Cistus
(from kiste, a box or capsule; alluding to the remarkable shape of the capsules). Gum Cistus; Rock Rose. ORD. Cistineae. Elegant erect shrubs or sub-shrubs. Flowers large, handsome, resembling a single Rose, but ephemeral in character; peduncles axillary, one or many flowered. Leaves opposite, exstipulate, entire, or somewhat toothed. Without exception, this genus is a most charming one, and ought to be represented in every garden: but, unfortunately, the species will only thrive happily in warm, sheltered positions. The texture of the flowers is very delicate; their colours are distinct and rich, and they are borne with great profusion during summer. In cold localities, they should be planted at the foot of a wall with a southern aspect. Propagation may be effected by seeds or cuttings, under hand glasses outside, or inside with a gentle bottom heat; but seedlings always make the best plants. The seeds should be sown early in spring, in pans or boxes, in a frame, and lightly covered with sifted sandy mould. The seedlings will come up without artificial heat in about six weeks. When the plants are somewhat advanced, they should be gradually hardened off. Great care must, however, be taken to shade them from too much sunshine, and to keep them regularly watered. When they are about 1in. high, they may be transferred to small pots; this shift enables them to be placed in a frame to re-establish. A few plants should be kept in the frame during the winter, and removed out of doors in spring, when the weather becomes mild and genial. In all cases, a slight protection from frost will reduce the chances of their being destroyed by an extra severe winter. Cuttings should be made from 3in. to 4in. in length; they may be struck in spring or autumn, in sandy peat, under glass, shade and water being given until roots are formed. The plants should then be potted off singly into a compost of rich loam and leaf mould, and finally planted out; but it is always advisable to reserve duplicates in pots for winter protection, so as to be able to replace in the event of loss. Many of the names here given simply represent varying forms of a few species. As, however, they are distinct for gardening purposes, they are mentioned under the names by which they are known in horticultural works. C. albidus (white).* fl. three to eight, terminal, somewhat umbellate; petals pale purple, yellow at the base, imbricate. June. l. sessile, oblong-elliptical, hoary-tomentose, somewhat three nerved. h. 2ft. South-western Europe, 1640. (S. C. 31.) C. candidissimus (whitest). fl. pale rose-coloured; peduncles one to eight-flowered, shorter than the leaves. June. l. ovateelliptical, acute, densely clothed with hoary tomentum, three-nerved; footstalks short and sheathing at the base, with pilose margins. h. 4ft. Grand Canary Islands, 1817. SYN. Rhodocistus Berthelotianus. (S. C. 3.) C. Clusii (Clusius's). fl. white, somewhat capitate. July. l. somewhat three-nerved, linear, with revolute margins; under surface canescent; bracts pilose, broadly ovate, acuminate, ciliate, caducous, rather longer than the peduncles. h. 2ft. Spain and Portugal, 1810. (S. C. 32.) C. creticus (Cretan). fl., petals purple, yellow at the base, imbricate; sepals villous; peduncles one-flowered. June. l. spathu-late-ovate, tomentosely-hairy, wrinkled, drawn out along the short footstalk, and waved on the margin. h. 2ft. Crete, 1731. (S. F. G. 495.) This, and some other species in the Levant, yield labdanum, a resin which was largely used as a medicine during the prevalence of the Plague. It is collected by whipping the plants with long thongs attached to a rake-like frame, the resin adhering to the straps. At the present time, it is principally used as a perfume in Turkey. C. crispus (curled).* fl. almost sessile, three or four together, somewhat umbellate; petals red-purple. June. l. sessile, linear-lanceolate, undulately-curled, three-nerved, wrinkled, pubescent. h. 2ft. South-western Europe, 1656. (S. C. 22.) C. Cupanianus (Cupani's). fl. white, with a spot of yellow at the base of each petal; peduncles pilose, two to three-flowered; petals imbricated; sepals villous. June. l. stalked, cordate-ovate, wrinkled, reticulately-veined; upper surface scabrous; under surface covered with fascicled hairs; margin fringed. Stem erect. h. 2ft. Sicily. (S. C. 70.) C. cyprius (Cyprus). fl., petals white, with a dark spot at the base, imbricated; peduncles generally many-flowered. June. l. stalked, oblong-lanceolate; upper surface glabrous; under surface clothed with hoary tomentum. h. 4ft. Cyprus, 1800. (S. C. 39.) C. formosus. See Heliantliemum formosum.
C. heterophyllus (various-leaved).* fl., corolla red, yellow at the base, large; petals imbricate; peduncles hairy, leafy, oneflowered, one to three together, June. l. ovate-lanceolate, on short footstalks, which are sheathing at the base; margins revolute. h. 2ft. Algiers. (S. C. 6.) C. hirsutus (hairy).* fl., petals white, with a yellow mark at the base of each, imbricate; peduncles short, one-flowered, or cymose, many-flowered. June. l. sessile, oblong, blunt and hairy. h. 2ft. South-west Europe, 1656. (S. C. 19.) C. incanus (hoary). A synonym of C. villosus.
C. ladaniferus (labdanum-bearing).* Gum Cistus. fl. white, large, terminal, solitary; petals imbricate. June. l. almost sessile, connate at the base, linear-lanceolate, three-nerved; upper surface glabrous; under surface tomentose. h. 4ft. Spain, 1629. (S. C. 84.) At one time, it was believed that this species furnished the labdanum of commerce.
C. l. maculatus (spotted).* fl., petals white, each marked near the base with a dark blood-coloured spot.
C. latifolius (broad-leaved).* fl., petals white, with a yellow spot at the base of each, imbricated; sepals villous; peduncles bracteate, long, somewhat cymose, pilose. May. l. stalked broad, cordate, acute, with curled, waved, denticulated, ciliated margins. h. 3ft. Barbary, 1656. (S. C. 15.) C. laurifolius (Laurel-leaved). fl. white, with a yellow mark at the base of each petal, large, umbellate. June. l. stalked, ovate-lanceolate, three-nerved; upper surface glabrous; under surface tomentose; footstalks dilated and connate at the base. h. 4ft. South-west Europe, 1731. (S. C. 52.) C. laxus (loose).* fl. white, with a yellow spot at the base of each petal, cymose; peduncles and calyx hairy. July. l. on short footstalks, ovate-lanceolate, acuminated, with wavy, somewhat toothed margins, smoothish; upper ones hairy. h. 3ft. South Europe, 1656. (S. C. 12.) C. longifolius (long-leaved).* fl. white, with a yellow mark at the base of each petal; peduncles cymose. June. l. on short foot-stalks, oblong-lanceolate, with waved and pubescent margins; under surface veiny. Spain and South of France, 1800.
C. monspeliensis (Montpelier).* fl. white, middle-sized; petals imbricate, crenate; peduncles pilose, cymose, somewhat secund. July. l. linear-lanceolate, sessile, three-nerved, clammy, villous on both surfaces. h. 4ft. South Europe, 1656. (S. C. 27.) C. m. florentinus (Florentine).* fl., petals white, yellow at the base, imbricate; peduncles villous, generally three-flowered. June. l. narrow-lanceolate, wrinkled, reticulated on the under surface; almost sessile. h. 3ft. Italy, 1825. A hybrid between monspeliensis and salvifolius. (S. C. 59.) C. oblongifolius (oblong-leaved).* fl. white, with a yellow spot at the base of each, concave, imbricated; peduncles cymose. June l. on short footstalks, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, pubescent and waved at the margins; under surface veiny. Branches hispidvillous. h. 4ft. Spain. (S. C. 67.) C. obtusifolius (blunt-leaved).* fl., petals white, with a yellow spot at the base of each, imbricated; peduncles terminal, cymose, many-flowered. June. l. almost sessile, tapering to the base, ovate-oblong, obtuse, wrinkled, clothed with starry pubescence; margins somewhat denticulated. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft.