Rosa sericea

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iRosa sericea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Subfamily: Rosoideae
Genus: Rosa
Species: R. sericea
Binomial name
Rosa sericea
Lindl.

Rosa sericea is a species of Rosa native to southwestern China (Guizhou, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan), Bhutan, northern India (Sikkim), and Myanmar; it grows in mountains at altitudes of 2,000-4,400 m.

It is a shrub growing to 2 m tall, often very spiny. The leaves are deciduous, 4-8 cm long, with 7-11 leaflets with a serrated margin. The flowers are 2.5-5 cm diameter, white, with (unusually for a rose) only four petals. The hips are red, 8-15 mm diameter, with persistent sepals, and often bristly.

There are four formae:

  • Rosa sericea f. sericea.
  • Rosa sericea f. glandulosa T.T.YĆ¼ & T.C.Ku.
  • Rosa sericea f. glabrescens Franchet.
  • Rosa sericea f. pteracantha Franchet.

The closely related Rosa omeiensis is sometimes treated as a subspecies of R. sericea.

[edit] Cultivation and uses

R. sericea f. pteracantha is grown as an ornamental plant for its large, bright red thorns.

[edit] References