| Rosa sericea | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| 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:
The closely related Rosa omeiensis is sometimes treated as a subspecies of R. sericea.
R. sericea f. pteracantha is grown as an ornamental plant for its large, bright red thorns.