Of all our flowers, perhaps none is better known or more loved than the rose. Despite its fame, however, few people realize how many different plants belong to the rose family. Over twenty thousand species live in temperate parts of the world, and still others grow in tropical areas. 

For this study Miss Earle has selected a wide variety of plants, explaining clearly in each case why they are related and what is interesting about them. Members of the rose family are grouped together because of certain similarities in their habits of growth: the number of their petals, sepals, stamens, and pistils, and the arrangement of their leaves. They include many of our common fruits, such as apples, peaches, and pears; ornamental garden shrubs, such as bridal wreath; and huge trees, such as the soapbark, which is native to Chile and Peru.

The illustrations, on almost every page, are of delicate beauty and scientific accuracy. They add to the appeal of a book that the general reader will enjoy and the young botanist will find stimulating. 

From the dust jacket