Prickly Rose, the floral emblem of
Alberta
Commonly called the Alberta
rose because it is the floral emblem of the province of Alberta, Canada,
the prickly rose is found in abundance throughout the mountains and forests
of Alberta. Sweet scented with an open face, a number of flowers
cluster on the same stem. The short stems have many prickles and
alternate leaves in 3 to 7 leaflets. The reddish-pink flower has
five sepals and five petals surrounding yellow-gold stamens.
A pear-shaped fruit called
a rose hip will remain on the stem throughout the winter, providing food
for birds and mammals. Rose hips are high in Vitamins A and C and
can be made into jam, jelly, syrup, marmalade and juice. Aboriginals
used the leaves in tea and salads, smoked the inner bark, made beads form
the rose hips, and fashioned perfumed sachets from the petals.
Photos by John Fisher
|