Jedmar,
We are getting into the Lumper/Splitter dispute. Crépin consulted with Franchet, and they agreed that Crépin's Rosa wichuraiana was a form of R. luciae. However, after much further study of other specimens, Crépin concluded that Multiflora, Luciae and Wichuraiana are distinct, despite the apparent overlap. Therefore, we get to choose whether we call a trailing specimen with very glossy leaves Rosa luciae Franch. & Rochebr. or R. wichuraiana Crép.

I am familiar with only three of Barbier's hybrids. 'François Foucard' (my favorite), 'Paul Noël' and 'François Juranville'. The first two were growing in full sun, and sent out wiry canes that sprawled along the ground like R. wichuraiana. I didn't pay as much attention to 'François Juranville' because it was in a less favorable setting.

I'm still trying to figure out the heredity of the climbing/creeping habit. Environmental conditions may be involved in triggering the change from shrub to climber. I am trying to learn whether two species that rely on different conditions might yield hybrids that don't need either. And so they would start out as "climbers" that have no choice but to sprawl.