Rosa fraxinellaefolia

Andrews

Ash-leaved rose

Rosaceae Edible: Fruit, Seeds, Stem Potential hazards — see below

No photos yet for Rosa fraxinellaefolia

Summary

A deciduous shrub with unspecified mature height. Bee-pollinated hermaphroditic flowers. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils, preferring well-drained conditions even in clay-heavy situations. Accommodates mildly acidic, neutral, and mildly alkaline soils. Grows in semi-shade or full sun and prefers moist soil.

Description

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, though only a thin layer of flesh surrounds the many seeds. Care should be taken when eating the fruit due to known hazards. Young spring shoots can be peeled and eaten raw. The seeds are a good source of vitamin E and can be ground and mixed with flour or added to other foods as a supplement; seed hairs must be removed before use.

Traditional Uses

The tender shoots are eaten. The fruit are eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The fruit is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamins A, C and E, flavanoids, and other bio-active compounds. It is also a fairly good source of essential fatty acids, which is unusual for a fruit. It is being investigated for its potential to reduce the incidence of cancer and to halt or reverse cancer growth.

Known Hazards

There is a layer of hairs around the seeds just beneath the flesh of the fruit. These hairs can cause irritation to the mouth and digestive tract if ingested.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

North America, USA,

Cultivation

We have almost no information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors at least in the milder parts of the country. It is possible that this species is no more than a synonym for R. majalis. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in most soils, preferring a circumneutral soil and a sunny position. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Dislikes water-logged soils. Grows well with alliums, parsley, mignonette and lupins. Garlic planted nearby can help protect the plant from disease and insect predation. Grows badly with boxwood. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation

Rose seed often takes two years to germinate, as it may require a warm period following a cold spell to mature the embryo and break down the seedcoat. One way to reduce this time is to scarify the seed and place it for 2–3 weeks in damp peat at 27–32°c until it has imbibed, then keep it at 3°c for the following 4 months, by which time germination should begin. Seed harvested green — fully developed but before drying on the plant — and sown immediately may germinate in late winter, though this method had not been fully tested as of 1988. Seed sown fresh in a cold frame sometimes germinates in spring but may take 18 months. Stored seed should be sown as early in the year as possible and stratified for 6 weeks at 5°c; it may still take 2 years to germinate. Prick out seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle. Plant out in summer if plants exceed 25cm, otherwise overwinter in a cold frame and plant out in late spring. Half-ripe cuttings with a heel taken in July in a shaded frame give a high success rate; overwinter in the frame and plant out in late spring. Mature cuttings of the current season's growth, selected as pencil-thick shoots around 20–25cm long in early autumn, can be planted in a sheltered spot outdoors or in a cold frame; they take up to 12 months to establish but succeed at a high rate. Suckers can be divided during dormancy and planted directly into permanent positions. Layering takes 12 months.

Other Uses

None known.

Notes

There are about 150 Rosa species and many cultivated varieties.

References (2)

Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 573
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/