Rosaceae FAMILY

Rosa spinosissima

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

There is a layer of hairs around the seeds just beneath the flesh of the fruit. These hairs can cause irritation to the mouth and digestive tract if ingested.

Botanical Description

Rosa spinosissima is a prickly, low-growing, deciduous shrub producing a cluster of erect spreading or curved stems; it usually grows around 75 - 200cm tall[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. The plant has relatively long rhizomes and can form dense parches of growth[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes used in soil stabilization projects and is grown as an ornamental, where it can be used to form a hedge.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeTemperate Eurasia - through most of Europe east to western Siberia, Mongolia, western China (Xinjiang) and Iran; N. Africa - Algeria

HabitatSandy shores and heaths, also on limestone, especially near the sea[ 2 Title Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Publication Author Hedrick. U. P. Publisher Dover Publications Year 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6 Description Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references. , 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. ]. Scrub in forests, grassy slopes, river sides; at elevations from 1,100 - 2,300 metres[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]