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gallica

Rosa gallica · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Extensive (378 studies) · ★★★★★

Gallica, scientifically known as Rosa gallica, is a storied medicinal shrub prized for centuries. Often called the French rose, its fragrant petals possess potent anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Traditionally used to soothe skin irritations and calm the nervous system, this versatile botanical remains a cornerstone of herbal apothecary traditions.

Family
Rosaceae
Native range
Europe
Parts used
Flower
Common names
French Rose · Hungarian Rose · 10 more
Scientific synonyms
Rosa Gallica Vulgaris · Rosa Gallica Var. Atropurpurea · 209 more

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Rosa gallica

Synonyms

Regional and Traditional Names

Spanish:

  • Rosal de Provins
  • Rosa de Castilla
  • Rosal de Castilla
  • Rosal de Francia
  • Rosal de Castilla

German:

  • Essig-Rose
  • Essigrose
  • Essig-Rose
  • Essigrose

French:

  • Rose de France
  • Rosier de Provins
  • Rosier de France
  • rose de France
  • rosier de France
  • rosier de provins
  • Rose de Provins
  • Rosier de Provence

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant 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. Finally, it is a member of the family Rosaceae, falling under the genus Rosa.

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 exhibits a specific geographical range that extends across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found growing in the landscapes of Austria. It also maintains a distribution throughout the territories of Czechia-Slovakia and Germany. Finally, its reach continues southward into the country of Hungary.

Region Area
Northern Europe Great Britain
Middle Europe Austria
Middle Europe Czechia-Slovakia
Middle Europe Germany
Middle Europe Hungary
Middle Europe Netherlands
Middle Europe Poland
Middle Europe Switzerland
Southwestern Europe Baleares
Southwestern Europe Corse

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rosa gallica is characterized by its adaptability to diverse and often rugged terrains, where it thrives in various transitional environments. It is frequently found colonizing forest interiors and forest edges, benefiting from the filtered light and organic matter provided by woodland boundaries. This species also demonstrates a strong presence in mountainous regions, where it can withstand more extreme temperature fluctuations and thinner soils. Furthermore, Rosa gallica is a hardy pioneer that successfully inhabits roadsides and various shrubberies, utilizing these disturbed or semi-open areas to establish itself within the local plant community.

Habitat :
forest, forest edges, mountains, roadsides, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Rosa gallica is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It is classified under two distinct life form categories depending on its growth habit and environmental context, functioning as both a phanerophyte, where its stems extend above the ground, and a nanophanerophyte. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually as part of its seasonal cycle.

Deciduousness :
deciduous
Life form :
nanophanerophyte
Life form :
phanerophyte
Lifecycle :
perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rosa gallica is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub or subshrub, exhibiting a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. As a terrestrial plant, it functions as an independent organism without parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant displays a varying height profile, typically ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 2 m, with a mean height of approximately 1.2 m. Its physical constitution is distinctly woody, providing the structural integrity necessary to maintain its upright, self-supporting habit.

Aquatic :
terrestrial
Climber :
self-supporting
Epiphyte :
terrestrial
Growth form :
shrub
Growth form :
subshrub
Parasite :
independent
Plant height max:
2 m
Plant height mean:
1.2 m
Plant height min:
0.3 m
Woodiness :
woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rosa gallica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing standard carbon fixation processes to support its metabolic requirements. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey for nitrogen. The morphology of its foliage plays a critical role in its physiological functions, featuring leaves with a mean length of 4 cm, though they can vary from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 8 cm. The leaf width remains consistent throughout its developmental range, maintaining a mean, minimum, and maximum measurement of 2.5 cm.

Carnivory :
non-carnivorous
Leaf length max:
8 cm
Leaf length mean:
4 cm
Leaf length min:
2 cm
Leaf width mean:
2.5 cm
Photosynthetic pathway :
C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rosa gallica involves a complex interplay of sexual and asexual mechanisms. Its sexual cycle is characterized by a flowering period that typically commences in June and concludes in July, producing blossoms that range in length from 4 cm to 7 cm. The plant employs a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. While self-fertilization is present, ensuring reproductive success even in isolation, the process is heavily supported by these insect pollinators. Once fertilization is successful, the plant produces seeds with a mean mass of approximately 0.022022 g, though individual seed weights can vary from a minimum of 0.02247 g to a maximum of 0.0348 g. The dispersal of these seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, specifically utilizing endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed through the digestive tracts of animals. Furthermore, the species possesses the ability for asexual reproduction, allowing it to propagate and colonize areas through vegetative means in addition to its seed-based reproductive cycle.

Dispersal syndrome :
zoochorous
Dispersal syndrome :
endozoochorous
Flower length max:
7 cm
Flower length min:
4 cm
Flowering time :
Jun
Flowering time :
Jul
Pollination syndrome :
insect
Pollination syndrome :
biotic
Reproduction asexual :
present
Seed mass max:
0.0348 g
Seed mass mean:
0.022022 g
Seed mass min:
0.02247 g
Self fertilization :
present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rosa gallica 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.

Plant parts reported in Rosa gallica
Plant part Supporting sources Consensus
Flower 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Flower

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Rosa gallica has 43 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Gallic acid, Tannins, ALPHA-PINENE, ANTHOCYANIN.

Chemicals reported in Rosa gallica
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
Flavonoids 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Gallic acid 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Tannins 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
ALPHA-PINENE 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
ANTHOCYANIN 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
BETA-PINENE 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
BETA-SITOSTEROL 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
CATECHIN 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Citral 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Citronellol 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Flavonoids

  1. Natural product research
  2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Gallic acid

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Tannins

  1. Dr. Duke
  2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

ALPHA-PINENE

  1. Dr. Duke

ANTHOCYANIN

  1. Natural product research

BETA-PINENE

  1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

  1. Dr. Duke

CATECHIN

  1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Citral

  1. Dr. Duke

Citronellol

  1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Rosa gallica has 328 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include ACE-Inhibitor, Acaricide, Acidifier, Acidulant, Additive.

Activities reported in Rosa gallica
Activity Supporting sources Consensus
ACE-Inhibitor 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Acaricide 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Acidifier 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Acidulant 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Additive 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Allelochemic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Allergenic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Analgesic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Androgenic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

ACE-Inhibitor

  1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

  1. Dr. Duke

Acidifier

  1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

  1. Dr. Duke

Additive

  1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

  1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

  1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

  1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

  1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

  1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Rosa gallica has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antioxidant activity.

Conditions investigated for Rosa gallica
Condition Supporting sources Consensus
Antioxidant activity 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Antioxidant activity

  1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Rosa gallica has 3 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 50% aqueous ethanol extracts of petals, flowers, hydroalcoholic extract.

Preparations reported for Rosa gallica
Preparation Supporting sources Consensus
50% aqueous ethanol extracts of petals 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Flowers 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Hydroalcoholic extract 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

50% aqueous ethanol extracts of petals

  1. Journal of natural medicines

Flowers

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hydroalcoholic extract

  1. Heliyon