Home > Herbs > Rosa Canina

dog-rose

Rosa canina · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Extensive (784 studies) · ★★★★★

Dog-rose, scientifically known as Rosa caniina, is a resilient, wild shrub celebrated for its therapeutic properties. Renowned for its vitamin C-rich hips, it serves as a potent natural remedy for boosting immunity and supporting digestive health. This versatile plant offers significant antioxidant benefits, making it a staple in herbal medicine.

Family
Rosaceae
Native range
Europe
Parts used
Not available
Common names
Canker Rose · Dog Briar · 4 more
Scientific synonyms
Rosa Armata · Rosa Macrocarpa · 1052 more

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Rosa canina

Synonyms

Regional and Traditional Names

Spanish:

  • Rosa burnattii
  • Rosa syntrichostyla
  • Rosa sarmentacea
  • Rosa mucronulata
  • Rosa macroacantha
  • Rosa hispidula
  • Rosa stipularis
  • Rosa adenocalyx
  • Rosa flexibilis
  • Rosa sphaerica
  • Rosa dumosa
  • Rosa heterostyla
  • Rosa insignis
  • Rosa willibaldii
  • Rosa senticosa
  • Rla
  • Rosal silvestre
  • Escaramujo
  • rosal silvestre

German:

  • Hunds-Rose
  • Hagrose
  • Hagerose
  • Hundsrose
  • rosier des chiens
  • Hunds-Rose
  • Hagrose
  • Heckenrose
  • Hundsrose

French:

  • Rosier des chiens
  • Rosier des haies
  • Églantier des chiens
  • rosier des chiens
  • églantier commun
  • eglantier commun
  • Eglantier
  • Rosier des haies
  • Églantier
  • Églantier des chiens

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Rosa, specifically the species Rosa canina.

Rank Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Streptophyta
Class Equisetopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Rosales
Family Rosaceae
Genus Rosa

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally in the landscapes of Denmark. In the northernmost territories, its presence is noted in Finland and Norway. The species also inhabits the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Consequently, these specific locations define its primary geographical range in the north.

Region Area
Northern Europe Denmark
Northern Europe Finland
Northern Europe Great Britain
Northern Europe Ireland
Northern Europe Norway
Northern Europe Sweden
Middle Europe Austria
Middle Europe Belgium
Middle Europe Czechia-Slovakia
Middle Europe Germany

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rosa canina is characterized by its remarkable adaptability across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to elevations of 2400 m AMSL. It is frequently found within anthropic areas (Área Antrópica), demonstrating a high capacity to colonize disturbed landscapes and human-influenced environments. To survive herbivory and physical encroachment, the species employs active defense mechanisms, making it well-equipped to thrive in various ecological niches.

Defense :
yes
Elevational range max:
2400 m AMSL
Elevational range min:
0 m AMSL
Habitat :
Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Rosa canina is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecosystem through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, specifically classified under the life forms of phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated above the ground level, typically supported by woody, arching stems. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes, which dictates its rhythmic cycle of growth and dormancy. This life cycle allows the species to persist in various habitats, utilizing its perennial structure to recover and expand through successive years.

Deciduousness :
deciduous
Life form :
phanerophyte
Lifecycle :
perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rosa canina is characterized by a woody, shrub growth form that functions as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or vine. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, growing independently without parasitic relationships. The plant's stature varies significantly depending on environmental conditions, with a minimum height of 1 m, a mean height of approximately 1.75 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 5 m.

Aquatic :
terrestrial
Climber :
self-supporting
Epiphyte :
terrestrial
Growth form :
shrub
Parasite :
independent
Plant height max:
5 m
Plant height mean:
1.75 m
Plant height min:
1 m
Woodiness :
woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rosa canina is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which facilitates carbon fixation through the standard Calvin cycle. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than capturing prey, and it does not possess the capability to function as a nitrogen fixer. The plant's leaf morphology is defined by an elliptic form, with dimensions that vary significantly; leaf length typically ranges from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 5.1 cm, while leaf width fluctuates between 1 cm and a maximum of 2 cm, maintaining a mean width of 1.8 cm. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 122.58 cm²/g, reflecting its structural investment in leaf tissue relative to its dry mass.

Carnivory :
non-carnivorous
Leaf form :
elliptic
Leaf length max:
5.1 cm
Leaf length min:
1.5 cm
Leaf width max:
2 cm
Leaf width mean:
1.8 cm
Leaf width min:
1 cm
Nitrogen fixer :
no
Photosynthetic pathway :
C3
Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:
122.58 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rosa canina involves both sexual and asexual processes, with the latter being present to facilitate propagation. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes in July, featuring pink-colored flowers that vary in size, with lengths ranging from 1.2 to 2 cm and widths between 2.5 and 4 cm. These flowers utilize biotic pollination syndromes, specifically attracting insects such as bees to ensure fertilization, though self-fertilization is also present. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fleshy, indehiscent red fruits classified as berries. These fruits vary in dimensions, with a mean length of 1.5 cm (ranging from 1 to 1.8 cm) and a mean width of 1.61 cm (ranging from 1 to 1.4 cm). The dispersal of these fruits follows a zoochorous syndrome, specifically endozoochory, where animals consume the fruit and disperse the seeds. The seeds themselves are characterized by a consistent length of 7.5 mm, a mean volume of 13 mm³, and a seed mass that ranges from a minimum of 0.01189 g to a maximum of 1.0608 g.

Dehiscence :
indehiscent
Dispersal syndrome :
zoochorous
Dispersal syndrome :
endozoochorous
Flower colour :
pink
Flower length max:
2 cm
Flower length min:
1.2 cm
Flower width max:
4 cm
Flower width min:
2.5 cm
Flowering time :
Jun
Flowering time :
Jul
Fruit colour :
red
Fruit dryness :
fleshy
Fruit length max:
1.8 cm
Fruit length mean:
1.5 cm
Fruit length min:
1 cm
Fruit type :
berry
Fruit width max:
1.4 cm
Fruit width mean:
1.61 cm
Fruit width min:
1 cm
Pollination syndrome :
insect
Pollination syndrome :
bee
Pollination syndrome :
biotic
Reproduction asexual :
present
Seed length mean:
7.5 mm
Seed mass max:
1.0608 g
Seed mass mean:
0.139688968333333 g
Seed mass min:
0.01189 g
Seed volume max:
13 mm³
Self fertilization :
present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Rosa canina has 132 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, vitamin C, (+)-catechin, ascorbic acid, polyphenols.

Chemicals reported in Rosa canina
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
Flavonoids 5 supporting sources ★★★☆☆
vitamin C 4 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
(+)-catechin 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
ascorbic acid 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
polyphenols 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
CATECHIN 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Gallic acid 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Lutein 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Tocopherols 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Flavonoids

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Bollettino chimico farmaceutico
  3. Biological research
  4. ACS biomaterials science & engineering
  5. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

vitamin C

  1. Frontiers in pharmacology
  2. Erwerbs-Obstbau
  3. Pharmaceutical biology
  4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

(+)-catechin

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. International journal of molecular sciences
  3. Food chemistry

ascorbic acid

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Journal of the science of food and agriculture
  3. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

polyphenols

  1. ACS biomaterials science & engineering
  2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
  3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

CATECHIN

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM

Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside

  1. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM
  2. Food chemistry

Gallic acid

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. International journal of molecular sciences

Lutein

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. International journal of molecular sciences

Tocopherols

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Erwerbs-Obstbau

Activities

Rosa canina has 566 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Hepatoprotective, Anticancer.

Activities reported in Rosa canina
Activity Supporting sources Consensus
Antioxidant 7 supporting sources ★★★★☆
Antidiabetic 4 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Antimicrobial 4 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Hepatoprotective 4 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Anticancer 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Antihyperglycemic 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antihyperlipidemic 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antiinflammatory 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cardioprotective 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cytoprotective 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Antioxidant

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. ACS biomaterials science & engineering
  3. Nutrients
  4. Frontiers in pharmacology
  5. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
View 2 additional sources
  1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
  2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
  3. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine
  4. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Antimicrobial

  1. Frontiers in pharmacology
  2. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
  3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
  4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Hepatoprotective

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
  3. Journal of dietary supplements
  4. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology

Anticancer

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
  3. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Antihyperglycemic

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine

Antihyperlipidemic

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine

Antiinflammatory

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Cardioprotective

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology

Cytoprotective

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. International journal for vitamin and nutrition research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal international de vitaminologie et de nutrition

Medicinal Uses

Rosa canina has 21 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, obesity, Diabetes mellitus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium.

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Consensus
inflammation ACS biomaterials science & engineering (and other 4 sources) ★★☆☆☆
obesity Nutrients (and other 2 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Diabetes mellitus African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Food & function (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
Salmonella typhimurium Food & function (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
acne Frontiers in pharmacology (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
apoptosis Food science & nutrition (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
arthritis Recent patents on food, nutrition & agriculture (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
cardiovascular diseases Food science & nutrition (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆
colitis Journal of medicinal food (and other 1 sources) ★☆☆☆☆