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Rosa canina, the dog rose, is a variable climbing, wild rose species native to Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia.
The dog rose blooms from June to July, with sweet-scented flowers that are usually pale pink, but can vary between a deep pink and white. They are in diameter with five petals. Like other roses it has a quincuncial aestivation. Unusually though, of its five , when viewed from underneath, two are whiskered (or 'bearded') on both sides, two are quite smooth and one is whiskered on one side only. It has usually 10 or more , and multiple .
Flowers mature in September to October, into an oval, , red-orange rose hip. The fruits can persist on the plant for several months (if not eaten by wildlife) and become black.
Its fruit persists for an average of 64 days, and bears an average of 18.1 seeds per fruit. Fruits average 65.2% water (possibly the lowest water content among European fleshy fruits), and their dry matter includes 17.3% and 0.7% .
Its form and flowers can be confused with fieldbriar Rosa agrestis and sweetbriar Rosa rubiginosa.
Based on a 2013 DNA analysis using amplified fragment length polymorphisms of wild-rose samples from a transect across Europe (900 samples from section Caninae, and 200 from other sections), it has been suggested that the following named species are best considered as belonging to a single R. canina species complex:
When a Diplolepis rosae lays eggs into a leaf axillary or terminal bud the plant develops a chemically induced distortion known as rose gall.
Buds and leaves may be eaten by rabbits and deer, despite the thorns.
It may be affected by rose rust and ( Sphaerotheca pannosa var. rosae), and downy mildew ( Peronospora sparsa).
It is notably susceptible to honey fungus.
The dog rose is classified as a weed in Australia under the Natural Resources Management Act of 2004. It outcompetes native plants, offers shelter to pests like foxes and rabbits, is not eaten by livestock due to its unpalatable nature, and its large shrubs resist grazing by farm animals. The dog rose invades native bushland therefore reducing biodiversity and the presence of desirable pasture species. It is a biosecurity risk as it hosts fruit fly.
In the US, it is classified as a weed and invasive in some regions or habitats, where it may displace desirable vegetation due to its large size and
ability of regeneration from sprouts. It can also impede the movement of livestock, wildlife and vehicles.
Birds and wild fruit eating animals are the main cause of seed dispersal. The plant seeds can also be carried in the hooves or fur of stock animals. They may also be carried by waterways.
Numerous have been named, though few are common in cultivation. The cultivar Rosa canina 'Assisiensis' is the only dog rose without thorns. Thought to be linked to Saint Francis of Assisi, hence the name.
The fruit is used to make syrup, tea, and preserves (jam and marmalade), and is used in the making of pies, stews, and wine. The flowers can be made into a syrup, eaten in salads, candied, or preserved in vinegar, honey or brandy. During World War II in the United States, Rosa canina was planted in ; it can still be found growing throughout that country, including on roadsides, in pastures and nature conservation areas.
In Poland, the petals are used to make a jam that is particularly suitable for filling pączki, a type of doughnuts.
In Bulgaria, where the dog rose grows in abundance, its hips are used to make sweet wine and tea.
The first recorded significance of the flower dates back hundreds of years ago to The Academy of Floral Games (founded in 1323), which gifted poets a sprig of dog rose to reward them for their literary excellence. Due to this ritual, the branches became increasingly popular and can be found frequently mentioned in several famous poems. Most prevalent in the United Kingdom, William Shakespeare wrote about the flower in A Midsummer Night's Dream, which in his time was called eglantine, though it can now also refer to Rosa rubiginosa (Sweet brier).
Oberon, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act II, Scene I quoting his words: "With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine."
Symbolically, the meaning of this shrub is quite extensive since the two dominating themes surrounding the flower are pain and pleasure.
An old riddle is called "The Five Brethren of the Rose":
On a summer's day, in sultry weather
The riddle contains an effective way of identifying the differing roses of the canina group, where the brethren refers to the five of the dog-rose, two of which are whiskered on both sides, two quite smooth and the last one whiskered on one side only.
The flower has also been used as an image on many postage stamps across Europe.
As an invasive species
Dog rose is an invasive species in the high country of New Zealand. It was recognised as displacing native vegetation as early as 1895 although the Department of Conservation does not consider it to be a conservation threat.
Cultivation
The dog rose is hardy to zone 3 in the UK (USDA hardiness zone 3–7), tolerates maritime exposure, grows well in a sunny position, and grows even in heavy clay soils, but like all roses dislikes water-logged soils or very dry sites. In deep shade, it usually fails to flower and fruit.
Uses
Rose hip essential oil is composed mainly of alcohols, and .
In culture
The dog rose was the stylised rose of medieval European heraldry.Carol Klein It is the county flower of Hampshire, and Ireland's County Leitrim is nicknamed "The Wild Rose County" due to the prevalence of the dog rose in the area. Legend states the Thousand-year Rose or Hildesheim Rose, which climbs against a wall of Hildesheim Cathedral, dates back to the establishment of the diocese in 815.
Five Brethren were born together
Two had beards and two had none
And the other had but half a one.
Bibliography
Further reading
External links
Categories: Canina, Medicinal Plants, Flora Of Europe, Flora Of North Africa, Flora Of Western Asia, Flora Of The Pyrenees, Flora Of Italy, Flora Of Lebanon, Flora Of Spain, Flora Of Ukraine, Plants Described In 1753, Taxa Named By Carl Linnaeus, National Symbols Of Romania, National Symbols Of Moldova
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