Rosa indica

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Rosa indica

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Rosa chinensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Rosales, falling within the family Rosaceae. Ultimately, this medicinal species is identified by its genus, Rosa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across several continents. In Middle Europe, its presence can be noted within the borders of Belgium. Moving toward Southeastern Europe, the species is distributed throughout Bulgaria, Greece, and Italy. Additionally, its habitat extends into the West-Central Tropical Africa region. Specifically, it can be found growing around the Gulf of Guinea Islands.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rosa chinensis is characterized by its adaptability to specific altitudinal gradients, thriving across a diverse range of topographic settings. This species is typically found within an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 250 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1300 m AMSL. Within this vertical distribution, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 775 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-altitude environments where climatic conditions and soil compositions are most favorable for its growth and medicinal potency.

Elevational range max:

1300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

775 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

250 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Rosa chinensis is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant exhibits a deciduous habit, meaning it undergoes a period of seasonal dormancy where it sheds its foliage in response to environmental changes. This cycle of regrowth and leaf loss defines its annual rhythm, as it transitions from a dormant state back into a period of active vegetative and reproductive growth.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rosa chinensis is characterized by its woody structure, manifesting primarily as a shrub or subshrub. This terrestrial plant exhibits a varied height profile, typically ranging from a minimum of 2 m to a maximum of 5 m, with a mean height of approximately 3.5 m. While its fundamental growth form is that of a self-supporting shrub, it can also exhibit liana-like qualities, acting as a climber. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial life habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

3.5 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rosa chinensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. Its foliar morphology is defined by ovate-shaped leaves that feature distinct toothed margins. The leaves exhibit significant dimensional variation, with lengths typically averaging 4.25 cm, ranging from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 6 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows a mean of 1.65 cm, varying from a minimum of 0.8 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm. Notably, the leaf structures are characterized by the absence of both leaf thorns and leaf spines, contributing to its specific anatomical profile.

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

6 cm

Leaf length mean:

4.25 cm

Leaf length min:

2.5 cm

Leaf margin :

toothed

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

2.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.65 cm

Leaf width min:

0.8 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rosa chinensis is characterized by a specific flowering phenology and the development of distinct fruit and seed structures. The flowering period typically begins in June and concludes in July, though the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. During the reproductive phase, the plant produces inflorescences that are quite small, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.02 m to a maximum of 0.025 m. Following pollination, the plant develops fruits (hips) that exhibit specific dimensional ranges; the fruit length varies from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.7 cm, with a mean length of 0.55 cm. Similarly, the fruit width ranges from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.7 cm, maintaining an average width of 0.55 cm. The reproductive cycle concludes with the production of seeds, which are remarkably consistent in mass, with a mean, minimum, and maximum seed mass all recorded at 0.00484 g.

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.55 cm

Fruit length min:

0.4 cm

Fruit width max:

0.7 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.55 cm

Fruit width min:

0.4 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.025 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.02 m

Seed mass mean:

0.00484 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rosa chinensis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower.

Flower

1. Journal of oral and maxillofacial pathology : JOMFP

Preparations

Rosa chinensis has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, methanol.

Extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Methanol

1. Journal of oral and maxillofacial pathology : JOMFP