| Series | BSBI Handbooks |
| Authors | Gareth Knass, Roger Maskew |
| Language | English |
| ISBN | 9780901158635 |
| Publisher | Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland |
| Pages | 285 |
| Size | 244 x 170 mm |
| Format | Paperback |
| Images | Colour images, distribution maps |
| Year published | 2025 |
The new Handbook, Wild Roses of Great Britain and Ireland, is the most comprehensive account of the wild roses of Great Britain and Ireland ever published. It is the result of over thirty years field recording, as well as extensive literature and herbarium research, which has uncovered much previously unpublished historical information.
The Wild Roses of Great Britain and Ireland is published in B5 format and covers 285 pages, of which over 200 are devoted to the species accounts that include descriptions and over 250 photographic illustrations of the 15 native species, over 20 aliens, and the majority of the 82 hybrids that have been recorded in the British Isles, many described and illustrated for the first time. Details of habitat, frequency and distribution, local variation, temporal changes and history are given for the majority of the species and more common hybrids.
A dichotomous key includes native species, the more frequent aliens, and three common and widespread hybrids. The detailed attention given to the descriptions and illustrations of the difficult and critical species and hybrids is a major feature of the species accounts.
Contents
Introductory chapters include:
- Ecology, habitats and distribution
- Relationships between roses and other taxonomic groups
- Morphology and characters
- Recognition and recording species and hybrids
- Rosa taxonomy and evolution
Species accounts include:
- Detailed descriptions
- Photographic illustrations of important characters and plants in typical habitats
- Variation, similar species and hybrids
- Habitats
- Distribution and frequency
- Distribution maps
