Fig. 1. Rosa majalis Herrm. (Rosaceae), morph (Finland, Lohja, Hermala, 1988). – Image: Harri Harmaja (scanned from dried specimen). – This plant is from a stand comprising numerous, very low (generally ca. 20 cm high) fertile plants growing directly on limestone. It is also noteworthy that the petals were dark red and the leaflets were rather pronouncedly obtuse or truncate, often having a very small apical tooth. All the features mentioned represent less common states within the variability of the species in Finland. In addition, characters such as the number of leaflet pairs in the leaves and the hairiness of the leaflets vary to some extent.
Fig. 2. Rosa majalis, morph (Finland, Tuulos, Syrjäntaka, 2004). – Image: Harri Harmaja (scanned from dried specimen). – Leaves that are rather similar to those of the Lohja plant (Fig. 1) were also observed in the plants of an extensive stand in Tuulos; the bushes were normally sized, not yet in bloom. The habitat was fertile esker forest, with e.g. Carex pallens and Tilia cordata. The more or less truncate leaflets were present especially in lower pairs of leaves, and in lower leaves of a shoot.
Created August 29, 2004.