Rose
Original title: Roseira
Describes the roses of Madeira: the only wild species, Rosa canina, and the many garden species cultivated in Funchal, with their medicinal and aromatic uses.
The only rose that grows wild in Madeira is Rosa canina, but gardens hold other species of rose, some truly remarkable for the size and colour of their flowers. Rosa gallica, Rosa indica and Rosa damascena are the species most cultivated in Funchal, but besides these many others are found in gardens, such as Rosa moschata, Rosa Banksiae, Rosa centifolia, Rosa alba, etc., etc.
In the hedges of São Martinho and Santo António Rosa multiflora is common, a species apparently naturalised that needs no care whatever from man. Essential oil of roses is extracted from the petals of Rosa centifolia, and the petals of Rosa gallica form the basis of conserve of roses, a remedy given with benefit in diarrhoea and tuberculosis. Remontant, or continuously flowering, roses are common in Madeira.
In this article
Place
Places mentioned · 03
- Funchal
Where the main garden rose species are most cultivated.
The capital of the archipelago and seat of the principal captaincy, where settlement began; it was made a vila c.1451–52. Its bay, the widest in the archipelago, lies between Ponta do Garajau and Ponta da Cruz and offers sheltered anchorage, though its harbour had never been studied oceanographically. The Elucidário discusses it as a health resort with climate data and records the January 1906 disturbances, the Danish prince's visit in May 1846 and recent volcanic cones in the area.
- Santo António
Funchal. Rosa multiflora is frequent in its hedges.
Santo António is a parish in the municipality of Funchal, Madeira, where the São João stream rises and the Jesuits had their Pico do Cardo residence. Its church bears a 1783 Latin inscription, and the parish contains the Madalena, São João e Santana and Pópulo chapels; it also gives its name to a hill of about 400 metres near its church.
- São Martinho
Funchal. Rosa multiflora is frequent in its hedges.
São Martinho is a suburban parish west of Funchal, created in 1579 from São Pedro and partly added to the city in 1927. It had sugar factories, grew Tinta vines, and has characteristic volcanic bombs. It is the reputed birthplace of D. Nuno de Aguiar.