OVERVIEW
Family: Rosaceae
Genus and specie: Rosa rubiginosa as well as R. canina and R. laevigata
Other names
Rosa rubiginosa is also known as Rosa eglanteria, sweet briar, as well as eglantine, while Rosa canina is known as god rose and Rosa laevigata as Cherokee rose.
Description
It is a deciduous scrub with pale to pink flowers followed by scarlet round to ovoid hips (the fruit).
Parts used
The ripe fruits (rose hips) are used and a superior oil is extracted from the Rosa rubiginosa fruit.
The Rosa canina fruit (rose hips) have irritant hairs that must be removed before use.
Properties
The ripe fruits are astringent and acidic and contain flavonoids, tannins, carotenoids and volatile oil.
