Cistus creticus L.   =Cistus incanus ssp. creticus   Cistus villosus   Cistaceae (Rock Rose Family)          Mediterranean Region   Rock Rose

                                                March Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Erect shrub ca. 1 m. high; lvs. opposite, ovate to ovate-oblong, 3-7 cm. long, twisted and wavy, well haired with stellate and straight hairs above and more densely below, somewhat gray-hairy, net veined, not three veined, the edges revolute; petioles winged near the base, almost clasping the stems, the petioles on younger shoots appressed to the stems, the petioles white hairy with stellate and straight hairs; fls. 1-4, 3.5-4.5 cm. across, rose pink, the yellow bases forming a yellow center to the flower beneath the orange mass of stamens; sepals 5, ovate, acuminate, 13-14 mm. long; caps. oblong-globose, ca. 1 cm. long; seeds brownish, shining.  Much of this description by John Johnson, the rest from Munz, and Bailey.

Habitat:  About 20 species in the Medit. region; several in cult.

Name:  Cistus is an ancient Greek name.  Villosus means "hairy."  (Dale 99).  Incanus: hoary.  (Bailey 16).  Creticus: of Crete,  (Bailey 13).

General:  Uncommon in the study area, found only on the Jamboree Road bank where I suspect it was planted.  (my comment).       The myrrh brought by the Magi to Bethlehem was a fragrant gum resin from C. villosus.  It may still be obtained today in specialty shops to add long-lasting scent to dried flower mixtures.  (Dale 99).      Shrubs or woody herbs, about 8 genera and 160 species, native mostly in the northern hemisphere, a few planted for ornament.  (Bailey 679).

Text Ref:  Bailey 680;  Bailey, Hortus Third 274; Hickman, Ed. 516; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 370; Roberts 20.

Photo Ref:  May 2 87 # 2A,3A,4A; Feb-Mar 88 # 18,19,20.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by John Johnson & Fred Roberts.

First Found:  May 1987.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 349.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 3/4/05.  

                                  March Photo                                                                    March Photo