Rosa moyesii

Rosa moyesii is a species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae. It is native to western China. Growing to 4 m (13 ft) tall by 3 m (10 ft) wide, it is a vigorous deciduous shrub, with plentiful matte green leaves and flat red or pink flowers, with yellow central stamens, in summer. These are followed in autumn by prominent bottle-shaped rose-hips. Rosa moyesii is cultivated as an ornamental shrub and has been used in rose breeding. The more compact hybrid cultivar R. moyesii 'Geranium', with brilliant orange-scarlet blooms, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Description

A shrub. It grows 3 m high. It spreads 3 m wide. It loses its leaves during the year. The stems are stout and erect. There are scattered thorns. The leaves are dark green. The flowers are single and red. The fruit are rose hips. They hang down and are rounded bottle shaped. They are orange-red.

Edible Uses

The bottle-shaped fruit, up to 6cm long, can be eaten raw or cooked in pies, jams and similar preparations, or dried and ground into a flour for use in pancakes and other dishes. It is very rich in vitamin C at 1058–1130mg per 100g and can be used as a health supplement. Only a thin layer of flesh surrounds the many seeds, and care should be taken when eating the fruit regarding the known hazards. 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 — be sure to remove the seed hairs before use.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw. They are also preserved, pureed, and made into jams, syrups, soups etc. The dried fruit can be ground into a powder and added to drinks, waffles and pancakes.

Medicinal Uses

The fruit of many members of this genus 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 as a food capable of reducing the incidence of cancer and as a means of halting or reversing 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. In Tibet it grows between 2100-4000 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 5-10. In Sichuan and Yunnan. Arboretum Tasmania.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China, Tasmania, Tibet,

Cultivation

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. A very ornamental plant. 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 need a warm period following a cold one to mature the embryo and reduce the seedcoat. One way to shorten this is to scarify the seed and place it for 2–3 weeks in damp peat at 27–32°c until imbibed, then keep it at 3°c for the next 4 months until germination begins. Alternatively, green-harvested seed — fully developed but not yet dried on the plant — sown immediately may germinate in late winter, though this 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 as possible and stratified for 6 weeks at 5°c; it may take 2 years to germinate. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough, plant out in summer if over 25cm tall, or overwinter in a cold frame and plant out in late spring. Half-ripe heel cuttings taken in July in a shaded frame, overwintered and planted out in late spring, yield a high success rate. Pencil-thick mature cuttings of the current season's growth, 20–25cm long, taken in early autumn and placed in a sheltered spot or cold frame, take around 12 months to establish but normally succeed at a high rate. Suckers can be divided during dormancy and planted directly into permanent positions. Layering takes around 12 months.

Other Uses

None known.

Notes

There are about 150 Rosa species and many cultivated varieties. The fruit are rich in Vitamin C having 1,100 mg per 100 gms.

References (10)

• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 889
• Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 904
• Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1906:159. 1906
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1216
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 207

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