Rosa canina (dog): botanical description, application, photo

Dog rosehip is not decorative, but gardeners often plant it in home gardens for the sake of useful properties. Rosa canina is widely used not only in folk medicine, but also in official medicine, its beneficial effect on the body has been scientifically proven. Dog rosehip care is extremely simple, but treatment should be started only after consulting a doctor.

What does the botanical description of dog rose look like

Rosehip dog (Rosa Canina), also known as “dog rose”, “wild rose” or “rooster berries”, is one of the many representatives of the genus Rosehip. He, in turn, is part of the Pink family.

The unusual Latin name for dog rose emphasizes the “value” of the canina rose compared to “cultivated” roses. But there is another version, according to which, several centuries ago, the plant was actively used to treat dog bites.

Rosa canina is a deciduous dense shrub, reaching 1,5-2,5 m in diameter. The branches are powerful, but almost never straight. A noticeable arcuate bend is characteristic. The bark is greenish-brown, with prolonged exposure to direct sunlight changes color to brick or dull red.

There are relatively few thorns on the main shoots of the canina rose, in shape they resemble sickles flattened from the sides. Peduncles are literally dotted with them. On them, the spikes bend even more, turning into a kind of hooks.

The leaves of the dog rose are pinnately dissected, 7-9 cm long. Normally, they consist of seven elliptical “segments” with a pointed tip, but sometimes there are five or nine of them. The edge is carved with small teeth, the central vein is covered with short sparse “villi”, there is a narrow stipule at the base of the leaf.

Dog rosehip flowers are often solitary, but there are also inflorescences-shields (3-5 pieces each). The shade of the petals varies from snow-white and pastel pink to crimson and raspberry. The diameter of the flower is 5-8 cm, it has 5-7 petals. The main “wave” of flowering occurs at the end of May, June, in July single buds open. Aroma, even light, dog rose flowers are deprived.

The fruits of rose canina are round, broadly oval or ovoid, 1,5-2,5 cm in diameter, with a smooth, glossy red-orange skin. They ripen in the second half of August.

The contents of the fruit of the rose canina are numerous seeds covered with hard villi

How to distinguish a dog rosehip from the usual

“Regular” rose hips are known to botanists as “May” or “wrinkled”. Its main difference from the dog’s is the leaf plates. In the first case, their surface is wrinkled, in the second, it is smooth.

You can pay attention to the bracts. In dog rose hips, they are tightly pressed to the peduncles, in May they stick out to the sides, resembling “the sun with rays.”

The easiest way to distinguish these species is during flowering. The opening buds of the common wild rose spread an amazing fragrance.

The fruits of the wrinkled rosehip are bright red, slightly flattened

Differences between dog rose and cinnamon

The main difference between cinnamon and dog rose hips is the shade of the bark. Even on young shoots of the former, it is brown, without any greenish tone. It, like the wrinkled rosehip, unlike the canina rose, has bracts that fold outwards.

The appearance of the spikes also differs. In cinnamon rose hips, they are thin and straight. Relatively rare on shoots, concentrated at the base of the leaves.

Rosehip cinnamon “wins” in usefulness over all other varieties

Where does rose canina grow?

The natural habitat of dog rose (like many members of the family) is very wide. This is practically the whole of Europe, Western and Central Asia, North Africa. Canina rose is easy to find in the European part of Our Country.

The dog rosehip “chooses” the place of growth, also not being particularly picky. It is found in any not too dense forests, slopes and slopes, overgrown with grass or other shrubs, on the banks of reservoirs, along roadsides, in wastelands.

In a warm climate (the Caucasus, the Black Sea), the canina rose actively grows, forming almost impenetrable thickets.

Chemical composition and medicinal properties

In folk medicine, dog rose is valued mainly for its record high content of vitamin C, which is useful for restoring immunity and simply for maintaining body tone. But there are other vitamins in the fruits of rose canina:

• A – good for vision and immunity;
• K, necessary for normal blood clotting;
• P – strengthens the walls of capillaries, helps maintain the permeability of blood vessels;
• group B – participate in the synthesis of enzymes, some hormones, erythrocytes and leukocytes.

Also dog rosehip contains:

• flavonoids;
• tannins;
• pectins;
• fruit acids (malic, citric);
• essential oils;
• organic sugars (glucose, sucrose, fructose);
• kaempferol, quercetin, lycopene, rubixanthin;
• macro- and microelements (potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, zinc, iron, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium, cobalt, molybdenum).

All these substances in combination provide dog rose hips with properties that are in demand in traditional medicine:

• bile and diuretic;
• antiviral and anti-inflammatory;
• wound healing, hemostatic;
• immunostimulating, antioxidant;
• antispasmodic.

The health benefits of dog rose hips are officially recognized

Traditional medicine experts recommend dog rose hips for the following health problems:

• beriberi, including seasonal spring and provoked by long-term adherence to a strict diet;
• immunity worsened after a long illness, serious surgical intervention;
• frequent colds, acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections;
• anemia;
• pathologies in the process of metabolism, disturbed hormonal levels;
• atherosclerosis, especially if it is necessary to clean the vessels not only from cholesterol “plaques”, but also from fatty deposits;
• hypertension, ischemic heart disease;
• pneumonia, whooping cough and other diseases of the bronchopulmonary system, accompanied by inflammation;
• stones in the urinary, gallbladder, kidneys;
• eczema, psoriasis, any dermatological diseases;
• the presence of long non-healing wounds, ulcers, burns on the skin and mucous membranes;
• an ulcer of the stomach or intestines;
• decreased secretion of the stomach;
• liver disease;
• some diseases of the musculoskeletal system (rheumatism, gout);
• myopia, farsightedness in the early stages of development;
• in women – excessively heavy menstruation, frequent uterine bleeding.

Healthy substances are concentrated mainly in the shell of dog rose hips. Less commonly, in folk medicine, leaves, seeds, and roots of the canina rose are used.

Ways of preparation

In folk medicine, dog rose hips are used in many ways. But the most popular means of its fruits.

decoction of rose canina fruit

For its preparation, 80-100 g of dry raw materials and 1 liter of pure water will be required. The process is extremely simple:

1. Wash the fruit of the dog rose well.
2. Boil water in a saucepan.
3. Without removing it from the heat, pour the fruits of the canina rose into boiling water. Cook on low heat for 5-7 minutes.
4. Cover the pan tightly with a lid, wrap with a towel, leave for 5-6 hours.
5. Before use, strain the finished broth, squeeze the berries themselves.

The taste of a decoction of the fruits of rose canina, in principle, is not bad, but you can add a little lemon juice or honey

Dog rose hip tea

There are a lot of recipes, but tea is always prepared the same way. They take a decoction of dog rose hips, add the remaining ingredients (if necessary, pre-chopping them), let it brew for 5-6 hours under a closed lid.

You can add to the decoction of dog rose hips (proportions are chosen arbitrarily, to your taste):

• dried ordinary or chokeberry, black currant, raspberry;
• fresh or dry mint, lemon balm;
• cardamom, cinnamon, anise;
• loose leaf tea (black or green);
• fresh sour green apples.

Ready-made tea from the fruits of rose canina is filtered before use

Dog rosehip syrup

Necessary ingredients:

• peeled fresh fruits – 1,5 l;
• sugar – 1,5 kg;
• water – 2 l.

How to make rose canina fruit syrup:

1. Boil water, pour berries into the pan.
2. Cover with a lid, simmer for 30-45 minutes over low heat.
3. Remove the pan from the stove, wrap it with a towel, let it brew for 10-12 hours.
4. Pour the decoction into another container, squeeze the berries there, pour out the sugar.
5. Cook over medium heat until thickened (about 30-40 minutes after boiling).
6. Immediately pour into sterilized glass jars, bottles, cork. Let cool naturally.

Store canina rose fruit syrup in the refrigerator or just in a dark, cool place.

Alcohol tincture

You need to take 400-500 g of fresh whole or peeled canina rose fruits and pour them with a liter of vodka or ethyl alcohol diluted to the appropriate strength in a glass bottle, jar.

The container is left for 15-20 days in a dark place to infuse, shaking the contents intensively daily. Ready tincture is filtered.

The tincture does not need to be stored in the refrigerator, but it must be protected from direct sunlight.

The use of dog rose hips

Experts in the field of traditional medicine recommend remedies based on dog rose hips for many diseases. A preliminary consultation with a doctor is required.

With pancreatitis and gastritis

With an exacerbation of the disease, it is recommended to drink a quarter cup of decoction three times a day, about half an hour before meals. In the remission stage for prevention, the “dose” is reduced to 2 tbsp. l.

With liver disease

About a glass of broth is drunk three times a day, half an hour before meals. To enhance the effect, before closing the pan and leaving the liquid to infuse, add 2-3 tbsp. l. floured oatmeal.

The resulting remedy (you need to strain it, squeeze out the dog rose hips and oatmeal) is drunk in a glass, three times a day, 1,5-2 hours after eating. In total, three courses of ten days are needed with breaks between them of 2,5-3 weeks.

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To normalize blood pressure, it is always recommended to drink any tea from dog rose hips. In the stage of exacerbation of the disease – take half a glass of decoction or 1 tsp. syrup three times a day immediately after meals. To enhance the effect, you can prepare a remedy from a mixture of rose canina fruits and cranberries.

With colds

With colds, a decoction of dog rose hips with the addition of dry raspberries helps. They prepare it as usual, drink it warm, about a liter a day. To relieve a sore throat, after eating, take 1/2 tsp. syrup. Teas are recommended for the prevention of colds.

For losing weight

The calorie content of the infusion from the fruit of the rose canina is about 50 kcal per 100 ml. It normalizes metabolism, activates digestion, helps to remove toxins from the body. Those who are on a diet are advised to drink about half a glass of decoction 15-20 minutes before meals.

Противопоказания

Like any remedy that is in demand in traditional medicine, dog rose hips have contraindications for use:

• chronic gastritis with high acidity of gastric juice;
• hereditary predisposition to thrombophlebitis;
• many diseases of the cardiovascular system, for example, endocarditis;
• hypotension;
• frequent constipation;

Allergy to rose canina manifests itself with varying degrees of intensity

If you take funds based on dog rose hips immoderately, hypervitaminosis of vitamin C is quite likely. This does not threaten life, but the symptoms are unpleasant:

• general weakness, drowsiness;
• fever, redness of the skin and mucous membranes;
• persistent migraines;
• bouts of dizziness and nausea;
• stomach cramps, heartburn;
• diarrhea.

In addition, with regular use, the ascorbic acid contained in dog rose hips negatively affects the condition of tooth enamel and oral mucosa. And the villi that cover the seeds of rose canina, getting into the stomach and intestines, can damage tissues. But this can be avoided if, each time after taking the remedy, thoroughly rinse your mouth with warm water and carefully clean the fruits.

Features of cultivation and care

Rose canina, which is obvious from its description and photos of gardeners, is, in fact, a weed on the site. Caring for her takes a minimum of time and effort. Especially if you choose the right place for landing.

Her “requirements”:

• good illuminance;
• the presence of protection against cold drafts;
• fertile soil (chernozem, loam, gray soil);
• the absence of groundwater, approaching the soil surface closer than 2,5-3 m (the root system of the dog rose is very powerful, the roots go into the soil at 4-5 m).

In the shade, the canina rose will not die, but it will be scarce to bloom and bear fruit.

The best time to plant dog rose hips is spring. In autumn, soil moisture will have to be carefully monitored. Canina rose is easily propagated both vegetatively (cuttings, layering) and generatively (seeds).

Dog rosehip care includes only standard agrotechnical measures:

1. Watering. Young canina roses in the heat require 20-30 liters of water every 12-15 days, adults (already bearing) – 30-40 liters. Often a plant can generally do with natural precipitation.
2. Mulching. Not required, but highly recommended. Allows you to refuse weeding and loosening, increase the intervals between watering.
3. Top dressing. In fertile chernozem soil, dog rose hips do not need fertilizers. If the soil is poor, it is fed three times per season – at the beginning and at the end of the active growing season, after flowering. Rosa canina reacts positively to both natural organics and store-bought fertilizers (universal or specialized – for ornamental flowering shrubs).
4. Pruning. It is necessary that the dog rose does not “spoil the view” on the garden plot, as well as to facilitate the collection of fruits. It is desirable that the bush consists of 12-15 shoots at the age of three years. All branches growing down, deep into the crown, deformed cut out in the fall. In the spring, sanitary pruning is necessary.
5. Preparing for winter. Frost resistance down to -40 ° C allows the canina rose to survive even in Siberia, in the Urals. It is recommended to cover, falling asleep with humus or peat, only seedlings for which this is the first winter.

Pruning, even radical, canine rose tolerates easily

Unlike garden roses, dog rose hips are extremely rare. Pest attacks for him are also an exceptional phenomenon. In principle, competent care is sufficient for prevention. But many gardeners, in order to be on the safe side, in spring and autumn treat the canina rose itself and the soil in the near-stem circle successively with solutions of a fungicide and a broad-spectrum insecticide.

Collection and Procurement

Harvesting of fruits begins when the skin completely acquires a red-orange hue characteristic of dog rose hips. This is approximately the last decade of August or the first days of September.

Canina rose fruits are removed along with the sepals. In the process of collection, specimens with mechanical and other damages are rejected. It is advisable to start processing immediately. In extreme cases, you can wait 2-3 days. The berries are cut in half, the seeds are carefully cleaned.

Dog rose hips are harvested by wearing gloves and thick clothing

The fruits of the dog rose plant are dried along with the sepals in various ways, but in any case you do not need to wash them:

• naturally – in the attic or on the street, in any sunny, well-ventilated place, providing protection from direct rays;
• in the oven;
• in an electric dryer.

The berries are always laid out in one layer and, if possible, so that they do not touch each other. Drying is completed when the dog rose hips hardens, easily breaks apart with your fingers. But the skin should not turn black, retaining its original shade.

Dried dog rose hips are stored in a dark, cool place with relatively low humidity, spread out in paper bags, linen bags, hermetically sealed plastic containers, glass jars.

Shelf life of dry fruits of rose canina – two years

Conclusion

Growing dog rose hips is a simple task for any gardener. Canina rose is planted for fruits that are very rich in chemical composition, which makes them useful in the treatment of a variety of diseases. However, it must be remembered that traditional medicine is far from “harmless”. In case of improper use and the presence of contraindications, serious harm to health is possible.