roses

Rosa (rose) is a genus of perennial, woody, flowering plants with worldwide distribution. It occurs on every continent except Greenland and Antarctica. There are about 140 species of rose worldwide, at least 33 in North America north of Mexico, and 5 in Minnesota, not including plantings in parks and gardens. Most are erect shrubs, some are climbing vines (lianas), some are sprawling stems that may climb over other vegetation.

Many hybrids and cultivars have been developed as garden roses. Rose stems are often armed with sickle-shaped, hook-like prickles. The prickles are usually referred to as thorns. However, true thorns are modified stems, while the prickles on roses are outgrowths of the outer layer of stem tissue.

Roses have woody stems that are often covered with thorn-like prickles. The leaves are usually pinnately divided into 5 to 11 leaflets, sometimes ternately divided into 3 leaflets, rarely simple. The leaflets are usually toothed and often have prickles on the underside. The lateral leaflets are stalkless or short-stalked. The terminal leaflet is almost always short-stalked. The flowers of all roses have 5 petals except for a single Chinese species that has 4 petals and for flowers that are doubled. The berry-like fruit is called a hip.

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 24, 28, 29, 30.

Flowers in Creative Digital Renditions

Location: Albany, NY

Location: Woodbury, MN

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota