Rose

A rose is either a woody perennial flowering plant of the genus Rosa (/ˈroʊzə/),[1] in the

family Rosaceae (/roʊˈzeɪsiːˌiː/),[1] or the flower it bears. There are over three
hundred species and tens of thousands of cultivars.[citation needed] They form a group of plants that can
be erect shrubs, climbing, or trailing, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles.[2] Their
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.[2] 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.[2] Different species hybridize easily, and this has been used in the
development of the wide range of garden roses.

Rosa hemisphaerica (syn.: Rosa sulphurea), watercolor by Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759–1840).

Etymology
The name rose comes from Latin rosa, which was perhaps borrowed from Oscan,
from Greek ῥόδον rhódon (Aeolic βρόδον wródon), itself borrowed from Old Persian wrd- (wurdi),
related to Avestan varəδa, Sogdian ward, Parthian wâr.[3][4]

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 evergreen or nearly so.
The flowers of most species have five petals, with the exception of Rosa omeiensis and Rosa
sericea, which usually have 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 omeiensis and 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.[5] 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 pimpinellifolia have 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.

Evolution
The oldest remains of roses are from the Late Eocene Florissant Formation of Colorado.[6] Roses
were present in Europe by the early Oligocene.[7]
Today's garden roses come from 18th-century China.[8] Among the old Chinese garden roses, the
Old Blush group is the most primitive, while newer groups are the most diverse.[9]

Species
Main article: List of Rosa species

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Blooming roses at Huntington Library in San Marino, California, United States

Various roses at Rose Garden at Huntington Library in San Marino, California

Rosa gallica 'Evêque', painted by Redouté

The genus Rosa is composed of 140–180 species and divided into four subgenera:[10]

 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-colour 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.

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.[11] It is estimated that 30
to 35 thousand rose hybrids and cultivars have been bred and selected for garden use as
flowering plants.[12] Most are double-flowered with many or all of the stamens having morphed 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.[13]
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[14] 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.[15] β-
Damascenone is also a significant contributor to the scent.

Food and drink

Rosa rubiginosa hips

Farming of Rosa rugosa

Rose hips are high in vitamin C, are edible raw,[16] and occasionally made

into jam, jelly, marmalade, and soup, or are brewed for tea. 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.[17]
Gulab jamun made with rose water

Rose water has a very distinctive flavour and is used in Middle Eastern, Persian, and South Asian
cuisine—especially in sweets such as Turkish delight,[18] barfi, baklava, halva, gulab
jamun, knafeh, and nougat. Rose petals or flower buds are sometimes used to flavour ordinary
tea, or combined with other herbs to make herbal teas. A sweet preserve of rose petals
called gulkand is common in the Indian subcontinent. The leaves and washed roots are also
sometimes used to make tea.[16]
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.[19][20]
The flower stems and young shoots are edible, as are the petals (sans the white or green bases).
[16]
 The latter are usually used as flavouring or to add their scent to food.[21] Other minor uses
include candied rose petals.[22]
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,[23] there are only
certain Rosa species, varieties, and parts are listed as generally recognized as safe (GRAS).

 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
 Rose flowers
 Rose fruit (hips)
 Rose leaves: Rosa spp.[24]
As a food ingredient
The rose hip, usually from R. canina, is used as a minor source of vitamin C.[25] Diarrhodon (Gr
διάρροδον, "compound of roses", from ῥόδων, "of roses"[26]) is a name given to various
compounds in which red roses are an ingredient.

Art and symbolism

Main article: Rose (symbolism)
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.[27][28] In the Iliad, Aphrodite protects
the body of Hector using the "immortal oil of the rose"[29][27] and the archaic Greek lyric
poet Ibycus praises a beautiful youth saying that Aphrodite nursed him "among rose blossoms".[30]
[27]
 The second-century AD Greek travel writer Pausanias associates 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.[31][27] 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.[28]
Following the Christianization of the Roman Empire, the rose became identified with the Virgin
Mary. The colour of the rose and the number of roses received has symbolic representation.[32][33]
[28]
 The rose symbol eventually led to the creation of the rosary and other devotional prayers in
Christianity.[34][28]

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.[28] In the 1400s and 1500s, the Carthusians promoted the idea of sacred
mysteries associated with the rose symbol and rose gardens.[28] Albrecht Dürer's painting The
Feast of the Rosary (1506) depicts the Virgin Mary distributing garlands of roses to her
worshippers.[28]
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. In the 19th century, for example, artists associated the city
of Trieste with a certain rare white rose, and this rose developed as the city's symbol. It was not
until 2021 that the rose, which was believed to be extinct, was rediscovered there.[35]
In 1986 President Ronald Reagan signed legislation to make the rose[36] the floral emblem of the
United States.[37]