The rose is the most deeply
ingrained flower in human history and human culture. It has been immortalized
and integrated into music, festivals, poetry and even wars. It has been used as
a symbol of passion as well as grief.
It is the sign of human love, given on
such occasions as the annual remembrance of Mother's
Day. Roses are naturally found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and fossil
records show the presence of ancient roses in the Tertiary Period, which began
some 70 million years ago.
Where the genus Rosa first
originated is unknown. In nature, some 150 wild species of Rosa are
spread from Alaska to Mexico, from Northern Africa to China. All roses are
close relatives of cherries, apples, pears, raspberries and plums and have long
been cultivated and cherished for their hips, the fruit of the rose flower that
has nutritional and medicinal value. A unique characteristic of the rose is its
ability to flower over and over again from early summer to late autumn.
In many ways the rose is the perfect flower: Each flower
possesses multiple ovaries that are located in a cup-like structure called a
hypanthium. Leaves are located alternately on an often-thorny stem and have a
serrated margin. Five petals are typically found on the natural rose while
modern hybrid roses posses many more of the colorful petals. Both male and female reproductive
parts are found in each flower.
The Romans at first believed that the rose was useful as a
source of natural medicines. Soon, the beautiful flowers became necessities at
Roman festivals. Roman emperors demanded that their baths be filled with rose
water and they reclined on carpets of rose petals during their feasts.
Perfumes
made from roses became a high priority luxury for the ruling elite and resulted
in hardships among the peasant class, who were forced to grow roses instead of
cultivating much needed food.
Source: http://www.livescience.com
