila Sumn.
Rosa lavrenkoi Sumn.
Rosa lipschitziiSumn.
Rosa oligosperma Sumn.
Rosa tatsienlouensis Cardot
R. lutea(Miller) Austrian
Brier/Yellow
Rosa eglanteria Redouté & Thory
1
1,6
7,1
5
1
7
2,7
7
7
2,7
7
7
2,7
1
13
1
1
1
1,6
1
1,7
2
1
1
1,2
2
Persian Double Yellow
16
Rosa rubra Lam.
Rosa majalis var. glabrifolia C.A.Mey
1
1,2
16
16
2
7
2
7
1
156
A
F
A
M
A
Z
E
G
IR
IQ
IS
KZ KY PK
SY TS
U
Z
T
U
Rosa heckeliana Tratt. (5)
Rosa hemisphaerica J. Herrm. (9)
Rosa hirtissima Lonacz (12)
Rosa iberica Stev.
Rosa iberica Stev., Bieb. (4)
Rosa ilensis (Chrsham)
Rosa kokanica (Regel) Regel ex Juz.
TK
PA
2
R. rapinniBois & Ball
Rosa sulphurea Ait.
Rosa sulphurea Dryand
Yellow Centifolia
1,1
5
1
1,6
2
1
1
2
7
R. rubiginosa var. iberica (Stev.) Bois
1
1
1
1
1,2
1
2
R. beggeriana var. slverhjelmii (Crepin)
R. xanthina var. kokanica (Regel)
Boul.)
Rosa divina Sumn.
1
9
9
1
9
7
1
9
1
2
1
Rosa ovczinnikovii Koczk.
Rosa platyacantha var. kokanica Regel
Rosa platyacantha var. variabilis Regel
Rosa kopetdaghensis Meff.
Rosa lacerans
Rosa laevigata Michx.
7,1
7
R. hemisphaerica var. rapinii x R. persica
7
Mardan Rose
Rosa argyi H.Lév.
Rosa cucumerin Tratt.
Rosa sinica Ait.
Rosa ternata Poir.
Kişmirî rose
Rosa laxa Retz var. harputense T. Baytop
Rosa macrophylla Lindley
Rosa mollis Smith
Rosa montana Chaix ex Vill.
Rosa montana Chaix,subsp. woronowii (Lonacz.)
Rosa montana x R. dumalis (1)
Rosa moschata Miller
Musk Rose
Rosa moschata Herrm.
Rosa ruscinonensis Grén. & Déségl.
6,13
7
1,6
1
7
R12
7
12
1
1
1
1
7
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
R7
1
1
1
1
6,13
1
1
157
A
F
A
M
A
Z
E
G
IR
IQ
IS
KZ KY PK
SY TS
U
Z
T
U
TK
PA
Rosa abyssinica (R.Br.)
Rosa moschata var. abyssinica
Rosa arborea Pers.
Rosa broteroi Tratt.
Rosa brownii Tratt.
Rosa manueli Losa
Rosa nepalensis Andrews
Rosa opsostemma Ehrh.
Rosa moschata plena
Rosa pissardi Carr.
Rosa recurva Roxb.
Rosa sempervirens
R. glandulifera Roxb.
R7
13
Rosa multiflora Thunb.
Rosa multiflora var. carnea
Rosa nanothamnus Boulenger
Rosa odorata (Andrews) Sweet
Rosa orientalis Dupont ex.Ser
6
2
6
R. webbiana var microphylla Crép
1
1,6
1
1
2
R. heckliana subsp.orientalis(Dupont)Meikle)
Rosa armena Boiss.
Rosa atropatana Sosn.
Rosa hakkariensis Mandenova
1,9
1,9
1,9
10
10
10
R. heckeliana subsp. orientalis Meikle
R.
heckeliana subsp. vanheurckiana (Boiss.
)
Rosa vanheurckiana Crep. ex Boiss.
10
10
10
Rosa vanheurckiana var. barbata Kit
Tan, Yildirim & Ziel. (synonym)
Rosa phoenicia Boissier
1
Rosa chlorocarpa Fenzl & H. Braun
10
R7
9
9
9
1
158
A
F
Rosa pulverulanta
Rosa primula Boulenger
Rosa rubiginosa L
Rosa sericea L
Rosa sherardii
Rosa spinossissima L.
A
M
A
Z
E
G
Pine-Scented Rose
Rosa glutinosa Sibth. & Sm.
IR
IQ
IS
KZ KY PK
2
1
1
1
Rosa eglanteria L.
Rosa sericea f. chrysocarpa (Rehd.)Haw
Rosa sericea f. glabrescens Franch.
Rosa sericea f. glandulosaYu & Ku
TK
PA
2
1
6
Rosa tetrapetala Royle
Rosa wallichii Tratt.
Downy Dog Rose
1
1
1
Rosa omissa Déségl
R. pimpinellifolia, Scots Rose,Burnet Rose
Rosa lutescens var. spinosa Pursh
1
6
6
Rosa spinosissima var. hispida (Sims) Koehne
Rosa sp. var. laevis Rouy
Rosa leiophylla Sumn.
T
U
2
Rosa myriacantha DC
Rosa rubella
Rosa rupincola Fisch. ex Sweet
Rosa villosa L.
Rosa webbiana Wall. ex Royle
U
Z
15
Rosa glutinosa ssp. glutinosa
R. ecae subsp. primula (Boul.)
Roberts)
The Incense Rose
Sweet Briar, Eglantine
Rosa sp. var. mathonettii (Crép.) Rouy
Rosa pomifera J. Herrmann (
Rosa curvata Sumn.
Rosa dawoensis Pax & K. Hoffm.
Rosa kirsanovae Sumnev.
SY TS
15
R15
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
159
A
F
Rosa webbiana Wall. ex Royle contd.
Rosa longipedicellata Sumn., nom.
inval.
Rosa magnifica Sumn.
Rosa maracandica Bunge
Rosa nudiflora Sumn.
Rosa nummularia Sumn.
Rosa oligacantha Sumn.
Rosa pimpinellifolia Herb. Hook.
Thoms.
Rosa pycnantha Sumn.
Rosa pyricarpa Sumn.
Rosa rectinervis Sumn.
Rosa rubens Sumn.
Rosa scoparia Sumn.
Rosa tytthantha Sumn.
Rosa tytthotricha Sumn.
Rosa unguicularis Bertol.
A
M
A
Z
E
G
IR
IQ
IS
KZ KY PK
SY TS
U
Z
T
U
TK
PA
160
Appendix 2
Research into whether remontant hybrids transmigrated along the Silk Road from China, prove to be inconclusive. However, the research detailed in the table below
demonstrated that the Damask was depicted by the Uzbeks and Persians in their carpets and ornament.
[Table 22.] Graphic Evidence of Rose Hybrids from Historic Cultural Artefacts found along the Silk Road
Ref
Date
Illus
Single/Double
Colour
Stylised
Semi Double
Victorian pink
Bodhisattva; in elaborate crown
Stylised
Semi Double
Victorian pink
Tarim Basin
Uighur Prince; rose in hand
Stylised
Single, 5 petals
Victorian pink
Wall Painting
Tarim Basin
Uighur Princess; rose in hand;
Stylised
Single, 5 petals
Victorian pink
Wall Painting
Tarim Basin
Stylised
Wall Painting
Tarim Basin
Figure of a Devata; flower clasped in her
hand
Deity offering flowers
Wall Painting
Tarim Basin
Stylised
Single, 5 petals
Victorian pink
Wall Painting
Tarim Basin
Stylised
Single, 5 petals
Victorian pink
Wall Painting
Tarim Basin
Bezelik, Temple G
Uighur Prince; stylised rose + bud in
hand; single 5 petals
Uighur Princess; stylised rose + bud in
hand; single 5 petals
Flower and rose bud
850
MS painting on leaf
Tarim Basin
Khoho, Temple K
5 petalled flower top of RH creeper;
Stylised
Single, 5 petals
Rusty pink petals,
850
Manichean Book
Painting on Silk
Tarim Basin
Toyok
Hand holding double flower
900
Wall Painting
Tarim Basin
Turfan region
Head of a Bodhisattva; Says reminiscent
of lotus blossom; I think not.
420
Wall Painting
Gainsu Prov
750
400
Posy of artificial silk
gauze flowers
Manuscript
E. Wall Cave 169
Astana Cemetery,
Turfa
Loulan
300
Mural on Shrine
Bodhisattva & Apsarail with preaching
Buddha
and kneeling foreigner; Rose like flowers
Xiajiang Huighur Autonomous Regional
Museum
Notes dwindling Water Resources in
Loulan in 4th. C
after Stein 1912
Stylised
Semi Double
Old pond with remains of an arbour
17
-200
Shanglin Gardens built by Wudi, c -104,
contained 3000 varieties of flowers and
Double
Monochrome
1.
Medium
Location Found
Artefact Archived
Content
Wall Painting
Tarim Basin
Bodhisattva; in elaborate crown
Wall Painting
Tarim Basin
Wall Painting
Stylised/Real
cccxxii
2
cccxxiii
3
cccxxiv
4
cccxxv
5
750
cccxxvi
6
900
cccxxvii
7
cccxxviii
8
cccxxix
9
Stylised
cccxxx
10
cccxxxi
11
white stamens
cccxxxii
12
cccxxxiii
Semi Real
Very Double
White, cream
Quartered
13
cccxxxiv
14
cccxxxv
15
cccxxxvi
16
Tarim Basin
Viran, Xinjiang
cccxxxvii
17
-200
cccxxxviii
18
cccxxxix
-104
Manuscript
Ident.
161
20
1600
Painting on Silk
1800
Scroll Painting on
Silk by Leng Mei
-207
Poetry
-207
Manuscript
-100
Manuscript
900
Wall Painting
Uzbekistan
Scroll
Guandong
cccxl
21
cccxli
22
National Palace
Museum Taiwan
cccxlii
23
cccxliii
24
cccxliv
25
cccxlv
27
1550
cccxlvi
28
29
cccxlvii
cccxlviii
Sengrim Terrace of
Temple 10
fruit trees
Persian Beauty, showing vase of roses,
with rose buds and leaves
Ladies in a Garden pavilion playing
chess, Roses trained over a trellis a
popular seasonal screen
Shang-lin Park; Ssu-ma-Hsiang court
poet to the Han Emperor Wu-ti
First flowering catalogue of the Chinese
garden of early delights
Silk Road began by Zhang Qian sent by
emperor Wu Han to explore west
Female Deity with bowl of flowers and
'Tuscany Superb' in her hair. Following
pages; many illustrations of stylised
flowers, some appear to be roses
By Sun Kehong, 1533-1611 Flowers &
Fruits
1550
Water Colour on
Paper
Jacquin named R. chinensis; merely one
of a whole range of similar hybrids; not
a type
Semi Stylised
Double
Deep claret
Real
Single
Creamy white
Real
Double
Strong rose pink
Real
Double
Deep maroon
R. sericea?
R. brunonii?
V. thorny, not
chinensis like
29cccxlix
162
Appendix 3.
This appendix details two further species that exhibit limited remontancy as debated in the Discussion (p.144)
Remontancy in rose species present in Central Asia in addition to Rosa fedtschenkoana.
Rosa beggeriana [Figs 100 & 101]
A very variable species (composite), especially in the type of indumentums (hairs or down on the plant or
leaf). In spite of its variability the species is rather easy to recognize by small fruits, sepals often deciduous
together with the top of hypanthium, and yellowish, usually curved and uniform prickles, white, rather
small flowers. [Fig.101]
R. webbiana [Fig.12]
[Fig.] Rosa beggeriana
[Fig.] Rosa beggeriana
[Fig. 100] Rosa beggeriana.
[Fig. 101] Rosa beggeriana, Hips.
[Table 23]. R. beggeriana. Taxonomic Description
Accepted Name
Synonyms
R. beggeriana
R. anserinaefolia
Rosa anserinaefolia Boiss. synonym
Rosa anserinaefolia Crép. synonym
R. beggeriana genuina
Rosa beggeriana Schrenk ex Fisch. & C.A. Mey.
Rosa beggeriana var. genuina Crép. synonym
R. silverhielmii
Rosa silverhielmii Schrenk synonym
Rosa silverhjelmii Schrenk
Common Name
163
[Table 24]. R. beggeriana Botanical description
Flowers
4 – 8 petals
Size
3 cms
Borne
Singly in clusters
Colour
White
Scent
Strong
Flowering period
Summer flush with scattered later bloom
Hips
Spherical, red or brownish-red fruits are 4 to 5 mm in diameter
Growth
Arching, bushy, suckers on its own roots
Spines
Thornless
Foliage
Small, matte, dark green foliage. 5 to 9 leaflets.
[Map. 21]. Distribution of R. beggeriana: Iran, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan [Fig.14], Pakistan (N. Baluchistan, Chitral, Gilgit, Swat),
Kashmir, India (Uttar Pradesh). Turkey, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Western Pakistan and the Tian Shan Mountains
of Central Asia. Iran, Middle Asia, Afghanistan, W Pakistan, Kashmir, W China. Sources ccclscccli.
164
Rosa brunonii
[Fig. 102]
[Fig. 103] Rosa brunonii Hips. National Gardening Association
Rosa brunonii, flowers
[Fig.104] Rosa brunonii, growing in the wild. Central Asia
165
[Table 25] Rosa brunonii. Taxonomic Description
Accepted Name
Synonym
Rosa brunonii Lindl.
Rosa brunonis Wall.
Common Name
Rosa clavigera H. Lév.
Himalayan Musk Climber
Rosa moschata var. nepalensis Lindl.
Himalayan Musk Rose
Rosa napaulensis Andr.
Himalayan Briar
Rosa nepalensis Lindl. ex Steud.
Mr. Brown's Rose
Rosa pubescens Roxb.
Rosa brunonii Lindl.
Table 27. Rosa brunonii. Botanical Description
Flowers
Single
Size
3 – 6 cms
Borne
Large loose flat topped clusters
Colour
Creamy white
Scent
Strong
Flowering period
Once only
Hips
Long reddish invertly egg shaped
Growth
Climbing 15.0m + Partly evergreen
Spines
Hooked thorns
Foliage
Long pale green, ovate to elliptic, Seven leaflets
Ploidy
Diploid
[Map.21] Rosa brunonii. Distribution Afghanistan, Kashmir, Bhutan, Burma, SW China Himalaya, Yunnan and W. Szechuan.
166
Rosa webbiana
A species rose from the Cinnamomeae section, Webb's Rose is a common shrub rose, widely distributed,
and growing from 1500 m up to 4000 m. The species was used in the former Soviet Union for breeding
purposes. Two cultivars bred for their hips have been released: 'Voroncovskij' (R webbiana-selection) and
'Bezshipnyj' (R. webbiana x R. rugosa L.) (Albrecht 1993)ccclii
Native to the western Himalayas from the Pamir in central Asia to Kashmir, Tibet and Afghanistan. “The
closely related species R. bella and R. sertata are found in western and northern China. In spite of
numerous separations of related forms in recent years, this polymorphiccccliii species is still rather broadly
interpreted. Further studies and, in particular, a comparison of the Soviet forms with those of the
Himalayan R. webbiana have been required. (Flora of the U.S.S.R., Vol. X (1971)cccliv .Confusion has arisen
largely due to the reliance on the morphological characteristics of a wide distribution of similar plants
synonyms have been given to the same plant in different locations and that same name given different
plants in the same locations
[Fig.105] R. webbiana
[Fig. 106]. Rosa webbiana Thenford form
displaying remontancy late September 2015
Distribution; N. India, Kashmir, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Mongolia western Himalayas from the
Pamir in central Asia to Kashmir, Tibet and Afghanistan.
167
.
[Fi g.108]. Rosa webbiana growing in a village in Shyok River Valley
ahead of Khaplu, Pakistan at an elevation of 10,000 ft
[Fi g 107]. Rosa webbiana. Hips 2015
[Table. 27] Rosa webbiana Taxonomic Description
Accepted Name
Infraspecific taxon:
Common Name
Rosa webbiana Wall. ex Royle
Rosa webbiana var. genuina Crisp.
Webbs Rose
http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/ 27807459
Rosa webbiana var. glandulosa.
Laddaakhi-Sevati.
Rosa webbiana var. latifolia
Rosa webbiana var. maracandica (Bunge) H. Christ
Rosa webbiana var. microphylla
Rosa webbiana var. pustulata H. Christ
Rosa webbiana var. webbiana
Rosa webbiana var. winterbottomii Boulenger
Rosa webbiana subsp. wulffii Almq.
[Table 28] Rosa webbiana Botanic Description
Flowers
Small to medium, single, (4-8) petals
Size
5 cms
Borne
Loose clusters on slender 3cms. stalks
Colour
Dark red, Pink, Lilac pink
Scent
Moderate, linseed oil fragrance.
Buds
Pointed
Flowering period
Spring or summer flush with scattered later bloom.
Hips
Fruit bottle-shaped to globular, red.
Growth
Tall, arching. Height of up to 6' 7" (up to 200 cm). Width of up to 8' 2" (up to 250 cm).
Spines
Very few, straight thorns.
Foliage
Medium, matte, dark green foliage. 5 to 9 leaflets.
Ploidy
DNA Ploidy=4 Published Ploidy=2
168
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ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii
viii
ix
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xli
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xlviii
xlix
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lii
liii
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lv
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lvii
lviii
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lx
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Thomas, Graham Stuart. The Old Shrub Roses Dent 1962
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Breeze, Z. Phylogenetics of hybrid roses analysed by ISSR-PCR University of Bath May 2011
Bruneau A., Starr J., Joly S., Phylogenetic Relationships in the Genus Rosa: New Evidence from Chloroplast DNA Sequences
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Fouge-Danezan M., Joly S., Bruneau A., Gao Xin-Fen., Zhang Li-Bing., Phylogeny and biogeography of wild roses with
specific attention to polyploids Annals of Botany 115: 275–291, 2015 doi:10.1093/aob/mcu24
Cloutier, S. Miranda, E. Ward, K. Radovanovic, E. Reimer, I . Walichnowski, A. Raju Datla, R. Rowland, G. Duguid, S.
and Ragupathy R. Simple sequence repea t marker development from bacterial artificial ch romosome end sequences and
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Crespel L., Chirollet M., Durel C. E., Zhang D., Meynet J., Gudin S. (2002). Mapping of qualitative and quantitative
phenotypics traits in Rosa using AFLP markers. Theor. Appl. Gen et. 105 1207–1214. 10.1007/s00122-002-1102-2
Reddy, M. Sarla, N. Siddiq E. Inter simple sequence repea t (ISSR) polymorphism and its application in plant breeding
Euphytica 128: 9–17, 2002. Kluwer Academic Publishers. © 2002
Ellegren, H. Microsa tellites: simple sequences with complex evolution Natu re Reviews Genetics 5, 435-445 (June
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Jabbarzadeh, Z.; Khosh-Khui M..; Salehi, H. and SAaberivand, A. Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers as
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lxxxviii
lxxxix
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xcix
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Brinkhuis, H., Schouten, S., Collinson, M., Moran, V., Episodic fresh su rface waters in the Eo cene Arctic Ocean Article in
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Burbidge NT (1960) The phytogeography of the Australian region. Australian Journal of Botany 8, 75-211.
Fidelibus, M. Alle, T. Desert Revegetation Project San Diego State University 1993
Hyatt P., Downer, R. Identifying Plant Species: A Botanical Analysis Using PROC DISCRIM. Louisiana State
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Ibid iii
Asano; Yamasaki; Takuno; Miura; Katagiri; Ito; Doi; Wu; Ebana; Matsumoto; Innan; Kitano; Ashikari; Matsuoka Artificial
selection for a green revolution gene during japonica rice domestication. Proc eedings of the National Academy of
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Ibid xliii
"World's La rgest Plants Database Assembled". Available at discovery.com. 2010. Accessed 14.03.15
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, About the Index Kewensis" . International Plant Names Index. 2004.Avaiable from
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Iwata; H. Gaston, A., Denoyés, B. Araki, T., Remay, A., Thouroude, T., Jeauffre; J, Oyant, S., Foucher, F.,
The TFL1 homologue KSN is a regulator of continuous flowering in rose and strawberry The Plant Journal, 2011. DOI:
10.1111 / j.1365-313X.2011.04776.x 2011
Iwata; H. Gaston, A., Denoyés, B. Araki, T., Remay, A., Thouroude, T., Jeauffre; J, Oyant, S., Foucher, F.,
The TFL1 homologue KSN is a regulator of continuous flowering in rose and strawberry The Plant Journal, 2011. DOI:
10.1111 / j.1365-313X.2011.04776.x 2011
Foucher, F., Hybrand-Saint Oyant, L., Denoyés, B., RoKSN, a floral repressor, forms protein complexes with RoFD and
RoFT to regulate vegetative and reproductive development in rose. New Phytol. 2014 Apr;202(1):161-73. doi:
10.1111/nph.12625. Epub. 2013
Foucher, F., Hybrand-Saint Oyant, L., Denoyés, B., RoKSN, a floral repressor, forms protein complexes with RoFD and
RoFT to regulate vegetative and reproductive development in rose. New Phytol. 2014 Apr;202(1):161-73. doi:
10.1111/nph.12625. Epub. 2013
Takeshi Kurokura1,Naozumi Mimida, Nicholas H. Battey, Timo Hytönen The regulation of seasonal flowering in the
Rosaceae J. Exp. Bot. (2013)doi: 10.1093/jxb/ert233 First published online: August 8, 2013
Bradford E., Hancock J., Warner R. Intera ctions of Temp erature and Photoperiod Determine Exp ression of Repeat
Flowering in Strawberry. Journ. American Society for Horticultural Science March 2010 vol. 135 no. 2 pp. 102-107
Ibid xxxi
Kornet D. The Composite Species Con cept: A Rigorous Basis for Cladistic Practice Current Themes in Theoretical Biology
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Ibid xxvi
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden The Plant List Available from
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The Art of Gardening with Roses Book (1991) Page 18.
Ibid xxvi
Pal, P. Evaluation, Genetic Diversity, Recent Development of Distillation Method, Challenges and
Opportunities of Rosa damascena: A Review. Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants. 16. 1-10. February 2013
Syria’s Damask rose is under threat. Agence P resse in May 2016 https://www.thenational.ae/world/withered-bywar-syria-s-damask-rose-is-under-threat-1.203865 Abu Bilal, 52, [Fig.96] owned a distillery in Ain Tarma in the
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Jones, O. Persian Ornament. The Grammar of O rnament Dover 1987 Plate X LVII
Leslie and Gardiner. The Roman Empire in Chinese sources Rome, Bardi, 1996.
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Hill, John E. The Peoples of the West from the Weilüe 魏略 by Yu Huan 魚豢 : A Third Century Chinese Account Composed
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Hanks G. A review of production statistics fo r the cut flower and foliage secrotr 2015 (part of AHDB horticulture funded
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Mackenzie G. Roses taken out of inflation index Horticultural Week 25 March 2011
Caissard, J Bergougnoux, V Martin, M., Mauriat, M., Baudino, S. Chemical and Histochemical Analysis of ‘Quatre
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Kole, C. editor Wild crop relatives: genomic and breeding resources : plantation and ornamental crops
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Mattock R. The Silk Road Hybrids Transfer report. CASA University of Bath 2015
Roskov Y. Catalogue of Life: http://www.catalogueoflife.org/ 28th July 2016
Ibid xxvi
Gebundene Ausgabe Rosenverzeichnis Rosarium Sangerhausen, 4. Edition 2011
Roskov Y. Catalogue of Life: http://www.catalogueoflife.org/ 28th August 2016
Trudy Rosa fedtschenkoana Regel Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 5(2): 314 1878. record 27804855 Tropicos
Trudy Imp. Bot. Sada Petra Velikago. http://fig.lib.harvard.edu/fig/?bib=003847275
Superseded by: Trudy Glavn. Bot. Sada Library of Congress Number: QK1.T8874 BPH Number:906.13
Quest-Ritson C. & B. RHS En cyclopedia of Roses D & K 2003 p.147
Marriot 2006 (personal communication)
Eisenman, S., Zaurov, D., Struwe, L. Medicinal plants of Central Asia [electronic resourc e]: Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan
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Roskov Y. Catalogue of Life: http://www.catalogueoflife.org/ Retrieved 28th July 2016
Ibid xcv
Eisenman, S., Zaurov, D., Struwe, L, Medicinal Plants of Central Asia: Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan Springer 2012 p.216
Magdalena O. Dendrological potential of Ephedra equisetina from Zaravshan Mountains, Tajikistan in climate change
studies Tadeusz Niedźwiedź, Oimahmad Rahmonov Faculty of Earth Science, University of Silesia, Bedzinska Str60, 41200
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Łazarski, G Rosa gallica (Rosaceae) in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains and adjacent areas
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Essential Oils Company History of the Rose Available from essentialoilscompany.blogspot.co.uk/2008/08/history-ofrose.html Accessed 15.08.2018
Kahl, O. The Sanskrit, Sy riac and Persian Sources in the Co mprehensive Book of Rhazes Brill 2015 p.481
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Persian names: sag-gol (lit. “dog rose”) in Minūdašt, and gol-e rašti “Rašt rose.” Flora Iranica Vols 1–181 Natural History
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Louette Les o rigines botaniques et géographiques de Rosa moschata Herrm. Exposé donné lors de la 8e Conférence
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Hermann J. Dissertatio inauguralis botanico-medica de rosa: quam auspice deo, consentiente gratiosa facultate medica
pro licentia gradum, honores atque privilegia doctoralia ... Ex officina Joh. Henrici Heitzii, 1762
Ibid xxvi
Backer & Van Brink 1, 1963; Hegi IV (2), 1923; Ochse & Van den Brink 1931, 1005 pp.; Terra 1966, 107 pp.; Vul'f &
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Hüsnü Can Baser, K. Altintas, A. PhD, Kürkçüoglu, M. Tu rkish Rose: A Review of the Histo ry, Ethnobotany, and Modern
Uses of Rose Petals, Rose Oil, Rose Water, and Other Rose Products American Botanical Council HerbalGram. 2012;
Shahbazi, S. Shahbazi, S. By zantine Iranian Relations in Encyclopedia Iranica 1990. Vol. IV, pp. 588-599.
Thompson, R. A Dictionary of Assyrian Botany. London, England: The British Academy; 1949.
Schmidt E. P roduction of Essential Oils. In: Baser K, Buchbauer. G, eds. Handbook of Essential Oils: Science, Technology
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Altintas A. Rose, Rose Water, Historical, Therapeutic and Cultural Perspectives . Istanbul, Turkey: Maestro Publishing;
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Thompson RC. A Dictionary of Assyrian Botany. London, England: The British Academy; 1949.
Altintas A. Rose, Rose Water, Historical, Therapeutic and Cultural Perspectives . Istanbul, Turkey: Maestro Publishing;
2010.
Altintas A. Rose, Rose Water, Historical, Therapeutic and Cultural Perspectives . Istanbul, Turkey: Maestro Publishing;
2010.
Flückiger FA, Hanbury D. Pharmacographia: A History of the P rincipal Drugs of Vegetable Origin, Met Within Great Britain
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Baytop T. Osmanlı İmparatorluğu Döneminde Anadolu’da Yağ Gülü Yetiştirilmesi ve Gül Yağı. Tıbbi ve Aromatik Bitkiler
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Flückiger FA, Hanbury D. Pharmacographia: A History of the P rincipal Drugs of Vegetable Origin, Met with in Great Britain
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Scarman T. The Healing Propertie of Rosewater and Rose Oil listed in flower essences, originally published in Positive
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cci
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Ochir, S., Ishii, K., Park, B. et al. Bo tanical origin of Mei-gui Hua (petal of a Rosa species) J Nat Med (2010)
Koloski-Ostrow A. Raising a Really Big Stink Brandeis Magazine http://www.brandeis.edu/magazine/2013/spring/artsand-culture/roman%20smells.html
Rant M. The Visible Past Simon & Schuster 1992 p.
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Homer in the Illiad (XXIII, 186-7)
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Le Wall, C. The Cu rious Lore of Drugs and Medicines: Four Thousand Years of Pharmacy. (Garden City, New York: Garden
City Publishing Co. Inc.: 1927) and in Parker, Linette A. A Brief History of Materia Medica, in The American Journal of
Nursing, Vol.15, No. 9 (June 1915). pp 729-734.
Dioscorides. De Materia Medica I, 30 Loeb Classical Library Trans. Osbaldeston 2000
Pliny the Elder. Naturalis Historia (XXI, 112-120), Trans. Rackham, H. Harvard University Press (January 1, 1952
Pliny the Elder. Naturalis Historia (XXI, 112-120), Trans. Rackham, H. Harvard University Press (January 1, 1952
Pliny the Elder. Naturalis Historia (XXI, 112-120), Trans. Rackham, H. Harvard University Press (January 1, 1952
Dioscorides Materia Medica I, 30 Loeb Classical Library Trans. Osbaldeston 2000
Dioscorides Materia Medica I, 30 Loeb Classical Library Trans. Osbaldeston 2000
The issue to which reference is made to Olivieri, A. Aetii Amideni medicinales books [Corpus Medico rum Graeco rum, vol.
8.1] Leipzig 1935. The work of Aetius, in several manuscripts, is divided in four sections (tetpåßLß) cot).
Mello M. Rosae Naples 2003 p. 48
Theophrastus (I, 113) that contains the recipe i] following: ööötvov, T6Ötvov oi3T (Dg •ö6ö (DV Kai éllfU7k1éV (DV
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UC10iu. TIVég O E fiÄtoÜc; tV ', DLAA'tbv 13iKOV eig cppéup € 3Öutog vyuzpoü mtépug Pl.
Amigues,S., Théophraste. Recherches sur les plantes. À l'origine de la botanique. Paris, Belin, 2010. 1 vol. 18,5 x 28,5 cm,
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Conan, M. Botanical Progress, Horticultural Innovation and Cultural Changes, Volume 28 Dumbarton Oakes Harvard
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Subtelny, M. Visionary Rose: Metaphorical Interpretation of Horticultural Pra ctice in Medieval Persian Mysticism
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Beyrut, 1988. In: Abdülhalik Bakir, Orta çağ İslam Dünyasında Itriyat, Gıda, İlaç Üretimi ve Tağşişi, trans. P roduction and
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Pavaloi, Kalter Uzbekistan: Heirs to the Silk Road Thames & Hudson 1997 pp.25, 271
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