Rosa webbiana

Rosa webbiana, occasionally called Webb's rose, wild rose, or thorny rose, is a widely distributed species of flowering plant in the family Rosaceae. It is native to Central Asia, Tibet and Xinjiang in China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the western Himalayas, and Nepal. It grows in scrub, grassy places, valleys, and slopes. A diploid, its chromosome count is 2n = 2x = 14.

Description

A woody shrub. It grows 2 m high and spreads 2 m wide. Young reddish shoots emerge directly from the roots. The shoots can arch over or trail along the ground. The leaves are small and greyish blue. The flowers are small and have a scent. The fruit are pear shaped orange-red hips. The young shoots are eaten.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and reaches up to 25mm in diameter, 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 young reddish shoots which emerge from the roots are eaten fresh or cooked. The ripe fruit are eaten. They are also used for jam.

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 cool temperate plant. In the Indian Himalayas it grows between 2,000-4,000 m above sea level. It suits cold arid places. In Tibet it grows between 2,000-4,500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Asia, Australia, Central Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, SE Asia, Tajikistan, 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. 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 reduce this time 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 can 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.

Other Information

The fruit are especially eaten by children.

Notes

There are about 150 Rosa species and many cultivated varieties.

Also Known As

Da li meng duo, Chua, Kugina, Madpo, Manyar, Sea, Shawali ringyal, Shaybala, Shedum, Sia, Siah, Sikanda

References (16)

• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 529
• Ballabh, B., et al, 2007, Raw edible plants of cold desert Ladakh. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 6(1) pp 182-184
• Boesi, A., 2014, Traditional knowledge of wild food plants in a few Tibetan communities. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 10:75
• Chen, W., et al, 2021, Wild plants used by the Lhoba people in Douyu Village, characterized by high mountains and valleys, in southeastern Tibet, China. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2021) 17:46
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1219

More from Rosaceae

Rubus pringlei

Rubus procerus

Himalaya-berry, Himalayan blackberry, Himalayan giant blackberry

Rubus pseudo-acer

Rubus pseudoacer

Rubus pubescens

Dwarf red blackberry

Rubus pumilus