Additional notes (click to expand)

Commemorative

Rosa gallica ‘Versicolor’ is pink, irregularly striped with white, and known as Rosa mundi, purportedly named after “the beautiful Rosamund Clifford, who spent her days (and most probably nights) entertaining the already-wed Henry II”.
Oakeley, Dr. Henry F. (2014). Conium maculatum, Hemlock, Cicuta, Conio. link

Nomenclature

Syn. = Rosa mundi; Rosa mundi 'Versicolor'; Rosa versicolor; Rosa 'Mundi'

named for Rosamund Clifford the mistress of Henry II ...

Other use

The variegation of Rosa mundi is due to transposons, small chains of genetic material that jump in and out of locations within the genome, interfering with the expression of the gene for pink colour within the flower.
Oakeley, Dr. H. F. . (2013). The Gardens of the Pharmacopoeia Londinensis. link

Phytochemistry

The variegation of the petals is due to transposons 'jumping genes' which cause temporary breaks in the allele that causes the pink colour of the flowers.

Rosa gallica L. 'Versicolor'

Family: ROSACEAE
Genus: Rosa
Species: gallica L.
Cultivar: 'Versicolor'
Common names: Rosa Mundi
Pharmacopoeia Londinensis name: Rosa
Distribution summary: Europe, N. Africa, W.Asia
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Europe & Mediterranean (E), Pharmacopoeia Londinensis 1618 'Flowers' (HSE 1), Europe & Middle East (J), Pharmacopoeia Londinensis 1618 'Flowers' (HSE 1B)
Flowering months: May, June
Reason for growing: Medicinal


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