| Rosa sericea | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Genus: | Rosa |
| Species: | R. sericea |
| Binomial name | |
| Rosa sericea | |
Rosa sericea, the silky rose, [1] is a species of flowering plant.
The closely related Rosa omeiensis is sometimes treated as a subspecies of R. sericea.
It is native to south-western China (Guizhou, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan), Bhutan, northern India (Sikkim), Nepal and Myanmar; it grows in mountains at altitudes of 2,000–4,400 m (6,600–14,400 feet).
It is a shrub growing 2 m (6+1⁄2 feet) tall and is often very spiny. The leaves are deciduous, 4–8 cm (1+5⁄8–3+1⁄8 inches) long, with 7–11 leaflets with a serrated margin. The flowers are 2.5–5 cm (1–2 inches) diameter, white, with (unusually for a rose) only four petals. The hips are red, 8–15 mm (5⁄16–19⁄32 inch) diameter, with persistent sepals, and often bristly.
There are four formae:
Rosa sericea f. pteracantha is grown as an ornamental plant for its large, bright red thorns.
The plant, called se ba in the Tibetan language, has been used in traditional Tibetan medicine. In addition, silky rose hips were used as weights for measuring gold and silver in Tibet.[ citation needed ]
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