Rose

Aroseis either a woodyperennialflowering plantof thegenusRosa(/ˈroʊzə/),in the familyRosaceae(/roʊˈzeɪsiːˌiː/),or theflowerit bears. There are over three hundredspeciesandtens of thousandsofcultivars.They form a group ofplantsthat can be erectshrubs, climbing, or trailing, with stems that are often armed with sharpprickles.Their flowers vary in size and shape and are usually large and showy, in colours ranging from white through pinks, reds, oranges and yellows. Most species are native toAsia, with smaller numbers native toEurope,North America, andNorthwest Africa.Species,cultivarsandhybridsare 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 ofgarden roses.
The namerosecomes from Latinrosa, which was perhaps borrowed fromOscan, fromGreekῥόδονrhódon(Aeolicβρόδονwródon), itself borrowed fromOld Persianwrd-(wurdi), related toAvestanvarəδa,Sogdianward,Parthianwâr.
Theleavesare 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 basalstipules; the leaflets usually have a serrated margin, and often a few small prickles on the underside of the stem. Most roses aredeciduousbut a few (particularly fromSoutheast Asia) areevergreenor nearly so.
Theflowersof most species have five petals, with the exception ofRosa omeiensisandRosa sericea, which usually have only four. Eachpetalis divided into two distinct lobes and is usually white or pink, though in a few species yellow or red. Beneath the petals are fivesepals(or in the case of someRosa omeiensisandRosa 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 multiplesuperiorovaries that develop intoachenes.Roses are insect-pollinated in nature.
Theaggregate fruitof the rose is a berry-like structure called arose hip. Many of the domesticcultivarsdo not produce hips, as theflowersare so tightly petalled that they do not provide access forpollination. 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, thehypanthium, which contains 5–160 "seeds" (technically dry single-seeded fruits calledachenes) embedded in a matrix of fine, but stiff, hairs. Rose hips of some species, especially thedog rose(Rosa canina) andrugosa rose(R. rugosa), are very rich invitamin C, among the richest sources of any plant. The hips are eaten by fruit-eatingbirdssuch asthrushesandwaxwings, which then disperse theseedsin their droppings.
The sharp growths along a rose stem, though commonly called "thorns", are technicallyprickles, outgrowths of theepidermis(the outer layer of tissue of the stem), unlike true thorns, which aremodified stems. Rose prickles are typically sickle-shaped hooks, which aid the rose in hanging onto other vegetation when growing over it. Some species such asRosa rugosaand[R. pimpinellifoliahave densely packed straight prickles, probably an adaptation to reducebrowsingby animals, but also possibly an adaptation to trap wind-blownsandand so reduceerosionand protect theirroots(both of these species grow naturally oncoastalsand dunes). Despite the presence of prickles, roses are frequently browsed bydeer. A few species of roses have only vestigial prickles that have no points.
Plant geneticist Zachary Lippman ofCold Spring Harbor Laboratoryfound that prickles are controlled by the LOG gene.Blocking the LOG gene in roses reduced the thorns (large prickles) into tiny buds.
The oldest remains of roses are from the LateEoceneFlorissant Formationof Colorado.Roses were present inEuropeby the earlyOligocene.
Today's garden roses come from 18th-century China.Among the old Chinese garden roses, the Old Blush group is the most primitive, while newer groups are the most diverse.
A study of the patterns ofnatural selectionin thegenomeof roses indicated thatgenesrelated toDNA damage repairand stress adaptation have been positively selected, likely during their domestication.This rapid evolution may reflect an adaptation to genome confliction resulting from frequent intra- and inter-species hybridization and switching environmental conditions of growth.
The genusRosais composed of 140–180 species and divided into four subgenera:
Some birds, particularlyfinches, eat the seeds.
Wild roses are host plants for a number of pests and diseases. Many of these affect other plants, including other genera of theRosaceae.
Cultivated roses are often subject to severe damage frominsect,arachnidandfungalpests and diseases. In many cases they cannot be usefully grown without regular treatment to control these problems.
Roses are best known asornamental plantsgrown for their flowers in thegardenand sometimes indoors. They have also been 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.
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 asRosa glaucaandR. rubiginosa), ornamental thorns (such asR. sericea) or for their showy fruit (such asR. moyesii).
Ornamental roses have been cultivated for millennia, with the earliest known cultivation known to date from at least 500 BC inMediterraneancountries,Persia, and China.It is estimated that 30 to 35 thousand rosehybridsandcultivarshave been bred and selected for garden use as flowering plants.Most aredouble-floweredwith many or all of thestamenshaving morphed into additionalpetals.
In the early 19th century theEmpress Josephineof France patronized the development of rose breeding at her gardens atMalmaison. As long ago as 1840 a collection numbering over one thousand differentcultivars, varieties and species was possible when a rosarium was planted byLoddigesnursery forAbney Park Cemetery, an early Victorian garden cemetery and arboretum in England.
Roses are a popular crop for both domestic and commercialcut flowers. Generally they are harvested and cut when in bud, and held in refrigerated conditions until ready for display at their point of sale.  The price of the roses depends partly on the characteristics of the rose itself, such as how long the stem is and how big the bloom is, and partly on factors about how it was grown, such as which country is was grown in.
In temperate climates, cut roses are often grown ingreenhouses, 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.
Some kind of roses are artificially coloured using dyed water, likerainbow roses.
Rose perfumes are made fromrose oil(also called attar of roses), which is a mixture of volatileessential oilsobtained by steam distilling the crushed petals of roses. An associated product isrose waterwhich is used for cooking, cosmetics, medicine and religious practices. The production technique originated inPersiaand then spread throughArabiaand India, and more recently into eastern Europe. In Bulgaria, Iran and Germany, damask roses (Rosa×damascena'Trigintipetala') are used. In other parts of the worldRosa×centifoliais 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 fragrantalcoholsgeranioland L-citronelloland rose camphor, an odorless solid composed ofalkanes, which separates from rose oil.β-Damascenoneis also a significant contributor to the scent.
Rose hipsare high invitamin C, are, after the removal of the irritant hairs, edible raw,and occasionally are made intojam,jelly,marmalade, andsoup, or brewed for tea. They are also pressed and filtered to make rose hip syrup. Rose hips are also used to producerose hip seed oil, which is used in skin products and some makeup products.
Rose waterhas a very distinctive flavour and is used inMiddle Eastern,Persian, andSouth Asian cuisine—especially in sweets such asTurkish delight,barfi,baklava,halva,gulab jamun,knafeh, andnougat. Rose petals or flower buds are sometimes used toflavour ordinary tea, or combined with otherherbsto makeherbal teas. A sweet preserve of rose petals calledgulkandis common in theIndian subcontinent. The leaves and washed roots are also sometimes used to make tea.
In France, there is much use ofrose syrup, most commonly made from an extract of rose petals. In theIndian subcontinent,Rooh Afza, a concentratedsquashmade with roses, is popular, as are rose-flavoured frozen desserts such asice creamandkulfi.
The flower stems and young shoots are edible, as are the petals (sans the white or green bases).The latter are usually used as flavouring or to add their scent to food.Other minor uses include candied rose petals.
Rose creams (rose-flavouredfondantcovered inchocolate, often topped with a crystallised rose petal) are a traditional English confectionery widely available from numerous producers in the UK.
Under the AmericanFederal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act,there are only certainRosaspecies, varieties, and parts are listed asgenerally recognized as safe(GRAS).
Therose hip, usually fromR. canina, is used as a minor source ofvitamin C.Diarrhodon(Gr διάρροδον, "compound of roses", from ῥόδων, "of roses") is a name given to various compounds in which red roses are an ingredient.
The long cultural history of the rose has led to it being used often as a symbol. Inancient Greece, the rose was closely associated with the goddessAphrodite.In theIliad, Aphrodite protects the body ofHectorusing the "immortal oil of the rose"and the archaic Greek lyric poetIbycuspraises a beautiful youth saying that Aphrodite nursed him "among rose blossoms".The second-century AD Greek travel writerPausaniasassociates the rose with the story ofAdonisand states that the rose is red because Aphrodite wounded herself on one of its thorns and stained the flower red with her blood.Book Eleven of the ancient Roman novelThe Golden AssbyApuleiuscontains a scene in which the goddessIsis, who is identified withVenus, instructs the main character, Lucius, who has been transformed into adonkey, 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.French writerRené Rapininvented a myth in which a beautiful Corinthian queen namedRhodanthe("she with rose flowers") was besieged inside a temple ofArtemisby three ardent suitors who wished to worship her as a goddess; the godApollothen transformed her into a rosebush.
Following theChristianization of the Roman Empire, the rose became identified with theVirgin Mary. The colour of the rose and the number of roses received has symbolic representation.The rose symbol eventually led to the creation of therosaryand other devotional prayers in Christianity.
Ever since the 1400s, theFranciscanshave had a Crown Rosary of theSeven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary.In the 1400s and 1500s, theCarthusianspromoted the idea of sacred mysteries associated with the rose symbol and rose gardens.Albrecht Dürer's paintingThe Feast of the Rosary(1506) depicts the Virgin Mary distributing garlands of roses to her devotees.
Roses symbolised theHouses of YorkandLancasterin a conflict known as theWars of the Roses. Subsequently roses of the corresponding colours have been used a emblems for the English counties ofYorkshireandLancashire.
TheTudor rosecombines the colours of the roses of York and Lancaster, and is an emblem of thenTudor dynastyand ofEngland.
Roses are a favored subject in art and appear in portraits, illustrations, on stamps, as ornaments or as architectural elements. The Luxembourg-bornBelgianartist and botanistPierre-Joseph Redoutéis known for his detailed watercolours of flowers, particularly roses.
Henri Fantin-Latourwas also a prolific painter of still life, particularly flowers including roses. The rose 'Fantin-Latour' was named after the artist.
Other impressionists includingClaude Monet,Paul CézanneandPierre-Auguste Renoirhave paintings of roses among their works. In the 19th century, for example, artists associated the city ofTriestewith 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.
In 1986 PresidentRonald Reagansigned legislation to make the rosethe floral emblem of the United States.
The rose is often exchanged onSt. Valentines Dayand is used often as a symbol of such.