The pollen parent is listed as "Lady Mary FitzWilliam - in commerce as". I am sure Ducher would have had the real LMFW in 1895, not the current imposter.
Beautiful photos of 'Antoine Rivoire' Billy. I have a similar foundling which came from the Great Southern area of Western Australia and believe it could be 'Antoine Rivoire'. Could I ask you to watch the plant of 'Antoine Rivoire' at Stirling Square for mature green hips and retained upturned sepals, as shown in the "Mrs. Frances Pickles" file.
Mrs. H. K. Woodruff of Cocoa, Florida (Favorite Hybrid Tea Roses in Florida. The American Rose Magazine, May-June 1936) reported that 'Antoine Rivoire' "...is absolutely disease-proof, as compared to most Florida roses. It seldom 'thrips', which is most unusual in so light a rose."
The Rose Annual (1913) Roses in the United States By E. G. HILL Antoine Rivoire is largely planted and is growing daily in popularity; a bunch of it is a beautiful sight, its canes are long and stiff, its foliage ample, and the flower is lovely in colour and form; this is the variety travelling under the synonym of "Mrs. Taft"; the explanation of the synonym is that the bundle of Antoine Rivoire reached this country without a label!
