Wide-prickly rose
Rosa platyacantha
Family: Rosaceae
What it is like
A shrub. It grows 1-2 m high. The bark is reddish. The thorns are prominent and have a straight tip but are widened at the base. The leaves are compound with 5-9 round leaflets. These have a few large teeth There are some soft hairs underneath. The flowers are yellow and occur singly. The flower stalks are 1.5-4 cm long. The fruit are black to violet and 1-2 cm across.
The fruit are high in vitamin C.
Where it is found
It is a cold temperate plant. In Kazakhstan it grows in foothills and gorges. It can grow in areas with a fairly low rainfall. In western China it grows between 1,100-1,800 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Central Asia, China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit