Rosa woodsii

Rosa woodsii is a species of wild rose known by the common names Woods' rose,[1] interior rose,[2] common wild rose, mountain rose, pear-hip rose, and prairie rose.[3]

Rosa woodsii
Closeup of flower

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Rosa
Species:
R. woodsii
Binomial name
Rosa woodsii

Distribution and habitat

It is native to North America including much of Canada and Alaska and the western and central United States. It grows in a variety of habitats such as open woods, plains, stream banks, stony slopes[4] and disturbed areas.[1]

In the Sierra Nevada, it grows to 11,200 feet (3,400 m) in moist, rocky soils in mixed coniferous forest, upper montane forest, and subalpine forest.[2]

Description
  • Prickle (closeup)
    Prickle (closeup)
  • Rose hips of Rosa woodsii
    Rose hips of Rosa woodsii
  • Lighter pink flower, at 7,000 ft (2,100 m) in the Eastern Sierra
    Lighter pink flower, at 7,000 ft (2,100 m) in the Eastern Sierra
  • Rosa woodsii on Raspberry Island (Alaska)
    Rosa woodsii on Raspberry Island (Alaska)

Growth pattern

Rosa woodsii is a perennial[4] bushy shrub which grows up to three meters tall. The shrubs can form large, dense thickets. The plant reproduces sexually by seed and vegetatively by sprouting from the root crown, layering, and by producing root suckers.[1]

Leaves and stems

The stems are straight, red to grey-brown and studded with prickles.[3] The deciduous leaves are each made up of several widely spaced sharp-toothed leaflets up to 5 centimeters long.

Inflorescence and fruit

The inflorescence is a cyme of up to a few fragrant flowers with five petals in any shade of pink and measuring up to 2.5 centimeters in length. Flowers bloom between May and July and have many stamens and pistils.[3] The fruit is a red rose hip which may be over a centimeter long and matures in August to September.[3] They can be eaten, used in tea or as medicine.[5]

Cultural impact

The flower was featured as one of four different wildflowers on postage stamps issued by the United States in 2022.

References
  1. Hauser, A. Scott (2006). "Rosa woodsii". Fire Effects Information System (FEIS). US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service (USFS), Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
  2. Wiese, Karen (2013). Sierra Nevada Wildflowers (2nd ed.). p. 89.
  3. Pavek, P.L.S; Skinner, D.M. (2013). Plant guide for Woods’ rose (Rosa woodsii Lindl.) (PDF). Pullman, WA: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
  4. "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  5. Fagan, Damian (2019). Wildflowers of Oregon: A Field Guide to Over 400 Wildflowers, Trees, and Shrubs of the Coast, Cascades, and High Desert. Guilford, CT: FalconGuides. p. 222. ISBN 978-1-4930-3633-2. OCLC 1073035766.


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