Rosa x damascena Herrm.
It is a hybrid rose in whose origin R. gallica and R. pulverulenta M. Bieb have basically been involved, provided that we consider R. bifera (Poir.) Pers. as an independent species, since R. moschata Hermm. and R. webbiana Wall. ex Royle (R. fedtschenkoana Regel), both species originating in Central Asia, also seem to have been involved in the latter. It is a spiny, deciduous, vigorous, upright growing shrub, which can reach 2 m in height. The stems are densely packed with curved spines and stiff bristles. Leaves dull and leathery, pinnate, with five (rarely seven) greyish-green leaflets. Double flowers and abundant pale pink to deep red petals (15-40), the central ones twisted, with an intense, pleasantly sweet and fruity fragrance, usually growing in clusters. Petals softer and more delicate than R. gallica. The flowers are ovoid, ovoid, glabrous and have glands on the peduncle. The popular names for this plant in the province of Albacete are: rose of Alexandria, rose of fifty petals or rose of fifty leaves. It is quite widespread in the province. There are thirty localities in Albacete where populations of this species have been found, including La Breña (Higueruela) and El Batán (Alcaraz).
