Rose

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For other uses, see Rose (disambiguation), Roses (disambiguation), and Rosa.

Rose

Rosa rubiginosa

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Angiosperms

Clade: Eudicots

Clade: Rosids

Order: Rosales

Family: Rosaceae

Subfamily: Rosoideae

Tribe: Roseae
 Genus: Rosa
L.

Species

See List of Rosa species

Synonyms

 Hulthemia Dumort.
 ×Hulthemosa Juz. (Hulthemia × Rosa)

A rose is a woody perennial flowering plant of the genus Rosa, in the family Rosaceae, or the
flower it bears. There are over three hundred species and thousands of cultivars. They form a
group of plants that can be erect shrubs, climbing, or trailing, with stems that are often armed
with sharp prickles. Flowers vary in size and shape and are usually large and showy, in colours
ranging from white through yellows and reds. Most species are native to Asia, with smaller
numbers native to Europe, North America, and northwestern Africa.
Species, cultivars and hybrids are all widely grown for their beauty and often are fragrant.
Roses have acquired cultural significance in many societies. Rose plants range in size from
compact, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach seven meters in height. Different species
hybridize easily, and this has been used in the development of the wide range of garden
roses.[1]

Contents

 1Etymology
 2Botany
o 2.1Species
 3Uses
o 3.1Ornamental plants
o 3.2Cut flowers
o 3.3Perfume
o 3.4Food and drink
o 3.5Medicine
o 3.6Art and symbolism
 4Pests and diseases
 5Floral emblem of the United States
 6See also
 7References
 8External links

Etymology
The name rose comes from French, itself from Latin rosa, which was perhaps borrowed
from Oscan, from Greek ρόδον rhódon (Aeolicβρόδον wródon), itself borrowed from Old
Persian wrd- (wurdi), related to Avestan varəδa, Sogdian ward, Parthian wâr.[2][3]

Botany

Rose thorns are actually prickles – outgrowths of the epidermis.

Rose leaflets
Exterior view of rose buds

Longitudinal section through a developing rose hip

The leaves are borne alternately on the stem. In most species they are 5 to 15 centimetres (2.0
to 5.9 in) long, pinnate, with (3–) 5–9 (–13) leaflets and basal stipules; the leaflets usually have
a serrated margin, and often a few small prickles on the underside of the stem. Most roses
are deciduous but a few (particularly from Southeast Asia) are evergreenor nearly so.
The flowers of most species have five petals, with the exception of Rosa sericea, which usually
has only four. Each petal is divided into two distinct lobes and is usually white or pink, though
in a few species yellow or red. Beneath the petals are five sepals (or in the case of some Rosa
sericea, four). These may be long enough to be visible when viewed from above and appear as
green points alternating with the rounded petals. There are multiple superior ovaries that
develop into achenes.[4] Roses are insect-pollinated in nature.
The aggregate fruit of the rose is a berry-like structure called a rose hip. Many of the domestic
cultivars do not produce hips, as the flowers are so tightly petalled that they do not provide
access for pollination. The hips of most species are red, but a few (e.g. Rosa pimpinellifolia)
have dark purple to black hips. Each hip comprises an outer fleshy layer, the hypanthium,
which contains 5–160 "seeds" (technically dry single-seeded fruits called achenes) embedded
in a matrix of fine, but stiff, hairs. Rose hips of some species, especially the dog rose (Rosa
canina) and rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa), are very rich in vitamin C, among the richest sources
of any plant. The hips are eaten by fruit-eating birds such as thrushes and waxwings, which
then disperse the seeds in their droppings. Some birds, particularly finches, also eat the seeds.
The sharp growths along a rose stem, though commonly called "thorns", are
technically prickles, outgrowths of the epidermis (the outer layer of tissue of the stem), unlike
true thorns, which are modified stems. Rose prickles are typically sickle-shaped hooks, which
aid the rose in hanging onto other vegetation when growing over it. Some species such
as Rosa rugosa and Rosa pimpinellifoliahave densely packed straight prickles, probably an
adaptation to reduce browsing by animals, but also possibly an adaptation to trap wind-
blown sand and so reduce erosion and protect their roots(both of these species grow naturally
on coastal sand dunes). Despite the presence of prickles, roses are frequently browsed
by deer. A few species of roses have only vestigial prickles that have no points.
Species
Main article: List of Rosa species

Rosa gallica Evêque, painted by Redouté

The genus Rosa is subdivided into four subgenera:

 Hulthemia (formerly Simplicifoliae, meaning "with single leaves") containing two species
from southwest Asia, Rosa persica and Rosa berberifolia, which are the only roses
without compound leaves or stipules.
 Hesperrhodos (from the Greek for "western rose") contains Rosa minutifolia and Rosa
stellata, from North America.
 Platyrhodon (from the Greek for "flaky rose", referring to flaky bark) with one species from
east Asia, Rosa roxburghii (also known as the chestnut rose).
 Rosa (the type subgenus, sometimes incorrectly called Eurosa) containing all the other
roses. This subgenus is subdivided into 11 sections.
o Banksianae – white and yellow flowered roses from China.
o Bracteatae – three species, two from China and one from India.
o Caninae – pink and white flowered species from Asia, Europe and North Africa.
o Carolinae – white, pink, and bright pink flowered species all from North America.
o Chinensis – white, pink, yellow, red and mixed-color roses from China and Burma.
o Gallicanae – pink to crimson and striped flowered roses from
western Asia and Europe.
o Gymnocarpae – one species in western North America (Rosa gymnocarpa), others in
east Asia.
o Laevigatae – a single white flowered species from China.
o Pimpinellifoliae – white, pink, bright yellow, mauve and striped roses from Asia and
Europe.
 o Rosa (syn. sect. Cinnamomeae) – white, pink, lilac, mulberry and red roses from
everywhere but North Africa.
o Synstylae – white, pink, and crimson flowered roses from all areas.

Red roses

Uses
Roses are best known as ornamental plants grown for their flowers in the garden and
sometimes indoors. They have been also used for commercial perfumery and commercial cut
flower crops. Some are used as landscape plants, for hedging and for other utilitarian purposes
such as game cover and slope stabilization.
Ornamental plants
Main article: Garden roses
The majority of ornamental roses are hybrids that were bred for their flowers. A few, mostly
species roses are grown for attractive or scented foliage (such as Rosa glauca and Rosa
rubiginosa), ornamental thorns (such as Rosa sericea) or for their showy fruit (such as Rosa
moyesii).
Ornamental roses have been cultivated for millennia, with the earliest known cultivation known
to date from at least 500 BC in Mediterranean countries, Persia, and China.[5] Many thousands
of rose hybrids and cultivars have been bred and selected for garden use as flowering plants.
Most are double-flowered with many or all of the stamens having mutated into
additional petals.
In the early 19th century the Empress Josephine of France patronized the development of rose
breeding at her gardens at Malmaison. As long ago as 1840 a collection numbering over one
thousand different cultivars, varieties and species was possible when a rosarium was planted
by Loddiges nursery for Abney Park Cemetery, an early Victorian garden cemetery and
arboretum in England.
Cut flowers
Main article: Cut flowers
Bouquet of pink roses

Roses are a popular crop for both domestic and commercial cut flowers. Generally they are
harvested and cut when in bud, and held in refrigerated conditions until ready for display at
their point of sale.
In temperate climates, cut roses are often grown in greenhouses, and in warmer countries they
may also be grown under cover in order to ensure that the flowers are not damaged by
weather and that pest and disease control can be carried out effectively. Significant quantities
are grown in some tropical countries, and these are shipped by air to markets across the
world.[6]
Some kind of roses are artificially coloured using dyed water, like rainbow roses.
Perfume
Further information: Rose oil and Rose water

Geraniol (C
H
10

O)
18

Rose perfumes are made from rose oil (also called attar of roses), which is a mixture of
volatile essential oils obtained by steam distilling the crushed petals of roses. An associated
product is rose water which is used for cooking, cosmetics, medicine and religious practices.
The production technique originated in Persia and then spread through Arabia and India, and
more recently into eastern Europe. In Bulgaria, Iran and Germany, damask roses
(Rosa × damascena 'Trigintipetala') are used. In other parts of the world Rosa × centifolia is
commonly used. The oil is transparent pale yellow or yellow-grey in colour. 'Rose Absolute' is
solvent-extracted with hexane and produces a darker oil, dark yellow to orange in colour. The
weight of oil extracted is about one three-thousandth to one six-thousandth of the weight of the
flowers; for example, about two thousand flowers are required to produce one gram of oil.
The main constituents of attar of roses are the fragrant alcohols geraniol and L-citronellol and
rose camphor, an odorless solid composed of alkanes, which separates from rose oil.[7]β-
Damascenone is also a significant contributor to the scent.
Food and drink

Rosa canina hips

Rose jam from Iran

Rose hips are occasionally made into jam, jelly, marmalade, and soup or are brewed for tea,
primarily for their high vitamin C content. They are also pressed and filtered to make rose hip
syrup. Rose hips are also used to produce rose hip seed oil, which is used in skin products and
some makeup products.[8]

Gulab jamun made with rose water

Rose water has a very distinctive flavour and is used heavily in Middle Eastern, Persian,
and South Asian cuisine—especially in sweets such as barfi, baklava, halva, gulab
jamun, gumdrops, kanafeh, nougat, and Turkish delight.
Rose petals or flower buds are sometimes used to flavour ordinary tea, or combined with
other herbs to make herbal teas.
In France, there is much use of rose syrup, most commonly made from an extract of rose
petals. In the Indian subcontinent, Rooh Afza, a concentrated squash made with roses, is
popular, as are rose-flavoured frozen desserts such as ice cream and kulfi.[9][10]
Rose flowers are used as food, also usually as flavouring or to add their scent to food. [11] Other
minor uses include candied rose petals.[12]
Rose creams (rose-flavoured fondant covered in chocolate, often topped with a crystallised
rose petal) are a traditional English confectionery widely available from numerous producers in
the UK.
Under the American Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act,[13] there are only
certain Rosa species, varieties, and parts are on the Generally Recognized as Safe lists.

 Rose absolute: Rosa alba L., Rosa centifolia L., Rosa damascena Mill., Rosa gallica L.,
and vars. of these spp.
 Rose (otto of roses, attar of roses): Ditto
 Rose buds: Ditto
 Rose flowers: Ditto
 Rose fruit (hips): Ditto
 Rose leaves: Rosa spp.[14]
Medicine
The rose hip, usually from R. canina, is used as a minor source of vitamin C. The fruits of many
species have significant levels of vitamins and have been used as a food supplement. Many
roses have been used in herbal and folk medicines. Rosa chinensis has long been used in
Chinese traditional medicine. This and other species have been used for stomach problems,
and are being investigated for controlling cancer growth.[15] In pre-modern
medicine, diarrhodon (Gr διάρροδον, "compound of roses", from ῥόδων, "of roses"[16]) is a
name given to various compounds in which red roses are an ingredient.
Art and symbolism
Main article: Rose (symbolism)

Codex Manesseilluminated with roses, illustrated between 1305 and 1340 in Zürich. It contains love
songs in Middle High German

The Roses of Heliogabalus by Alma-Tadema (1888)

The long cultural history of the rose has led to it being used often as a symbol. In ancient
Greece, the rose was closely associated with the goddess Aphrodite.[17][18] In the Iliad, Aphrodite
protects the body of Hector using the "immortal oil of the rose"[19][17] and the archaic Greek lyric
poet Ibycus praises a beautiful youth saying that Aphrodite nursed him "among rose
blossoms".[20][17] The second-century AD Greek travel writer Pausaniasassociates the rose with
the story of Adonis and states that the rose is red because Aphrodite wounded herself on one
of its thorns and stained the flower red with her blood.[21][17] Book Eleven of the ancient Roman
novel The Golden Ass by Apuleius contains a scene in which the goddess Isis, who is
identified with Venus, instructs the main character, Lucius, who has been transformed into
a donkey, to eat rose petals from a crown of roses worn by a priest as part of a religious
procession in order to regain his humanity.[18]
Following the Christianization of the Roman Empire, the rose became identified with the Virgin
Mary. The color of the rose and the number of roses received has symbolic
representation.[22] [23][18] The rose symbol eventually led to the creation of the rosary and other
devotional prayers in Christianity.[24][18]

Framed print after 1908 painting by Henry Payne of the scene in the Temple Garden, where supporters
of the rival factions in the Wars of the Roses pick either red or white roses

Ever since the 1400s, the Franciscans have had a Crown Rosary of the Seven Joys of the
Blessed Virgin Mary.[18] In the 1400s and 1500s, the Carthusians promoted the idea of sacred
mysteries associated with the rose symbol and rose gardens.[18] Albrecht Dürer's painting The
Feast of the Rosary (1506) depicts the Virgin Mary distributing garlands of roses to her
worshippers.[18]
Roses symbolised the Houses of York and Lancaster in a conflict known as the Wars of the
Roses.
Roses are a favored subject in art and appear in portraits, illustrations, on stamps, as
ornaments or as architectural elements. The Luxembourg-born Belgian artist and
botanist Pierre-Joseph Redouté is known for his detailed watercolours of flowers, particularly
roses.
Henri Fantin-Latour was also a prolific painter of still life, particularly flowers including roses.
The rose 'Fantin-Latour' was named after the artist.
Other impressionists including Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne and Pierre-Auguste Renoir have
paintings of roses among their works.

Pests and diseases

Main article: List of pests and diseases of roses
Wild roses are host plants for a number of pests and diseases. Many of these affect other
plants, including other genera of the Rosaceae.
Cultivated roses are often subject to severe damage from insect, arachnid and fungal pests
and diseases. In many cases they cannot be usefully grown without regular treatment to
control these problems.
Floral emblem of the United States
In 1986 President Ronald Reagan signed legislation to make the rose[25] the floral emblem of
the United States.[26]