Rosa bracteata, commonly known as the Macartney rose, is a species of rose that is native to southern China and Taiwan, but is also present as an invasive in the US.

Rosa bracteata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Rosa
Species:
R. bracteata
Binomial name
Rosa bracteata
Synonyms[1]
List
    • Ernestella bracteata (H.L.Wendl.) Germ.
    • Rosa bracteata var. taiwanensis S.S.Ying
    • Rosa lucida Lawrance
    • Rosa macartnea Dum.Cours.

Etymology

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Rosa bracteata - bracteata referring to the notable bracts below the flowers - is commonly referred to as the Macartney rose.[2] Its name links back to a German botanist, Johann Christoph Wendland, who is credited with naming the species.[3] The name Macartney rose originates from the mid 18th century when it was named after George Macartney, the 1st Earl Macartney in England.[4] According to the Global Invasive Species Database, this rose is also referred to by other names - though less commonly - such as the Chickasaw rose and the Fragrant White Climbing Rose, both of English origin, and shuo bao qiang wei, which is of Chinese origin.[5]

Description

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The Macartney rose is native to southern China and Taiwan,[6] but is now considered to be an invasive species across many states in the United States ever since its introduction as an ornamental plant.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Distribution and habitat

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Rosa bracteata is a highly adaptable plant and can grow in highly disturbed areas.[9][10] It can be found in areas ranging from pastures, rangeland, drainage ditches, and along roadsides and fence lines.[10] R. bracteata tends to prefer dark, waterlogged, and clay-based soil compositions.[14] This species was introduced into the United States from Asia, and is only found within the lower 48 states, mostly primarily in the southeast U.S.[8][11] Some of the states it can be found in include Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and Maryland.[11]

Its method of dispersal is through animals, where it is spread by livestock, birds, and other herbivorous organisms. The rose's fruit gets eaten by these animals, which acts as an germination technique after going through the digestive tract of the foraging animal.[15]

Morphology and ecology

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Rosa bracteata is considered to be a perennial evergreen shrub and is often found to have clumped distributions.[9][10][11] This species of rose can grow up to 10 feet (304.8 cm) in height and width.[10]

Leaves and stem

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Rosa bracteata has recurved thorns which are modified leaves all along its stem.[9][10] Its leaves are serrated and placed in an alternate pattern and range between 1-3 inches in length; they are pinnately compound with 5 to 9 thick leaflets per leaf.[7][8][9][10][12] The tops of the leaves can be described as glossy and/or shiny as compared to the bottoms of the leaves which are a muted green.[10]

Flowers, fruit and seeds

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The flowers of this rose occur in either single or bunched compositions, usually donning 5-petaled white flowers of 1-3 in number on bunches of short stalks.[7][8][9][10] These flowers can typically be seen from April to June which are a part of the spring and summer months in the Northern Hemisphere.[8][9] Its hips are spherical in shape and are usually a reddish color when ripe.[7][8][9][10][12] These can be seen from July to December.[8][9] Its seeds are generally dormant when first created but germinate in temperatures around 41°F; its optimal temperatures for growth fall between 68-86°F.[16]

Invasive species

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Rosa bracteata has been a major concern as an invasive species for those raising livestock. Infestations of Rosa bracteata tend to clump together and create thickets that can be up to three meters high which cause issues for movement of livestock and its quick proliferation saps nutrients from surrounding species, stunting their growth.[15] When mechanical means of disruption are used, such as mowing, the plant is able to regrow from a shallow root which means that it is very difficult to actually remove the species when it has entered a novel ecosystem.[14] Fire is similarly ineffective because of this regenerative ability which means extensive research has been done into the usage of herbicides to treat this particular species.[14]

Herbicide applications

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According to a study done in 2013, the effectiveness of herbicide applications on Rosa bracteata tend to vary by the timing they are introduced to the organism, for example: all three herbicide treatments of 2,4-D/aminopyralid, aminopyralid/metsulfuron, and picloram/2,4-D all had very effective reduction when treated at the month of October and very poor reduction when applied during May.[14] In general, there is no singular herbicide or method of mechanical disruption that can effectively deal with Rosa bracteata; efficient pest control employs a multitude of these tools in tandem.[17]

Usage

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Rosa bracteata was once used in Texas as a "living fence" for livestock grazing, although it was originally introduced from Asia as an ornamental plant.[9][10][13] It has also has a history of being used for erosion control and has been used for cross-breeding rose cultivars.[13]

It is thought that Rosa bracteata had been used alongside other rose species including R. brunonii, R. foetida, and R. eglanteria for its medicinal properties in ancient India by infusing it with water and oils, and by making teas. In Ayurvedic medicine, different rose species (including R. bracteata) were commonly used to cure spiritual ailments like a blockage in the chakras as well as for remedies for fever and acid reflux.[18] Roses were also worn in ceremonies, made into perfumes, and were an integral part of everyday life in India among both the elite classes and non-elite ones.[18]

History

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This rose species is thought to originate from the Indian subcontinent in the Himalayas, an area rich with mythology, lore and spiritualism. Mentions of Rosa bracteata or sometimes referred to by other names such as "sivapriya", can be found in scriptures dating back to 1st century BC. Gautama the Buddha who is usually depicted meditating on a pedestal of lotuses, can be seen in a few depictions meditating on a pedestal of a five petalled rose resembling Rosa bracteata. Over time, the rose has been mentioned in Chinese history which was facilitated by trade between these regions.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Rosa bracteata J.C.Wendl". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Macartney Rose". HerbiGuide. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Rosa bracteata J.C.Wendl". International Plant Names Index. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries and Australian National Botanic Gardens.
  4. ^ "Macartney rose". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  5. ^ "issg Database: Ecology of Rosa bracteata". GLOBAL INVASIVE SPECIES DATABASE. Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG). Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Rosa bracteata J.C.Wendl". Plants of the World Online. Kew Science. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d "Macartney rose Rosa bracteata J.C. Wendl". Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. National Park Service; University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "Rosa bracteata, Macartney Rose". Invasive Species. Cooperative eXtension System. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Invasive Species: Rosa bracteata, Macartney Rose". Invasive Species. Cooperative eXtension System. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Macartney rose Rosa bracteata Wendl. Rosaceae". Plants of Texas Rangelands. Texas A&M AgriLIFE eXtension. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  11. ^ a b c d "Plant Profile for Rosa bracteata (Macartney rose)". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  12. ^ a b c "ROSA BRACTEATA MACARTNEY ROSE". Texas Invasives. Texas A&M AgriLIFE eXtension. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  13. ^ a b c "Rosa bracteata". GLOBAL INVASIVE SPECIES DATABASE. Invasive Species Specialist Group ISSG. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  14. ^ a b c d Enloe, S.F.; Kline, W.N.; Aulakh, J.S.; Bethke, R.K.; Gladney, J.B.; Lauer, D.K. (2013). "Macartney Rose (Rosa bracteata) Response to Herbicide and Mowing Treatments". Invasive Plant Science and Management. 6 (2): 260–267. doi:10.1614/IPSM-D-12-00049.1. S2CID 86418635. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  15. ^ a b Scifres, C.J. (1975). "Fall Application of Herbicides Improves Macartney Rose-infest coastal Prairie Rangelands" (PDF). Rangeland Ecology & Management/Journal of Range Management Archive. 28 (6): 483–486. doi:10.2307/3897229. hdl:10150/646972. JSTOR 3897229. S2CID 88992928. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-02-11. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Rosa bracteata Macartney rose". Plants of Louisiana. United States Geological Survey (USGS). Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  17. ^ "How to Manage Macartney Rose". Texas Natural Resources Server. Texas A&M Agrilife. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  18. ^ a b c "Indian Rose Federation History". The Indian Rose Federation. Indian Rose Federation. Retrieved 5 November 2020.