Shrubs, single or forming patches; rhizomatous, rhizomes relatively long. Stems erect or arching, (5–)10–15(–20) dm; distal branches glabrous, sparsely setose- and stipitate-glandular; infrastipular prickles absent, rarely present, internodal prickles curved, sometimes erect, rarely hooked or declined, mixed with aciculi, stipitate glands, and smaller prickles to 3 mm. Leaves deciduous, rarely persistent, 10.5–12 cm, leathery; stipules caducous, adnate, auricles flared or erect, margins entire or serrate, gland-tipped; leaflets 3–5(–7), terminal: petiolule 6–8 mm, blade suborbiculate or ovate to narrowly elliptic, 20–26(–60) × 17–30 mm, abaxial surfaces pubescent, sometimes sessile-glandular, adaxial dull, glabrous. Inflorescences panicles, 1–3(–8)-flowered. Pedicels erect, stout, (10–)20–60 mm, pubescent, stipitate-glandular; bracts caducous, 1 or 2, margins entire, stipitate-glandular. Flowers 6–9 cm diam.; hypanthium cupulate, glabrous, stipitate-glandular; sepals ± caducous, reflexed, spreading, or erect, deltate, 16–23 × 2.5–3.5 mm, margins usually pinnatifid, abaxial surfaces glabrous or pubescent, glandular; petals usually double, deep pink to crimson; carpels 30–47, styles free, pilose, rarely glabrous, hypanthium orifice 2 mm diam., hypanthial disc conic, 4–5 mm diam. Hips bright to dark red, globose or subglobose, 8–9 × 10–12 mm, glabrous, setose, densely stipitate-glandular; sepals deciduous, erect to reflexed. Achenes basiparietal.

Distribution

Introduced; c, s Europe, w Asia, introduced also in Mexico, Central America, South America, s Africa, Australia.

Discussion

Species 1.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Rosa gallica