[Shrubs with Compound-pinnate Leaves]

Family:

Rose Family

Habitat:

Little Wild Rose is found in moist to dry woods as an understory plant. It is found from sea level to about 4000 feet in elevation.

Characteristics:

1. Woody shrub with small 5-petaled pink flowers. The flowers are typically solitary. Blooms in May.

2. Leaves with 5-7 pinnately compound leaflets. The leaflets are ovate and with toothed margins.

3. Numerous tiny prickles on the stems.

4. Flowers form red seed pods (essentially similar to miniature apples) called hips. The hips and flowers are usually solitary (not in clusters)

Uses:

1. Dried flower petals for scents, potpourri

2. Rose hips are high in vitamin C, may be made into jam, tea, and used as flavoring.

To the left, a rose hip, fruit of the Nootka Rose, which is similar (but larger) to that of the Little WIld Rose.

Paul Slichter