Rosa ecae Aitch. syn.R. xanthina var. ecae (Aitch.) Boul. A much branched suckering shrub growing to 1.5m in the and 2.5m in cultivation, with straight, flattened thorns. Branches often crooked, very thorny. leaflets 7-9 tiny only up to 5mm longobvate or oblanceolate to broadly elliptic, glandular. Stipules very narrow with diverging auricules. Petals often not overlapping; flowers a rich deep egg yolk yellow very small only 1- 2cm across. Hips 5-7mm long, red-brown, sepals patent. A native of central Asia from Afghanistan to Pakistan north to the Tien Shan, Pamir Alai and northern China (Shaanxi), growing on rocky hillsides in the mountains from 500 to 3000m flowering from April to June according to altitude. Our photograph was taken central Asia near Ferghana, flowering in May. Introduced into cultivation by Surgeon-Major Aitchison in 1880 while on the commission to delimit the borders of Afghanistan. It requires a dry and sunny site to do well. Zone 5, will survive down to –25°C.