Rosa sweginzowii

Koehne

Rosaceae Edible: Fruit, Seeds Potential hazards — see below 10 iNaturalist observations

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Sten Porse (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Sten Porse (via Wikimedia Commons)

Summary

Source: Wikipedia

A deciduous shrub reaching 4 m tall, hardy to UK zone 6. Flowers appear in June with seeds ripening August to September. Hermaphroditic flowers are bee-pollinated. Grows in light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils with good drainage; tolerates mildly acid to basic pH. Thrives in semi-shade or full sun and prefers consistently moist soil.

Description

An upright shrub. It grows 3.5 m high and spreads 4.5 m wide. It has a spreading habit. The stems are red and have bristles and large thorns. The leaves are light green. They have teeth around the edge. The flowers are deep pink and in small clusters. The fruit are bottle shaped, orange-red hips.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and is rich in vitamin C. It is bottle-shaped and about 25mm long, though only a thin layer of flesh surrounds the many seeds — care should be taken when eating it. The seeds are a good source of vitamin E; they can be ground into a powder and blended with flour or added to other foods as a nutritional supplement. Always remove the seed hairs before use.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The fruit of this genus is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamins A, C, and E, along with flavonoids and other bio-active compounds. It also provides a fairly good supply 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 tumour 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 central and southern China it grows between 2,300-3,800 m above sea level. Melbourne Botanical gardens. It suits hardiness zones 6-10. 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. Closely related to R. moyesii. Closely related to R. setipoda. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation

Rose seed frequently 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 approach to shorten this is to scarify the seed, then place it in damp peat at 27–32°c for 2–3 weeks to allow imbibition, followed by 4 months at 3°c, after which germination should begin. Seed harvested green — fully developed but not yet dried 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 into 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, and plant out in summer if they exceed 25cm, or overwinter in a cold frame and plant out in late spring. Half-ripe cuttings with a heel taken in July in a shaded frame and overwintered before planting out give a high success rate. Pencil-thick cuttings of mature current-season wood, 20–25cm long, taken in early autumn and placed in a sheltered spot outdoors or in a cold frame, typically take 12 months to establish but succeed at a high rate. Suckers can be divided during dormancy and planted directly into permanent positions. Layering also works but takes 12 months.

Other Uses

None known.

Notes

There are about 150 Rosa species and many cultivated varieties.

Also Known As

Sri-do-thpal

References (6)

Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1219
Ding, X., 2021, Collection calendar: the diversity and local knowledge of wild edible plants used by Chenthang Sherpa people to treat seasonal food shortages in Tibet, China. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 17:40
Flora of China @ efloras.org Volume 9
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 278
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/

Show all 6 references