The common xerophytic rose in Ladakh in Rosa webbiana.
Dickore & Klimes only record this pink-flowered species (plus
some yellow-flowered ones) in Ladakh. There is a prominent yellow-
flowered rose in the Miyah Nullah, Lahoul during the treks I led there
in the mid-1980s, which I understood to be R.foetida but has been
confused with R.eglanteria. Will need to check what the current thinking is?
I think these images fit satisfactorily this species but one has to be
aware of the possibility of Rosa macrophylla (like Rosa sericea, this
varies a good deal when growing under different conditions).
Stewart describes R.webbiana as the beautiful, pink, very spiny xerophytic rose of
N.Pakistan & Ladakh (he does not record it from Kashmir Valley) @ 1500-4050m.
He found it sometimes hard to distinguish from R.macrophylla. Koelz stated that
R.webbiana does not spread by suckers but that R.macrophylla does.
I have seen what I consider to be Rosa macrophylla on the Rohtang
and above Koksar in Lahaul.
I must admit to wondering if the xerophytic rose I came across in the Mustang
District of the Upper Kali Gandaki, on my first visit to Nepal was a form of Rosa
webbiana I was unfamiliar with - it was in fact Rosa sericea.
The forms of Rosa webbiana in the Kashmir Valley look a bit different to those
in Ladakh and there is a dwarf variant which I saw on the hill (mountain) above
Dal Lake, known at one time as Rosa nanothamnus Boulenger but included with R.webbiana
by some authors, to consider. Stewart lists this from N.Pakistan & Kashmir @ 1500-2700m,
saying it is replaced by R.webbiana in the dry inner valleys.
There are a number of roses both cultivated and perhaps wild, in Kashmir I am uncertain
about.
Since a link was provided to Rosa webbiana entries on eFI, I think it will be worthwhile if
I take a quick look at these and give my INITIAL thoughts.
I suspect it may be worthwhile me posting what images I have of roses in the Himalaya.
Best Wishes,
Chris Chadwell
81 Parlaunt Road
SLOUGH
SL3 8BE
UK